1/22/2013

1

Jazz

1890-present

Part 1

• From the beginning until the end of the big

band era

• Will conclude with a listening test

• Take good notes as you can use them for the

written final test!

1/22/2013

2

What is Jazz• Style of music native to America• Developed from ragtime and blues• Has modified over time• Utilizes improvisation• Complex, syncopated rhythms native to Africa• Harmonic Structures influenced by Europe• Extended harmony- added notes above a basic triad

The Birth of Jazz• Born in New Orleans, Louisiana • No official documented beginning• Why New Orleans?

– Culture of celebration– Diverse racial composition– Rich musical tradition– City large enough

• Musicians in high demand- free to experiment– Dances– Picnics– Parties– Funerals– Mardi Gras– Holidays

1/22/2013

3

7 elements that define jazz music• Improvisation

– Make up music on the spot• Rhythm Section

– Group of instruments that create backbone to the ensemble• underlying pulse

– Syncopated rhythms, gives the music bounce and movement• forms from popular music and blues

– Singable tunes EX: (ìOh, When The Saints)• Timbrel (tambrel) features

– Adding vibrato, or other ways to manipulate the sound• Performer or composer aesthetics

– Embellishments of the melody, liberty in performing• Tonal and harmonic organization

– Framework, the way it is constructed and its function

Part 1: Ragtime 1897-1918

• The beginning of jazz ( classically based)• Dance music• Large range of notes• Rigid, syncopated rhythm, lively and upbeat• Came from marches, interjected with polyrhythms• First publication of ragtime- 1897 ìMississippi Ragî by

William H. Krell• Instruments used

– Primarily Piano– Occasional banjo and brass instruments

1/22/2013

4

Ragtime Sheet Music

Scot Joplin• Born 1868 in Texas, died in 1917• African-American composer and pianist• Parents were slaves• Traveled around spreading ragtime

– St. Louis– Chicago– New York

• Named ìThe king of Ragtimeî• Died from syphilis and dementia• Composed 47 pieces• Famous rags

– ìMaple Leaf Ragî- 1899– The ìEntertainerî -1902

1/22/2013

5

Listening example 1

• Composer: Scot Joplin

• Title: Maple Leaf Rag

• Date: 1899

• Style: Ragtime

• Additional Information: Most famous rag ever to

exist

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc

Part 2: The Blues• Developed later 19th Century• Blues is both a musical form and music genre• Originated in African-American communities from

spirituals, work sounds, field hollers, shouts and chants

• Blues form: 12 measures long= 1 chorus (count to 4, 12 times)

• Based on call and response– A way of communication

• The Blue notes and scale– b3 and b7

4 #4 5 b7 11 b3

1/22/2013

6

Bessie Smith• Born April 15, 1894-Died September 26, 1937• Most popular female blues singer of the 1920ís and 1930ís• Nicknamed ìthe Empress of the Bluesî• Sang on Broadway during the depression• Died from a severe car accident• Famous recordings inducted into the Grammy hall of fame

– St Louis Blues, 1925– Empty Bed Blues, 1928

Listening example 2

• Composer: W.C. Handy

• Singer: Bessie Smith

• Title: St. Louis Blues

• Date: Original-1914, this recording-1925

• Style: Blues

• Additional Information: performed with Louis

Armstrong

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNWs0LsimFs

1/22/2013

7

George Gershwin• Born September 26, 1898, Died July 11,1937-Brooklyn• piano player and songwriter• wrote for theater and musicals• Combined jazz and classical music• First published song at the age of 17 made $5.00 from

it, in 1916• Famous compositions

– Rhapsody In Blue (1924)– Porgy and Bess (1935)

Listening example 3

• Composer: George Gershwin

• Title: Rhapsody in Blue

• Date: 1924

• Style: Jazz/Classical= Third Stream

• Additional information: melody based on the

blues scale

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U40xBSz6

Dc

1/22/2013

8

Part 3: Dixieland (1920’s-1930’s)• Also called Traditional or Vintage Jazz• Later also called Hot Jazz• Strolling music-Parades and funeral processions• First recording using jazz appeared January 21, 1917 by

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band• Believe to be the official start of jazz• Different spellings of Jazz

– Jas, Jass, Jaz, Jasz, Jazcz– Term Jazz has an African origin

Dixieland continued• Instrumentation

– Trumpet/Cornet-melody– Clarinet- improvised around the

melody– Trombone- glisses and slides

around melody– Tuba, String bass or Bass Sax-

Bass line- steady tempo– Banjo, Guitar, Piano provided

the harmonic structure– Drums, kept time, created beats, and fills

• Everyone took a solo

1/22/2013

9

The Original Dixieland Jass Band

• Made first jazz recordings in early 1917• Originated in New Orleans• Produced 78 albums• Famous recorded songs

– Darktown Strutterís Ball– Tiger Rag– Indiana

Listening example 4

• Composer: Original Dixieland Jazz Band

• Title: Tiger Rag

• Date: 1917

• Style: Dixieland

• Additional information: First group to record

this song

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz0fk3G7

upQ

1/22/2013

10

King Oliver• Born Joe ìKingî Oliver, Born in Aben, Louisiana on May

11, 1885- Died April 10, 1938• Jazz cornet (Trumpet) bandleader• Pioneered the use of mutes• Taught Louis Armstrong• Brought jazz to California and Chicago where he earned

the name the ìJazz Kingî• Famous compositions

– Canal Street Blues– Doctor Jazz

King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band

1/22/2013

11

Listening example 5

• Composer: King Oliver

• Title: Canal Street Blues

• Date: 1923

• Style: Dixieland

• Additional information: Louis Armstrong

playing 2nd trumpet in this recording

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2QEBshA

Q68

Bix Beiderbecke

• Born Leon Bismark ìBixî Beiderbecke, in Iowa on March 10,1903-died August 6,1931

• Played Cornet, piano and was a composer• Taught himself cornet• Considered 2nd to Louis Armstrong• Notable for his tone and improvisation skills• Learned to play by ear• Famous compositions/Arrangements

– Singing the Blues

1/22/2013

12

Beiderbecke’s childhood home- Davenport, Iowa

Bix Beiderbecke

The Wolverines- first band Bix Played in

Listening example 6

• Composer: Bix Beiderbecke

• Title: Singin’ the Blues

• Date: 1927

• Style: Dixieland

• Additional information: Bix’s #1 hit

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ue9igC7f

lI

1/22/2013

13

Jelly Roll Morton• Born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe on September 20, 1885 in

New Orleans, died July 10, 1941• Performed ragtime and early jazz piano (Dixieland)• Noted as first to arrange jazz music• Self claimed to have invented jazz in 1902• Was playing piano professionally at the age of 14• Famous compositions

– Burniní the Iceberg– Black Bottom Stomp

Listening example 7

• Composer: Jelly Roll Morton

• Title: Burnin’ The Iceberg

• Date: 1929

• Style: Dixieland

• Additional information: recorded at Trinity

Baptist Church in Camden because of it’s great

acoustics

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwmCf8Uj

9oc

1/22/2013

14

Part 4: Swing• Developed in the 1930ís-1940ís• Form of American music that stresses the weak

beats (2 and 4)• First written as ìswing feelî• Something you have to feel• Usually not written out in music• Hi hat and ride cymbal most important part of the

drum set

Ella Fitzgerald• Born April 25, 1917- Died June 15, 1996• Jazz vocalist• Nicknames- ìFirst Lady of Songî ,ìQueen of Jazzî, and

ìLady Ellaî• Notable for her huge range, pure tone, phrasing, intonation,

and scat singing• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbL9vr4Q2LU• Recorded for 59 years,

almost 150 albums• Won 13 Grammy Awards• Famous recordings

– Do Nothiní Till You Hear From Me– God Bless the Child– Too Darn Hot

1/22/2013

15

Listening example 8

• Composer: Cole Porter

• Singer: Ella Fitzgerald

• Title: Too Darn Hott

• Date: 1948

• Style: Big Band

• Additional information: From the Musical Kiss

me Kate

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhs3Qklz5

a0

Louis Armstrong• August 4, 1901-July 6, 1971, New Orleans• Trumpet/singer- was known for his unique deep, raspy voice• Nicknamed Satchmo• Skilled a scat singing- (singing using sounds and

syllables not actual lyrics)• First African-American entertainer to appeal to both races.• Dropped out of school at age 11, sang in the streets for

money• Learned to play by ear (no formal training)• Famous compositions/ arrangements

– What a wonderful world– When The Saints Go Marching In– Ainít Misbehaviní

1/22/2013

16

Louis Armstrong

Listening example 9

• Composer: Bob Thiele and George Weiss

• Singer: Louis Armstrong

• Title: What a Wonderful World

• Date: 1967

• Style: Jazz Orchestra

• Additional information: recorded later in his career

• In the following movies- Shrek, Madagascar, Toy

Story, Wall-E, Monsters Inc.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU

1/22/2013

17

Part 5: Big Band (1930’s-1960’s)• Big band because often had 15-20 musicians• Strived on swing• Successful because of large performance spaces such as

– Super clubs– Ballrooms– Theaters– auditoriums

• Use of saxophones- unlike other styles• Music was arranged, written out. Still contained opportunities for

soloing.• Famous big band leaders

– Count Basie– Benny Goodman– Glen Miller– Duke Ellington

Instrumentation of big bands• Instruments

– 5 saxophones, 2 alto, 2 tenor and a baritone

– 4-5 Trombones

– 4-5 Trumpets

– Rhythm section- Drums, Bass (Tuba substituted as bass

in this photo), Piano, sometimes Guitar and vibes

1/22/2013

18

Benny Goodman• Born Benjamin David Goodman on May 30, 1909-June 13,

1986• American Jazz, swing, clarinet, and bandleader • Nicknamed the King of Swing• Influenced by Dixieland clarinet players• Had a racially mixed band in a time of segregation • Most notable performance- Carnegie Hall, NYC in 1938• Toured across the world• Famous compositions/ recordings

– One O'clock Jump– Sing Sing Sing

Benny Goodman

1/22/2013

19

Listening example 10

• Composer: Louis Prima

• Arranger: Benny Goodman

• Title: “Sing, Sing, Sing”

• Date: 1936-Original, 1937-this arrangement

• Style: big band

• Additional information: Song appears in many

TV shows, and movies. Oreo’s commercial

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtB6dijjWl

8

Count Basie

• Born William James Basie-August 21, 1904-April 26, 1984 in Red Bank, New Jersey

• American jazz pianist, organist, band leader, and composer.

• Learned piano from his mother• Played in Harlem, Kansas City and Queens. Made the

Woodside hotel in Queens their home base.• Famous compositions/recordings

– Jumpiní At The Woodside

1/22/2013

20

Count Basie

Woodside Hotel,

Harlem, NYC

Count Basie

Theater, in Red

Bank, New Jersey

1/22/2013

21

Listening example 11

• Composer: Count Basie

• Title: Jumpin’ At The Woodside

• Date: 1938

• Style: Big band

• Additional information: Had a specific dance

to it, like Cupid Shuffle or Cotton Eyed Joe.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdWgHtTa

u48

Billie Holiday• Born Elanora Harris on April 7, 1915-July 17,1959 in

Philadelphia, PA• American Jazz and pop Singer and songwriter• Vocal style inspired by jazz instrumentalists• Had a difficult childhood, went to jail for Prostitution• Sang for Count Basie, was fired for being unprofessional

and unreliable.then Artie Shaw took her

• Famous compositions/recordings– God Bless The Child– Summertime

1/22/2013

22

Listening example 12

• Composer: George Gershwin

• Singer: Billie Holiday

• Title: Summertime

• Date: 1935 (Original), this version (1936)

• Style: Big band with vocal

• Additional information: From the opera Porgy

and Bess. Still very popular today

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ddqniq

xFM

Duke Ellington• Born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899- Died May 24, 1974• Considered the greatest big band leader• Influenced by ragtime• Played piano• Modified big band to 18 members• Most recorded jazz composer• 200 published recordings• Over 1000 compositions• Awards/achievements

– Pulitzer Prize– On the cover of Time Magazine– 9 Grammys

• Played at the cotton club in Harlem

• Famous compositions/arrangements– Caravan– Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me

1/22/2013

23

Duke Ellington continued

The Cotton Club

1/22/2013

24

Listening example 13

• Composer: Duke Ellington

• Title: take The “A” Train

• Date: 1939

• Style: Big Band

• Additional information: The lady singing is Ella

Fitzgerald. Title is named after the “A” train in

Harlem

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1

JmCY

Glenn Miller• Born Alton Glenn Miller on March 1, 1904; died

December 15, 1944- disappeared in a missing plane over the English Channel

• American big band composer, arranger, band leader and trombonist

• Traveled in WWII to France to entertain US troops• Most famous compositions/recordings

– In The Mood– Pennsylvania 6-5000– Chattanooga Choo Choo– American Patrol– Tuxedo Junction– Little Brown Jug

1/22/2013

25

Glenn Miller

Listening example 14

• Composer: Glenn Miller

• Title: In The Mood

• Date: 1939

• Style: Big Band

• Additional information: #1 hit in the big band

era

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3K5uB-

wMA

1/22/2013

26

Frank Sinatra• Born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12, 1915- died May 14

1998• Sang solo in the 1940ís and 1950ís• Retired in 1971 due to poor record sales and poorly received films• Came out of retirement in 1973 with a huge hit (Theme From) ìNew

York, New Yorkî• Awards/ achievements

– Presidential Medal of Freedom- 1985– Congressional Gold Medal- 1997– 11 Grammy Awards

• Famous recordings/ compositions– Come Fly With Me– Theme from New York, New York– Moondancehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtwbMs_9WYk

Listening example 15

• Composer: John Kander and Fred Ebb

• Singer: Frank Sinatra

• Title: Theme from New York New York

• Date: 1977 Frank’s version 1979

• Style: big band with vocal

• Additional information: Theme song from the

film New York, New York

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtwbMs_9WYk