History of jazz exam 2
who was the 1st significant composer/arranger in jazz?
Jelly Roll Morton (ragtime piano player)
Differences between stride and ragtime
- Stride had more intense playing
-improvization more important in stride
- stride was the first jazz piano style
- Ragtime compositions consisted of one melody
- very little to no improvisation
- Ragtime was often composed
Who was a well-known ragtime composer?
Scot Joplin
Who is the father of stride piano?
James P. Johnson
who was the most entertaining stride pianist?
Thomas "fats" waller
who was the most gifted stride pianist?
Art Tatum
Musical characteristics of swing?
- Preferd instrumentation was big band
- Saxaphone more common
- Smoothr, overall rhythmic feeling
- improvization in general was de-emphasized
Melody of swing?
-Very simple melodies
-Riffs (short repeated phrases)
- featured call & response
what made swing popular?
-Radio shows
- Dance halls
-it was embraces by white america
- "lets dance"
What were two soloists that emerged from Swing?
Coleman Hawkins, and Lester Young
Coleman Hawkins
1st important tenor saxaphone player
- heavy tone
-fast vibrato
Lester Young
- Also known as "The Prez"
-president of tenor saxophonists
- relaxed approach
-featured on "taxi war dance" by Count Basie
Why was Fletcher Henderson important?
He was one of the most influential arrangers in jazz history
- helped bridge the gap between dixieland and swing eras
What are the characteristics of Duke Ellington's compositions?
-Band based in New York
- Heavily structured compositions (most instruments play at the same time)
-Use of mutes on brass instruments
-personalized compositions
What are characteristics of Count Basie's Compositions?
-Band based in Kansas City
-Main instrument was piano
Blue-based compositions
-Light,Airy compositions
Who was the King of Swing?
Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
- Played the clarinet
- Band leader
- one of the first integrated jazz bands
-had mainstream popularity
Who was Mary Lou Williams?
She was the first important female composer & arranger in Jazz
Differences between Bebop and Swing?
-Bebop had combos (smaller group instrumentation)
- Less emphasis placed on arrangements in Bebop
-The tempo was faster than swing, which is why it wasnt as popular.
-Virtousity displayed by soloists
- Improvisation more complex in Bebop
VERY IMPORTANT BEBOP PLACE
Mintons Playhouse Harlem
Dizzy Gillespie
- One of the founding fathers of Bebop
- first important Bebop trumpeter
- invented the modern approach to jazz trumpet
-wrote many compositions
Charlie (BIRD) Parker
- one of the founder fathers of Bebop (1/2)
-Alto Sax player
-Contributed the most to the development of Bebop
-Innovated Playing style
-wrote a sizeable amount of tunes
Thelonious Monk
-Outstanding Bebop composer
-Compositions became standard repetory in jazz music
-Used stride techniques in his playing
-Influences by Duke Ellington on piano
what does Homophony mean?
One main melody with an accompianiment
Harlem Stride Piano
- Had a faster tempo
- First piano jazz style
- Left hand acts as RHYTMN SECTIONS
- right hand plays the MELODY
Billie Holiday
- also known as "LADY DAY"
- Reserved vocal style
- gave life to lyrics
- sang blues, pop, and show tunes
Ella Fitzgerald
- Popularized Scat singing (Bebop Influenced)
- considered the most outstanding non-operatic singer in the 20th century
- Flawless technique, fresh original style
International Sweethearts of Rhytmn
- All female jazz band
- Black & white members
Bud Powell
- the most IMITATED BEBOP PIANIST
- played with much speed & dexterity
J.J Johnson
- First Bebop Trombone Player
-Smooth, consistent sound
- very active composer
Modern Jazz Quartet (M.J.Q)
- Unique Instrumentation
-Cool Bebop sound
- used "Vibed", piano, bass, drums
-became one of the BEST KNOWN GROUPS IN MODERN JAZZ
who was Sara Vaughan?
- Best knwon singer to emerge from the Bebop Era
-Dark & Rich tone quality
-Accomplished Scat singer
What is COOL JAZZ?
- Its jazz that is softer and easier to follow
-avoids being rough or brashy
- term was not embraced by musicians
Cool Jazz vs Bebop
- Cool jazz expanded instruments used unlike Bebop
- Cool jazz was smoother-sounding, less syncopated and harsher than Bebop
- tempo was generally slower
- used classical instruments like the TUBA, and FRENCH HORN
Center of development for Cool Jazz?
-New York
-Boston
-Los Angeles
Instrumentation of Miles Davis Nonet?
- Trumpet
-Alto sax
- Baritone Sax
-Bass
-Trombone
-French Horn
-Tuba
-Piano
Drums
Influential Cool Jazz Album?
"Birth of the Blues" by Miles Davis (1949)
What was significant about the album "Time Out" by Dave Brubeck Quartet?
- the First million selling jazz album
What was David Brubeck best known for?
best known for combining elements of jazz with classical music
Who is Miles Davis?
- The most influential jazz musician post-World War II
- He was a trumpeter, band leader, and composer
- led the progression of jazz from the 1940s to the 1980s
Artists Associated with Cool Jazz?
- Miles david
- Gerry Mulligan
-Chet Baker
Gerry Mulligan
-Baritone Sax player
-Primary composer of the MILES DAVIS NONET SESSIONS
- had a soft, dry, and light weight tone of the sax
Chet Baker
- Known for his soft, airy tone quality
-Trumpet player
- Had a quartet with Gerry Mulligan
What is West Coast Jazz?
- It was a commerical music industry
- played in movies, television, ETC
- many musicians from the swing era moved to california