At the start of the Copasetic Jive program is the search for a forgotten sound
and undoubtedly lost forever: that of the territory bands of the 1930s and 40s.

 

We don't know much about these orchestras which crisscrossed the American countryside; very few recorded and when they did, the pieces engraved in wax were often very different from those which were the daily life of these musicians in the ballrooms. What we do know, however, is that these orchestras often developed their arrangements collectively and orally.

 

Here, the Umlaut Big Band draws inspiration from this process to create, find and offer dance music of its own, collectively assembled and patiently constructed for the creation of an original repertoire, in more than one way.