big band

noun

: a band that is larger than a combo and that usually features a mixture of ensemble playing and solo improvisation typical of jazz or swing

Examples of big band in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The students have been studying jazz big band repertoire, improvisation techniques and the art of ensemble performance weekly with Larson, Rick Salonen from the University of Arkansas and Ryan Yumang from the University of North Texas. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 25 Apr. 2026

Guests will enjoy an evening of live big band and jazz performances, dancing, signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a buffet dinner while exploring the Athenaeum’s historic spaces and distinguished art collection. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

This is easily the most musically fascinating number on the album, with the most striking use of orchestration extending to brass clearly meant to evoke the big band style of the period, even though the tune is otherwise not even remotely in that style. —Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026

After that, the composer turned his attention to a big band pet project, making ends meet with leftover work scoring German TV shows. —Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for big band

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand