Jazz Arrangers a century of big band writing, 1920s–present

Jazz arranging · Early Jazz & Dance Bands

DonRedman

1900–1964 arranger · composer · orchestrator

Redman pioneered the call-and-response pattern between brass and reed sections that became fundamental to swing arranging.

iridescent colorlayered registerelastic motion
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Predominant era
Early Jazz & Dance Bands
Lifespan
1900–1964
Signature
iridescent color
00

Bio · 36 words

Don Redman was born in Piedmont, West Virginia, and was a child prodigy who played multiple instruments by age 12. He studied at Storer's College and the Boston Conservatory before joining Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in 1923.

01

Musical style

Sound DNA

Five shared dimensions make the arranger’s musical priorities visible at a glance.

Don Redman sound DNA Comparative profile of color, space, register, density, and motion.
The same scale is used throughout the collection.
Color79

Iridescent

Instrumental color leads the design.

Space60

Balanced

Space and activity stay in balance.

Register64

Layered

Registers work as distinct layers.

Density53

Transparent

Individual lines stay easy to follow.

Motion64

Elastic

The rhythmic feel expands and contracts.

02

Orchestration

Technique deck

Select a card to spotlight a device drawn from this arranger’s orchestral language.

03

Music first

Scores & orchestras

Switch recordings to compare how this arranger’s musical priorities shape each orchestral profile.

The Fletcher Henderson Story

Copenhagen,

This compilation showcases Redman's groundbreaking arrangements from his time with Henderson, including "Copenhagen," "Sugar Foot Stomp," and "The Stampede." What's particularly interesting…

Listen forNotice how color shapes the orchestral profile.

Find listening example on YouTube
Comparative orchestral profile
Color 71
Register 60
Density 50
Motion 60
iridescent colorlayered registerelastic motion

Profile derived from the arranger’s documented style and recording notes; exact instrumentation is not asserted.

04

Start here

Three essential albums

One line each—enough context to choose the next listen.

  1. 01 — The Fletcher Henderson StoryFletcher Henderson This compilation showcases Redman's groundbreaking arrangements from his time with Henderson, including "Copenhagen," "Sugar Foot Stomp," and "The Stampede." What's particularly interesting…
  2. 02 1928-1929 The Band Don Redman BuiltMcKinney's Cotton Pickers Redman transformed McKinney's Cotton Pickers into one of the finest bands of the late 1920s.
  3. 03 1931-1933 Doin' What I PleaseDon Redman and His Orchestra Leading his own orchestra, Redman created some of his most adventurous arrangements.