Jazz and Swing

The essence of jazz is transformation, be it instrumental or vocal as in the scat singing of jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong performing "Stompin' at the Savoy." In scat singing, an improvisational style, the performer sets nonsense syllables to a vocal line that imitates characteristics of instrumental music writing (disjunct lines, wide range, and intricate passage work). Clarinetist Benny Goodman, "The King of Swing," integrated jazz improvisation into the big band sound.