First Important Jazz Big Bands

Fletcher Henderson
Paul Whiteman


1920s

Jean GoldketteBen Pollack
King OliverMcKinney's Cotton Pickers


Beyond Categories

Duke Ellington


Early Swing Bands

Earl HinesLuis Russell
Cab CallowayCasa Loma Orchestra
Benny CarterJimmy Lunceford
Don Redman


Swing Era

Benny GoodmanTommy Dorsey
Jimmy DorseyChick Webb
Louis ArmstrongArtie Shaw
Count BasieGlenn Miller
Charlie BarnetAndy Kirk
Bob CrosbyHarry James
Erskine HawlinsJay McShann
Gene KrupaLionel Hampton
Buddy Johnson


Bebop Era Big Bands

Billy Eckstine
Dizzy Gillespie
Woody Herman (First and Second Herd)
Claude Thornhill
Boyd Raeburn
Machito


Uncategorizable

Stan Kenton


1950s

Count Basie - Dizzy Gillespie - Maynard Ferguson


1960s

Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band
Gerald Wilson
Buddy Rich
Don Ellis
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra
Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland


Avantgarde Orchestras

Sun Ra Arkestra
Jazz Composerss Orchestra
Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra
Globe Unity Orchestra
Anthony Braxton's Creative Music Orchestra
Vienna Art Orchestra
George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band
Pierre Dorge's New Jungle Orchestra
David Murray Big Band
Maria Schneider
London Jazz Composers Orchestra


1970s

Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin
Gil Evans
Bill Watrous
Louie Bellson
Bill Berry


1980s

Capp-Pierce Juggernaut
Rob McConnell's Boss Brass
Jaco Pastorius's Word Of Mouth Orchestra
Illinois Jacquet
Irakere
Mel Lewis


1990s

Mingus Big Band
McCoy Tyner
Carla Bley's Rather Large Orchestra
Bob Florence's Limited Edition
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Bill Holman Either/Orchestra