Ragtime Music (1890 to 1910)
None of the listening selections here are requiredRagtime music (the compositions sometimes have the word "Rag" as an ending tag) is the earliest form of jazz. It's called "ragtime" because of the "raggedy," syncopated rhythm present in the right hand of the piano player. The left-hand plays a steady rhythmic part, and the right hand forms a syncopated contrast to it.
BUT!! Just what is this "syncopation" thing?
Syncopation is a general term for a "disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of the rhythm," or in other words, a "placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally occur."
That's a definition, but perhaps this YouTube might help you understand it in greater detail. This YouTube is NOT REQUIRED.
Syncopation and Accents
This type of music enjoyed a renaissance (rebirth) when the 1973 movie The Sting (starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford) featured it exclusively. It's a movie worth watching both for the neat music and the really cool plot twists. You probably will NOT figure out the ending before it happens!
The Blues (1910 to 1920)
This actually evolved slowly from Black spirituals between 1840s and 1865 because the slaves had many things to be "blue" about. They were treated horribly. However, the form we have today dates from the early part of the 20th century. To play the blues, a man and a guitar is all that's needed. Sometimes having a dog helped!It was during this era that musicians started "jammin.'" The "jam session" consisted of a bunch of musicians sitting around together, each guy getting a chance to do his own improvising.
The musical basis of "the blues" is the 12 bar verse. All blues have verses of 12 bars, each 12 bar group using only three chords (I, IV, V). The topics of the songs were "sad." An example of an old blues song by Jelly Roll Morton is called "Mamie's Blues." The lyrics are as follows:
Two nineteen done took my baby away,
Two nineteen took my babe away,
Two seventeen gonna bring her back some day.
A traditional example of the blues is sung here by Bessie Smith: (Not Required)
Bessie Smith Singing the Blues
A more modernized version of the blues is sung here by Nina Simone: (Not Required)
Nina Simone sings "Blues for Momma"
Dixieland (1920 to 1935)
This era was also called "The Roaring 20's." America is at the top of the world after WWI, but it was a period of great moral struggle. Reformers were able to get the sale and consumption of alcohol banned by the constitution (1919-1933), but all this did was drive the control of alcohol underground and into the control of organized crime -- which was just starting to become powerful. Al Capone ruled Chicago's organized crime, and "bootleg" alcohol made him a ton of money. Strong morals began to take a dive as women started smoking cigarettes and drinking. They also started to wear much shorter skirts and in general, "show more skin."The term Dixieland originated with a group of musicians in New Orleans called "The Original Dixieland Jazz Band."
Because Al Capone made a high-quality nightlife possible, musicians went along for the ride. Booze and music go very well together, and jazz clubs (speakeasies) serving bootleg booze created many opportunities for musicians. Capone's gangster activities contributed indirectly to the growth and survival of jazz.
This time was a time of great decadence, and it was made famous by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novels, especially in The Great Gatsby which features a wealthy chap who made his money illegally from bootleg alcohol.
A Dixieland group is usually a trumpet, clarinet, trombone, and occasionally saxophone. The rhythm section that provided its foundation was composed of banjo, piano, drums, and string bass or tuba.
Characteristics of Dixieland Music: Fairly fast tempo in 4/4 time.
Most famous name associated with Dixieland: Louis Armstrong.
A good modern example of Dixieland style music is featured in the Canteena scene in the very first Star Wars film. Here is a clip to give you an idea: (NOT REQUIRED)
Music(only) from Star Wars Cantina Scene
The Swing Era -- also called The Big Band Era (1935-1945)
Musicians themselves have a hard time defining the word "swing" music. Benny Goodman called it "free speech in music." Some dictionaries describe it as music that evokes a visceral (from the gut) response to the music like tapping your fingers or feet or nodding your head in time. It also makes for really good dancing music.
Swing and Big Band music was originally looked upon in the same way jazz was -- it was sinful. But when Big Band orchestras started to get booked in places like Carnegie Hall, the disreputable aura around it gradually faded away.
The emphasis is on a "swing" feel and a very clear melody to which dancing is a normal response.
The most famous big bands were the Glenn Miller Band, the Duke Ellington Band, the Count Basie Band, and many others. Benny Goodman (who also had his own band) became known as "The King of Swing."
Although the basic microphone (for telephone) had been invented in 1878, the modern carbon "condenser" microphone was significantly became popular in the early 1920's and was used in radio. When amplification and more powerful speakers came about, the microphone had a profound effect on singing in public. The "dynamic" mic became popular starting in the 1930's. With these mics, the audience could hear the shadings in a singer's voice as it could now compete in volume with the instruments. Obviously, amplifiers and speakers were needed too.
For a history of microphones check this out:
History of Microphones
When the government began to tax big bands, smaller groups started to form which could avoid the "cabaret tax." These small groups became the start of the next era, be-bop.
Here are a few Big Band selections. (NOT REQUIRED, but This is GREAT STUFF!)
Benny Goodman's Band plays "Sing, Sing, Sing"
Glenn Miller's Band plays "In the Mood"
Louis Armstrong's Band plays "La Vie En Rose"
Count Basie playing jazz in "Blazing Saddles"
Bebop (1945 -- on)
This is the beginning of "modern jazz." Much more emphasis here on complexity and difficult-to-play music. Definitely NOT singable music. The complexity and difficulty made this a musical genre for only the most talented players. The music is usually very fast with lots of eighth note runs. Charlie Parker (aka "Bird") is the generally acknowledged "father" of bebop. He was recorded and "officially logged" as the fastest musician of all time.Dick Hymen and Billy Taylor talk about and "do" Bebop (None of this is required)
Charlie Parker plays "Groovin' High"
Miles Davis & "Bird" play "Thrivin' From a Riff"
Progressive or "Cool" Jazz (1945 -- on)
This started at the same time as Bebop, but it was more of a reaction to Bebop than anything else. It is more subtle, moody, muted, and restrained than Bebop. It incorporates some of the narmonies of 20th century composers like Stravinsky. Miles Davis played this type of music as well as Bebop. Another player in this tradition -- and a fellow who brought Brazilian music into the mix -- was the saxophone player Stan Getz. The most famous Brazilian piece of this type is Antonio Carlos Jobim's masterpiece, "The Girl from Ipanema." First Joao then Astrud Gilberto sing, then Getz plays the sax. This is one cool track. It uses a bossa nova beat.This track starts with Joao Gilberto in Portugese, moves to English with his wife Astrud, then Getz comes in. This is great stuff!
"The Girl from Ipanema" with Jobim, the Gilbertos, and Getz
Even though you could dance to this song, folks generally prefered to listen to cool jazz rather than dance to it. By the '50s, the goal of jazz was no longer associated with dancing.
Hard Bop (1950 -- on)
This was a backlash against cool jazz. It wasn't as difficult to play as bebop, but it maintained a high level of intensity. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers were the most well-know of the hard bop musicians. Miles Davis was a proponent as well. John Coltrane is a giant of this genre. The most famous "club" in which this type of music is frequently played is the Blue Note in downtown NYC. Ronnie Scotts is the most famous club of this type in London.Art Blakey & the Jazz Messingers play "Moanin'"
John Coltrane plays "My Favorite Things/"
Free Jazz (1960 -- on)
Free Jazz follows the lead of avant-garde 20th century classical music; traditional harmony, melody, and rhythm are stretched to the limit or abandoned altogether. Free jazz often sounds like a group of musicians randomly playing together. As with classical avant garde music, this type of jazz takes some time to appreciate. Post-modern jazz like this moved towards more complex forms rather than the traditional "head, solo, head" form of traditional jazz.The Ornette Coleman Sextet plays some free jazz
Today's Jazz
The trend today is to take a "look back" at the various types of jazz -- something of a return to the bebop and post-bop roots of modern jazz. We could almost say it is a kind of "neo-classical" appproach to jazz.The Marsalis brothers, Winton and Branford, have achieved huge success with making jazz popular. Winton is an amazing musician who can both play trumpet with the best classical trumpeters and jam with the "coolest" of the jazz artists of our day. His Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra also puts a significant effort into jazz education -- especially with grade school and high school students. He is quite an educator, and he takes advantage of all the help that multi-media can provide to preach the gospel of jazz.
The Marsalis brothers are not alone in their efforts to "bring music to the masses." Arturo Sandoval (trumpet), Courtney Pine (sax), and Bobby McFerrin (voice) have made a significant contribution to the world of modern jazz.
Here's a collaboration between Winton Marsalis, Eric Clapton, and some really fine blues musicians.''
Marsalis, Clapton, and others play the blues (says link isn't available -- wait; it DOES come)
Bobby McFerrin sings "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Arturo Sandoval and the Boston Pops play "Caravan"
"A Night in Tunisia" Arturo Sandoval goes crazy on trumpet (You are not likely EVER to hear a trumpet played higher or lower than Sandoval plays at the end of this piece. AMAZING)
