Transcript Origins of Jazz

Origins of Jazz
Elements unique to jazz “style”




Rhythm “swing” feel
Pitch Blue notes; bent pitches
Sound traditional instruments played in
unusual ways (effects)
Improvisation spontaneous composition
within a predetermined structure
Early Jazz History


Can be traced to New Orleans in the 1890s
City was culturally diverse, & represents the
cultural influences:





Western Europe (France)
Spain
Africa
Latin America (Caribbean)
African-American descendants of slaves
Jazz is an American Art Form



At its origin, America was a segregated
society
Jazz grew out of the African-American side of
American culture
An African-American has been responsible
for the initiation of every new jazz style
Jazz is a model for “multiculturalism”



Western Africa contributed the emphasis
on rhythm & the percussion instruments to
provide a rhythmic foundation
Slaves had usually been kept on Caribbean
islands before being shipped to the U.S.
French & Spanish possessions (Caribbean
islands) exerted a cultural influence
Spanish tango can be heard in early jazz
multiculturalism

Religion played a role from the beginning



Slave work produced work songs & field
hollers


Spirituals
Musical “hybrid” basis for much early Dixieland
marching music
“conversational” music still prominent in much jazz
Influence of European music

Forms, harmonies, & instruments
Ragtime (1890-1920)



A style of solo piano jazz
Have the feel of a march and the melody is
highly syncopated
Scott Joplin


Leading performer and writer of rags
Was a son of slaves, but received a formal
musical education
Blues




A sound/style and a form based on a simple
chord progression
Has been used in all jazz periods and styles
A favorite form of vocalists
Has been used extensively by
instrumentalists, as well
Dixieland (1900-1930)




First true jazz style
Flourished in the New Orleans Storyville
district until 1917
Moved to other cities Kansas City, NY,
Chicago
Chicago is the site of considerable progress
because of Louis Armstrong

Developments of Chicago Dixieland:




Addition of a tenor sax to the front line
Replacement of banjo by piano
Replacement of tuba by string bass
Importance of individual “solo” improvisations
Swing (1930-1945)





Big Band Era
Bands had 15-20 players
Music was arranged & the role of the soloist
diminished
Pieces were limited to 3 minutes because of
recording limitations
Fletcher Henderson


1st “big band” in NY
First time whites had taken an interest in jazz

Duke Ellington


Brilliant composer, piano player, & band leader
Wrote for the strengths of individuals in his band
Bebop (1940-1950)






Reaction to the swing era
Decline in ballroom dancing after World War
II, caused a decline in the big bands
Jazz became “art music” rather than
commercial popular music
Emphasized small groups & individual
creativity
Use of “sophisticated” harmonies
Irregular phrases





New songs based on the chords of the
standards
Introduction of Latin rhythms
Drummers & bass players were featured as
soloists
Music is intense and technical
Players


Charlie “Bird” Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
Cool (1949-55)




Reaction to the intensity of bop
Retained the sophisticated & intellectual
developments of bop in a restrained, “chamber
orchestra” style
Understated music
Addition of new instruments




Flute
Cello
French Horn
Adopted “classical” forms



Not restricted to harmony & form restrictions
of “songs”
Musicians withdrew from the audience
Miles Davis



Leading figure in this style
Possibly the most important personality in the
history of jazz
Responsible for 2 styles (cool & fusion)
Free Jazz (1960-?)




Grew out of the radical 60s
An attempt to abandon the rigid forms &
harmonic structures of traditional jazz
Featured free, collective improvisation
Added non-western elements, extended
playing techniques, & opened solo
possibilities for drummers & bass players
Fusion (1970-?)



Combined elements of rock with jazz
Grew to combine elements of 20th century
“classical” music with jazz
Players



Miles Davis
Herbie Hancock
Chick Corea
1990s


Simultaneous revival & development of most
jazz styles from the past
Wynton Marsalis




Leads a school of players & writers with strong
ties to the culture & history of jazz
Formally trained
Attempts to innovate by building on traditions
Won the Pulitzer Prize in composition

First time a jazz composition has won that award