Jazz

• Jazz - a type of music of African American origin.
• Jazz started in the early 20th century with:

  • Syncopated beats
  • Improvisation
  • A regular and forceful rhythmic pattern
• Jazz is said to be the music of the African slaves expressing their feelings of sadness
• Ragtime Jazz

  • Popular between 1890-1915.
  • Steady syncopation and a 2/4 time signature.
  • Uses occasional harmony and blues notes.
  • Written largely for the piano.
• Big Band

  • Became popular in the late 19th century.
  • Characterized by ragged rhythm, syncopated in beat, performed in a larger group.
  • Type of musical ensemble that originated in the US during the Swing Era
• Bebop

  • Performed in a smaller group.
  • Introduced by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker in the 1940s.
  • Focused on soloists' brilliance and harmonic knowledge with extensive improvisation.
• Jazz Rock

  • Combines funk and R&B
  • Popular in the late 1940s to early 1970s
  • also known as Jazz Fusion
• Scott Joplin - known as the King of Ragtime
• What are the popular pieces of Scott Joplin?

  The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag
• Big band consists of 12-13 musicians playing:

  • Saxophones
  • Trumpets
  • Trombones
  • Percussion
• Popular Big Band group:

  • Glenn Miller Orchestra
• Bebop is Characterized by:

  • Complex harmonies
  • Fast tempo
  • Eccentric rhythms
  • Intricate melody.
• What are the musical instruments used for Jazz rock?

  Wind and Brass Instruments
• Popular singers who adopted Jazz rock:

  • Joni Mitchell
  • Tim Buckley
  • Van Morrison
• Glen Miller Orchestra's Theme Song:

  • Moonlight Serenade
• Saxophone:

  • Associated with jazz, commonly in smaller ensembles.
  • Provides the melody line.
  • Its sweet sound creates a variety of moods.
  • Used in ballads, upbeat swings, and jazz tunes.
• Trumpets:

  • Found in smaller ensemble bands.
  • Creates harmonies in jazz.
  • Can provide the melody, countermelody, or background of the music.
  • Typically not solo instruments.
• Trombone:

  • Commonly found in big bands.
  • Role similar to trumpet and saxophone.
• Piano:

  • Used in various situations in jazz.
  • Can be a solo instrument or accompaniment.
  • Part of the rhythm section in a big band.
  • Provides beat and chord changes in a song.
• Guitar:

  • Found in both big and small jazz ensembles.
  • Often played in the rhythm section.
  • Responsible for providing the bass line of the music.
• Drums:

  • Sets the tempo and style of the music.
  • Play an important role in the rhythm of any music.
• Claves:

  • These are pair of hardwood sticks played by striking them together