The Jazz Age

What singing styles did slaves from Africa bring to America?

Call and response, work songs, ring songs, and spirituals.

What are the key components of blues notes?

Lowered 3rd, 5th, and 7th of the scale, creating minor-key sounds.

What is syncopation in jazz?

Off-the-beat rhythms that create the distinctive swing of jazz.

What are the distinct steps in the development of jazz?

Ragtime, New Orleans or Dixieland Jazz, Big Band or Swing, Blues, Be-bop, Cool Jazz, Latin Jazz, Rock, hip hop, rap.

What characterized ragtime music?

A combination of left-hand accompaniment from European marches and syncopated rhythms from African traditions.

When did New Orleans or Dixieland Jazz emerge?

In the 1920s.

Who were the leading developers of New Orleans Jazz?

Joe "King" Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Jelly Roll Morton.

What is the typical ensemble structure of New Orleans Jazz?

Front line: trumpet or cornet, trombone, clarinet; Rhythm section: piano or banjo, double bass.

What was Louis Armstrong known for?

Being a gifted trumpeter, the inventor of scat singing, and a major proponent of New Orleans-style jazz.

What is a 'chorus' in jazz music?

A repetition of the harmonic progression used for the tune.

What is the structure of the song 'Muskrat Ramble'?

Ensemble leads with alternating solos from trombone, cornet, and clarinet, ending with a tag.

What is the significance of 'West End Blues'?

It illustrates New Orleans style jazz with an introduction and multiple choruses featuring solos.

What characterized the Swing or Big Band era?

Larger ensembles performing arranged music for live dancing, emerging in the 1930s and 1940s.

Who was Duke Ellington?

A prominent jazz pianist, composer, and Big Band leader known for his mastery of swing.

What is 'Cotton Tail' known for?

Being a contrafact that reworks George Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' with a new melody.

What is the typical structure of a blues song?

Three-line stanzas with a 12-bar harmonic pattern, often repeated.

Who was Bessie Smith?

Known as the 'Empress of the Blues,' she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1930s.

What is the structure of 'Back-Water Blues'?

Each stanza has three lines with a repeated 12-bar phrase.

What was Billie Holiday's famous protest song?

'Strange Fruit,' recorded in 1939.

What is the structure of 'Billie's Blues'?

Includes an introduction followed by multiple choruses featuring vocal and instrumental solos.

What is the significance of improvisation in jazz?

It allows musicians to create spontaneous and unique performances within a given structure.

What role did the Great Depression play in the evolution of jazz?

It led to the emergence of Big Bands as a form of entertainment for people seeking escape.

What is the 'tag' in jazz music?

A final cadence that often concludes a piece.

What is the 'A A B A' form in jazz?

A common structure in Tin Pan Alley tunes, often used in jazz compositions.

What is a 'contrafact' in jazz?

A reworking of an existing piece, using a new melody over a familiar harmonic progression.

What is the significance of improvisation in New Orleans Jazz?

It allows for personal expression and creativity within the established structure of a tune.

What did Louis Armstrong's 'Hot Five' contribute to jazz?

They were instrumental in popularizing New Orleans-style jazz and improvisation.

What is the role of the rhythm section in a jazz ensemble?

To provide harmonic and rhythmic support for the soloists.

What is the cultural significance of New Orleans in jazz history?

It was a melting pot of musical styles and cultures, fostering innovation and experimentation in jazz.