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a quick reference to jazz

© Agha Yasir

A QUICK REFERENCE TO JAZZ

What is jazz

Jazz music originally invented by African American musicians in New Orleans. Early jazz evolved from a combination of African Rhythms, African American work songs and field hollers, the music of New Orleans parade, marching, and funeral bands - as well as elements from European music including many of the instruments and some harmonic and melodic ideas.

Essential qualities of jazz

1. Swing.
   The music's relentless forward momentum emphasized by rhythm accents falling slightly in front of or behind the beat - a phenomenon called syncopation.



2. Improvisation.
   Jazz musicians invent a significant portion of the music on the spot, especially when they improvise extended solos over a song's chord. These improvisations may be of a very small duration or may even extend to over hours for a single number. It all depends on the mood of the artist and ofcourse his caliber.



3. Distinctive voices.
   Good jazz depends upon the individual voices of the players, distinguished by their selection and placement of notes, their tone, and their rhythmic sense. Some of the great jazz players started their careers as backstage performers or as accompanists. Later on their distinct playing voice and style led them to popularity and repute.

A Quick Listening Guide to Some of the Jazz Greats

• Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971). Jazz's first great soloist - and singer.
• Duke Ellington (1889 - 1974). Pianist, bandleader, genius of big band swing.
• Charlie Parker (1920 - 1955) and Dizzy Gillespie (1917 - 1993). Inventors of Bebop.
• Miles Davis (1926 - 1991). Innovator in cool jazz, hard bop, electric jazz - rock - funk.
• Art Blakey (1919 - 1990). Incredible drummer, longtime leader of the famous jazz messengers. Blakey is My Favorite!
• Ornette Coleman (born 1930). Catalyst in creation of free jazz and avant garde jazz.

A Dozen Ground Breaking Albums

• Louis Armstrong, Hot fives and Sevens (Sony)
• Jelly Roll Morton, Birth of the Hot (BMG/RCA)
• Duke Ellington, Okeh Ellington (Sony)
• Benny Goodman, Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Concert (Sony)
• Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy Gillespie and His Big Band (GNP)
• Ella Fitzergald, The Best of the Song Books (Verve)
• Charlie Parker, Bebop and Bird, Vols. 1 & 2 (Rhino)
• Thelonious Monk, Best of the Blue Note Years (EMD/Blue Note)
• Miles Davis, Birth of the Cool (Capitol)
• Dave Brubeck, Time Out (Sony)
• Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic)
• Miles Davis, Bitches Brew (Sony)
• World Saxophone Quartet, Plays Duke Ellington (Elektra)