Jazz Up to and after 1945 Vocabulary Jazz

Jazz Up to and after 1945

Vocabulary Jazz – musical style that emerged in early 20 th century South, embracing improvisation and freedom, and far less reliable on written music. Song form – AABA format most popular songs follow Bridge – The connection between A themes as the “B” Bebop – a style featuring fast tempos, complex harmonies, and jagged melodies. Fusion – a type of jazz that blends jazz, soul, and rock using electric guitars and electric pianos. Free Jazz – characterized by extreme improvisation without any theme, meters, or tonality.

Do Now “Man, man, if you gotta ask, you’ll never know!” – Louis Armstrong made this comment when someone asked him what jazz was. What do you think this quote means?

What is Jazz? Jazz is more attitude, less “playing” The key ingredient: Spontaneity Originated in the African-American song and dance tradition Also influenced by marching band music, hymns, and improvisatory storytelling “Man, man, if you gotta ask, you’ll never know!” – Louis Armstrong

Developed in New Orleans in the early 20 th century Evolved out of bands that accompanied funeral processions in New Orleans. Made up of trumpet and clarinet (melody), trombone (bass line), piano and drums (rhythm section) Many solos throughout the performance Dixieland Jazz

The Swing Era It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing) by Duke Ellington Popular in the 1930 s and 1940 s Dominated by the sound of big bands Large bands consisting of piano, drums, double bass, saxes, trumpets, trombones, and clarinets. In The Mood by Glenn Miller Most also included vocal soloists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra Each group’s distinct sound was dictated by the bandleader’s instrument and tastes. Song form: when a chorus consists of the AABA music writing form. Bridge: the contrasting section that connects statements of the A theme.

Duke Ellington Never identified with a music title “There are two types of music – the good kind and the other kind. ” Ellington was the leading jazz composer of the 1930 s Duke Ellington’s orchestra’s performance at Carnegie hall in 1943 was a bridging of racial and musical barriers. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, seventeen honorary degrees, and received a statesponsored tour of the Soviet Union. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore While there, his concerts sold out and his tickets ran eight times their face value. Black, Brown, and Beige

Stylistic Purity in Jazz Winthrop Sargeant’s View It needs to stay in the dance halls and not be acknowledged as “civilized art”. Jazz is drowning all other forms of American popular music. Popular jazz is taking away the real essence of jazz. The original essence of jazz lies in it’s lack of education. Music education is ruining jazz. Ellington’s View Sargeant has not been exposed to “intelligent” jazz and is not aware of the foremost composer’s background. The patterns and expansion of jazz are similar to that of a sonnet, and that a sonnet is not limited, much like jazz is not limited. There is so much that is good in musical expression in popular music!

Post-WWII Jazz Bebop Featured fast tempos, complex harmonies, and jagged melodies. Also featured the birth of Afro. Cuban jazz, which has an expanded percussion section, emphasized ostinato, and complex polyrhythms Tape recorders and the longplaying record became commonplace and help expand jazz even further Blue in Green – Miles Davis Pioneer in bebop Created the new genre of thirdstream music. Tried to bridge jazz improv and harmony with classical instruments and voice techniques. Take Five – Dave Brubeck

Fusion and Free Jazz Fusion Free Jazz Miles Davis also influenced this style of music. The most radical and controversial subgenre of jazz A blend of jazz, hard rock, and soul music. Used the typical rock instruments such as electric guitars and electric pianos Involves completely free improvisation with no basis whatsoever. Collective improvisation – a group of musicians improvising without a central theme Birdland – Weather Report His album Free Jazz was under fire by critics who claimed it “wasn’t jazz at all”