Popular music history test 2

Louis Armstrong

The first major jazz soloist who shifted the focus from collective improvisation to solo performance.

Scat Singing

Vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables, popularized by Louis Armstrong.

Collective Improvisation

An early jazz style where multiple instruments improvise at once, creating a polyphonic texture.

Big Band

A large jazz ensemble, usually consisting of 15–18 players, that requires written arrangements.

Walking Bass

A bass technique playing one note per beat, creating a steady swing pulse.

Call and Response

A musical interaction where alternating phrases are exchanged between instrument sections.

Duke Ellington

A composer and bandleader known for his sophisticated arrangements tailored to his musicians.

Ellington Effect

Writing specifically for the unique tone colors of individual band members.

AABA Form

A standard 32-bar song structure commonly used in Tin Pan Alley music.

Bebop

A fast, complex jazz style developed in the 1940s as a reaction against commercial Swing.

Swing vs Bebop

Swing is danceable and simple, while bebop is fast, irregular, and intended for focused listening.

World War II Impact

During the war, drafts and costs shrank big bands and encouraged the growth of smaller combos.

Charlie Parker

A saxophonist who revolutionized jazz harmony using upper chord tones like the 9th, 11th, and 13th.

Dizzy Gillespie

A trumpeter known for complex solos and for codifying bebop theory.

Contrafact

A new melody written over existing chord changes.

Ride Cymbal Timekeeping

Bebop drummers keep time on the ride cymbal while using 'bombs' on the bass drum.

Cool Jazz

A relaxed, lyrical jazz style emphasizing soft dynamics and controlled tone.

Miles Davis

A key figure in the development of Cool Jazz, known for his innovative approaches.

Dave Brubeck

A pianist famous for his complex rhythms, especially in 5/4 time, in pieces like 'Take Five.'

Modal Jazz

A style of jazz that focuses on scales rather than rapid chord changes, emphasizing mood.

Brush Drumming

A soft drumming technique using brushes to create gentle, textured sounds.