Jazz History

most prominent in New Orleans, but flourished elsewhere.
ensemble 10-12 musicians: trumpets, cornets, alto and baritone horns, tuba, clarinet, drums
repertoire: rags, marches, dances (parade music )
famous figure: Bunk Johnson (1879-1949)

• Black minstrelsy and black face minstrelsy (white face performers mimicking black perforemers)
• Four musicians: banjo, fiddle, tambourine and bomes
• Famous Figure: Daniel J. Emmett (1815-1904), Stephen Foster (1826-1864) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Stephen_Foster.jpg/220px-Stephen_Foster.jpg
• Entertainment mimicking the exciting and addictive rhythmic sounds of the black work songs and spirituals.

• Originated in African American music in the late 19th century
• Solo piano (also some ragtime ensembles)
• Sophisticated musically (harmonic sophistication)
• Music wholly composed (no improvisation)
• 2/4 or 4/4 time
• Left hand: strong beats 1 and 3 (bass notes) and weak beats 2 and 4 (chords)
• Right hand: syncopated melody
• Scott Joplin (1869-1917)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Scott_Joplin_19072.jpg
Scott Joplin
- Tom Turpin
Tom Turpin

Generally 6-10 Musicians per ensemble

Melody Section:

Cornet/Trumpet (melody) vs. Clarinet (countermelody) vs. Trombone ("harmonic countermelody")

Rhythm Section:

Banjo, Tuba and Drums

Rhythm consists of 4 beats per bar.

Forms are:

Ensemble chorus and improvisation.

Famous Figures:

Louis Armstrong, King Oliver

trad. jazz example

trad. jazz example

http://ourvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/8872_louis-armstrong.jpg

Tenor saxophone added to ensemble
Guitar replaces the banjo
Rhythm in 2/4 rather than 4/4
Solo improvisation instead of emphasis to ensemble
Piano and string bass gradually added to ensemble
Dixieland is closer to Chicago style than to the New Orleans style
Famous figure: Louis Armstrong
Chicago style example

Came around about the time that the African-Americans migrated to northern America in hope for a better life, but with little success. Mamie Smith was the first African-American to be recorded and became a big hit. She started being accompanied by black jazz bands. More singers started to sing with jazz bands accompanying them, for example Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. One musical elements in city blues include call and response.

Ensemble consists of c.14-16 musicians grouped in sections: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and rhythm.

Chordal style

Controlled and organised solo 'improvisation'.

Each benad had a 'trademark' style, depending on the band leader.

Famous figures: Fletcher Henderson (1898-1952), Duke Ellington (1899-1974), Bennie Goodman.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Duke_Ellington_Big_Band.jpg

Small ensemble, quartet or quintet, etc. Saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass, drums. For listening, not dancing. Fast and complex rhythms, heavy syncopation. Dissonance. First chorus played in unison, then improvisation, then return to first chorus at end. Charlie Parker. http://kidsmusiccorner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Charlie-Parker.jpg