Jazz

Question 1

Key features of early Jazz

Answer 1

Also known as Tard. Jazz or New Orleans Jazz
Generally Polyphonic
Often Small Groups of 4 to 8 players
Rhythm Section: Piano, Bass ,Drums, Banjo (Late replaced by Guitar)
Front line: Clarinet, Trombone, Cornet (Late became Trumpet), Saxophone
Form:
March/Ragtime
12 bar blues
Sometimes 32 bar popular song (ABAC)
Special Techniques
Collecteive improvisation
Stop time
Breaks (Monophonic)

Question 2

General terms for Jazz

Answer 2

Rhythm Section: Piano, Bass ,Drums, Banjo or Guitar (Depends on period) and other percussion such as Vibraphone
Frontline: Woodwind, Brass instruments generally (anything that read one note at a time)
Chorus: section in the music i.e. if a 12 bar blues, a chorus would be 12 bars
Head: the melody
Collective Improvisation: the whole ensemble improvise based on the head and chords
Scat Singing: Vocal improvisation using vocal sounds rather than words

Question 3

Swing Era key features

Answer 3

Front line: Trumpets, Saxophones & Trombones
Rhythm Section: Piano, Bass, Drums & Guitar (usually)
Rhythm:
Swing Quavers makes the music sound like the group are playing triplets or in compound time
Four Beats in Bar
Form:
32 bar popular song (generally) sometimes know as a Jazz Standard (AABA) or (ABAC)
12 bar blues
Current Pop Songs
Band Leaders (Front Men) became house hold names (Pop Stars of their generation)
Count Basie, Duke Ellington
Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey
Generally Homophonic
Special Techniques:
Call & Response riffs
Improvised solos over simple accompaniments
Singers: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra

Question 4

BEBOP key features

Answer 4

Style of Jazz started in the mid 1940’s
Fast Tempo
Complex Chord progressions
Rapid modulations
Focus on improvisation and technical virtuosity
Small Group Jazz (Generally) Trios, Quartets and Quintets
Often a rhythm section (Piano, Bass & Drums) and one or two front line
Generally Polyphonic
Form: AABA or Blues

Question 5

Cool Jazz key features

Answer 5

The opposite of Bebop!
Relaxed tempo
Lighter tone/Sound
Complex Chord Progressions and modulations
Used formal arrangements (Often Homophonic in these sections)
Improvisation with accompaniment
Forms: AABA & Blues

Question 6

Origins of Jazz

Answer 6

It is not clear were the name comes from
Has strong links to Western Art Music, African Music and African work songs and spirituals
Influenced and developed from Rag Time and Blues Music
Historical causes:
End of the Civil War (1861-1865)
Migration of African slaves from plantations to cities
Immigration of Europeans

Question 7

Types of Jazz

Answer 7

Early Jazz (1900 -1930) Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, New Orleans Jazz
Swing Era (1930 – 1946) Boogie-woogie, Dance Bands, Big Bands
Bebop (1944 – 1949)
Cool Jazz & Hard Bebop (1950s)
Avant-Garde (1960s onwards) Free Jazz, Loft Jazz, Fusion

Question 8

Key features and terms in Jazz

Answer 8

Rhythm Section – Drum Kit, Bass, Piano, Guitar and any percussion (Vibraphone)
Frontline – Saxophone (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone), Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone or any single line reading instrument
Improvisation – based on melody (Head) and/or chord progression
Harmony – complex chords with added notes, often the chord progression would be improvised based on extending the original progression (Substitute Chords)
Form – based around either 32 bar popular sing form or 12 bar blues