MUS 307: Jazz Appreciation

Early Jazz features (3)/ instrumentation

- collective improvisation in front line instruments

- Instrumentation differs from many eras, front line of trumpet, clarinet, and trombone; sometimes banjo and tuba

- short selections (i.e. Louis Armstrong)

- Function of music: social (dancing & carousing) (happy fast paced music)

- European (chord progression) & African Influences ("call and response", emphasis on drumming)

Swing features (3)/ instrumentation

- Jazz's most popular era

- purpose of music was dancing (you can tell because of the tempo and drumming)

- Precomposed melodies: simpler, less grinding, dissonant

- Emphasis on composition and arrangment

- big band instrumentation ( 5 saxophones, 4-5 trumpets, 4-5 trombones, and rhythm section)

Bebop features (2)/ instrumentation

- Complicated language using scales and arpeggios (aka fast notes), technical proficiency, upper register of trumpet, emphasis on improv, more dissonant

- purpose: listening (jazz lost popularity in this era because it evolved in isolation)

- dress and language are unique to the sub-culture (suits, slang, drug usage)

- tension in the solos, extremem registers, surprises in rhythms and notes, complicated

- rhythm section: aggressive drumming ("dropping bombs")

- Primary instrumentation: front line of trumpet, alto sax; piano, bass, drums

Cool features (2)

- restrained, passive solos, using middle registers

- less inflections when compared to hard bop

- Composed melodies: less activity, gentle accents, pure tone, instrumentation

- passive drumming "smooth", little to no comping, often using brushes for the drums

- "west coast" jazz

- Mutes sometimes used to soften instrument sounds and to dampen tone colors

Hard Bop features (2)/ instrumentation

- Solos: blues + Bebop, many inflections, upper register, active and agressive

- Composed Melodies: activity, strong accented rhythms

- Rhythm section: agressive drumming (i.e. Art Blakey) & repetitive comping (i.e. Horace Silver)

- blues/ AABA forms common

- front line of tenor sax and trumpet; piano, bass, and drums

Modal features (1)

- one chord for a long period of time

- harmony is minimized, so melody, rhythm and development become more imporant

Free features (2)

- collective improvisation among all instruments

- Usually missing one or more of these elements: melody, form, harmony, tempo

- turbulence/revolt expressed in music (chaos)

- politically oriented music (equality, democracy and freedom)

- "echoing and repetition", fast tempo and upper register

Fusion features (3)/ instrumentation

- electronic instruments including electric guitar, electric bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, and synthesizer

- rock rhythmic grooves

- combination of jazz with other eras, particularly rock & cultures (spain and brazil)

-editing rock effects: electronic effects & editing capabilities (multitacking and splicing)

- simple repetitive harmonies

Neoclassical features (1)/ instrumentation

- acoustic instruments

- return to acoustic roots

- concerned with preserving and playing acoustic jazz that focuses on music of the earliest eras (particularly early jazz and swing)

- galvanized by Wynton Marsalis

- continued the "legitmization" of jazz (jazz at the lincoln center)

- new interpretations or performances of historically significant jazz (new improv/twists)

- return to acoustic jazz with particular attention to replicate and play early jazz eras (strong historical tradition)

Chronological order and dates of eras

1920's Early Jazz

1930's Swing Era

1940's Bebop

Early 1950's Cool Jazz

Late 1950's Hard Bop

1960's Modal Jazz

1960's Free Jazz

1970's Fusion

1980's Neoclassical

Improvisation

Immediate creation of a melody

Melody

Series of single pitches

(aka head)

Chord

Three of more pitches sounded at the same time

Harmony

Order of chords in a song (aka changes)

Form

Overall structure of a piece of music

Blues Form

twelve measures; 3-four measure phrases; statement, repetition, commentary

AABA form

32 measures, 4- eight measure phrases; A sections are the same while B section is contrasting

Chorus

Once through the form of a song

Swing rhythmic feel

walking bass; drums play swing rhythmic pattern; uneven eighth notes

Even eighth rhythmic feel

repetitive bass; even eighth notes in drums and other instruments

Cross-rhythm

One rhythmic grouping placed on top of another (i.e. three over two)

Sheets of Sound

rapid scales and arpeggios used by John Coltrane

Collective improvisation

everyone improvises at the same time; know differences between collective improvisation in Early Jazz: just front line improvises @ the same time

Free Jazz: Everyone improvises at the same time

Break

rhythm section stops and soloist continues

Rhythm Section

keeps the tempo and in charge of changing the harmonies (drums, piano, bass, & guitar)

All time Jazz Greats in chronological order

- Early Jazz, Louis Armstrong, trumpet

- Swing Era, Duke Ellington, piano/composer

- Bebop, Charlie Parker "Bird", alto saxophone

- Leader of multiple eras, Miles Davis, trumpet

- Modal/free - John Coltrane, tenor saxophone

Duke Ellington Jungle Music

- growling sounds in brass (plungers)

- Low sounds - tom-toms; baritone sax

Ex. Ko-Ko or "E. St. Louis Toodle-oo" (picture painting)

Duke Ellington Standard

- 1940s, danceable, popular, often AABA or Blues form

- Ex: Satin Doll & "Take the 'A' Train"

Duke Ellington Mood Music

- dreamy, tranquil atmosphere; slow tempos

- writing across the sections

- many textures through various combinations of instruments, mutes, and other arranging devices

- Ex: Mood Indigo: dark tapestry, created by sound

Duke Ellington Extended Form

- Lengthy works about a particular subject or theme

- Ex: Sacred Concerts

- " Madness in Great ones": depicts Hamlet, imaginative, sometimes schizophrenic colors in the arrangement, begins wit leaping melodies with unexpected starts and stops. high trumpets, dissonant chord; squeaks

Miles Davis improvisation characteristics

- Mercurial: subject ot sudden or unpredictable changes or mood or mind

- harmon mute often used

- smooth sound - lack of vibrato (Vibrato is a rapid, slight variation in pitch)

- less is more - longer spaces between phrases

- Repetition/ motivic development

Miles Davis Cool

- Birth of the Cool

-Important arranger: Gil Evans

- Long, dense sounds, muted colors

- Ex: Summertime: use of harmon mute, cool drumming

Miles Davis Hard Bop

- Miles Davis' first great quintet: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and rhythm section players

- Prestige Records

- Ex: "straight, no chaser" from Milestones: blues form, personalities of soloists, miles says "when the saints"

Miles Davis Modal Jazz

-Album "Kind of Blue" solidified and defined the concept of modal jazz

- Bill Evans collaboration very important (piano); he had an introspective, restrained style that perfectly complemented Miles' playing, as well as the modal structures- also beautiful touch/colors

- Miles put together musicians with contrasting styles together, hoping their creativity would make it work; he wanted to capture the "spirit of discovery"

- "So what": first motive, higher notes added (tension) --> miles moves into upper extensions (different colors)

- The second great quintet: Davis, Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, and rhythm section

- This group re-interpreted jazz standards, played modal compositions, and added even-eight rhythms

Miles Free/Fusion

- expanded modal band to include electric instruments and free portions & more players

- combined elements of free jazz and fusion

- Ex: Bitches Brew (this is the pinnacle of this category, gave the band little time to prepare and practice the music) : structure is not clearly defined: free sections (out of time, tense sounds, "surprise" crashes, "screaming") alternating with rock groove (echo)

Miles Davis post-retirement/fusion

- returned to music after 6 years of retirement with different fusion band

- rehearsed and precise (contrast w/ Bitches Brew, which gave the band little time to prepare and practice the music)

- Miles is more gregarious

- Ex: Jean Pierre Album "We Want Miles": Opening rock groove, electric bass, prominent percussion, nursery rhyme-like melody played by Miles (harmon mute used)

Miles important collaborators

Bill Evans (piano)

Miles Important arranger

Gill Evans (cool era)

John Coltrane improvisation characteristics

- technical virtuosity

- powerful sound/ tone quality

- "Sheets of sound" : dense textures and continuous flow of ideas

- Very few rests, spaces

- Fast, relentless notes

John Coltrane Giant Steps

- rapid, unusual chord changes

*sheets of sound develops

- "Coltrane's Sound" - powerful, clear tone

*Album: Giant steps, song "Giant steps": revolutionized chord changes, Coltrane's sound = bright and clear powerful tone, very few rests and spaces

- other song (not necessary): "Countdown": faster than giant steps ("sheets of sound"), no melody until the end, rapid, unusual chord changers.

*important because: it developed his sound

John Coltrane Modal (know 2 songs)

- Despite revolutionizing chords in giant steps, he moved toward minimizing chord changes (which eventually led to him eliminating most chords in free jazz era)

- "My Favorite Things": Coltrane on soprano, minor vs. major, "sheets of sound" almost hypnotic, Indian music influence

- "Impressions": same chord changes as "so what" but faster tempo, great power and endurance from Coltrane (tenor), "cries and screams"

*A Love Supreme importance: Expresses Coltrane's view on spirituality (acknowledgment, resolution, pursuance, psalm), helped him conquer a serious drug addiction, peak of modal category, "preaching" over one chord, using words of a devotional poem, hypnotic nature of music - even 8ths

- "Alabama": reaction to 1963 bombing of baptist church in Birmingham, crescendo, music gets louder, near the end to signify the rising of civil rights movement

John Coltrane Free

- One or more of these elements missing: melody, form, harmony, tempo

- Take one chord away from modal --> free jazz

* Ascension

Large ensemble, no preset melody, chord progression, from, tempo changes, sometimes no steady pulse, collective improvisation, lengthy work, reflected turbulence in American Society (1960s) attempt to "tear down rules", tension and dissonance, echoing and repetition

Jelly Roll Morton

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Early Jazz (1920s)

- piano

- First jazz arranger

Duke Ellington

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Swing Era (1930s)

- piano composer

- 4 categories of recordings

Benny Goodman

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Swing (1930s)

- Clarinet/bandleader

- brought jazz to Carnegie Hall, integrated the jazz band

Count Basie

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Swing (1930s)

- piano

- big band leader

Vocalists from Swing (4)

Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams

Charlie Parker "Bird"

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Bebop (1940s)

- alto saxophone

- great virtuosity, tragic lifestyle

Dizzy Gillespie

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Bebop (1940s)

- trumpet

- virtuosity, sense of humor, Afro- Cuban rhythms into jazz, educator

Dave Brubeck

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Cool (early 1950s)

- piano/composer

- unusual meters i.e. "Take Five"

Paul Desmond

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Cool (early 1950s)

- alto sax with Brubeck

- lyrical sound

Stan Getz

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Cool (early 1950s)

- tenor sax

- brought bossa nova to jazz

- "Girl From Ipanema"

Miles Davis (cool)

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- cool (early 1950s)

- "Birth of the Cool" band

- Gil Evans, arranger

Chet Baker

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Cool (early 1950s)

- trumpeter/ vocalist

- natural, lyrical musician

- tragic lifestyle

Art Blakey

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- hard bop (late 1950s)

- drums

- jazz messengers, farm team for future leaders

- blues + bebop

Horace silver

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- hard bop (late 1950s)

- piano/composer

- repetitive comping

- wrote standards

Cannonball Adderley

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Hard bop (late 1950s)

- alto sax

- soul jazz

Clifford Brown

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- hard bop (late 1950s)

- trumpet

- virtuoso

Sonny Rollins

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- hard bop (late 1950s)

- tenor sax

- motivic development

Miles Davis (h.b)

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

hard bop (late 1950s)

- first great quintet

prestige records band

Miles Davis (modal)

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

Modal Jazz (1960s)

"Kind of Blue" (relaxed)

John Coltrane (modal)

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

Modal Jazz (1960s)

"Impressions" (tense,energetic)

"A love supreme" (spiritual)

Charles Mingus

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- w/o era category

- bass/composer

- used several eras

- Organized chaos

- strong personality

Thelonious Monk

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- no era category

- piano/composer

- combination of logic and surprise

- motivic development

Bill Evans

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

no era category

- pianist on "Kind of Blue"

- led interactive trio

Keith Jarrett

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- no era category

- piano

- solo concerts and interactive trio

Chick Corea

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

Fusion (1970s)

- fusion pioneer

- keyboards/piano

- Spanish influence

Herbie Hancock

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- fusion pioneer (1970s)

- keyboards/piano

- Chameleon

Joe Zawinul

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- fusion pioneer (1970s)

- keyboards/piano

- Weather Report

John McLaughlin

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- fusion pioneer (1970s)

- guitar

- heavy rock influence

Michael Brecker

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

fusion (1970s)

- saxophone/EWI

Pat Metheny

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

fusion (1970s)

- guitar/synthesizer/composer

- world music influence

Snarky Puppy

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

modern fusion band (1970s)

Wynton Marsalis

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

Neoclassical (1980s)

- trumpet

- return to acoustic roots

- recreate swing era music

Christian McBride

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- today

- bass

- traditional approach

Kenny Garrett

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- today

- alto sax

- "coltrane of alto saxophone"

Esperanza Spalding

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- today

- bass/vocals

- multiple genre influences

- grammy for "Best New Artist"

Chris Potter

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Today

- tenor sax

- virtuoso, extended range of instruments

Maria Schneider

(Era, Instrument, Contributions)

- Today

- composer

- modern big band

- Gil Evans Influence

The definition of form is

.the overall structure of a piece of music

Duke Ellington is most closely associated with which era

Swing

The swing rhythmic feel contains all of the following except?

- a repetitive bass line

- an uneven ride cymbal pattern

- uneven 8th notes

- a walking bass

a repetitive bass line

Which of these instruments is NOT a rhythm section instrument?

-guitar

-trombone

-piano

-bass

trombone

AABA form is

four eight measure sections; with the first, second, and fourth sections being the same

The correct chronological order of the eras listed below is:

-Cool, Swing, Modal/Free

-New Orleans Jazz, Fusion, Swing

-Bebop, Cool, Hard Bop

-Hard Bop, Cool, Bebop

bepop, cool, hardbop

Horace Silver played the

piano

The primary role of the piano in the jazz band is to:

"Comp" the chords of the song

Art Blakey and his band were known for all of the following EXCEPT:

-Passive drumming

-Aggressive drumming

-Trumpet/tenor instrumentation

-Led a "farm team" for future leaders

passive drumming

All of the following are characteristics of Hard Bop EXCEPT:

-Trumpet and tenor saxophone instrumentation

-Blues + Bebop Vocabulary

-Passive, relaxed drumming

-Gospel influences

passive, relaxed drumming

All of the following are features of Cool jazz except:

-Passive drumming

-Restrained solos

-Sometimes called "East Coast" jazz

-"Polite" music

sometimes called "east coast" jazz

Sonny Rollins was known for his

use of calypso rhythms

All of the following are associated with the cool era except:

- sonny rollins

- stan getz

- dave brubeck

- miles davis

sonny rollins

Cannonball Adderley played the

Alto Saxophone

What song features Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker

Shaw 'Nuff

The aural differences between Cool and Bebop discussed in class include all of the following except:

-Instrumentation (particularly Bebop)

-Characteristics of the solos

-Rhythm section playing

-The length of the recordings

the length of the recordings

Gerry Mulligan played the

Baritone Saxophone

All of the following are musical features of Bebop except:

-Use of upper registers

-Lyrical melodies/improvisations

-Drum "bombs"

-Complicated melodies/improvisations

Lyrical melodies/improvisations

The composer that wrote "Girl From Ipanema" was:

Antonio Carlos Jobim

Which of the following statements about Chet Baker is not accurate?

-He abused drugs.

-He played the trumpet and sang.

-He studied music thoroughly in school.

-He was known as the "James Dean" of jazz.

He studied music thoroughly in school

Aspects of Dizzy Gillespie's life included all of the following except:

-Developed a bebop big band

-Unwilling to educate others

-Scat Singing

-Practical and musical jokester

Unwilling to educate others