Jazz Exam 1

• Notes following in time 

• The fundamental rhythmic unit

• Grouping of rhythms into recurring units

• Shift from rhythms predictability to unpredictability
• Use of unpredictable notes in a rhythm

• Coherent patterns of notes 

• Notes being higher or lower 

• Distance in time between pitches 

• Use of simultaneous pitches in support of a melody

• Arrangements of notes that define melodic/harmonic construction in western music

• The relationship between notes of a scale

• Combination of instruments playing

• The quality of an instrument’s sound

• The volume of a performance

• The culmination or total of the sections of a composition 
• Note = Smallest unet of form 

• Soprano (highest)
• Alto
• Tenor
• Baritone (lowest) 

• European arts
• Slave trade imports (blacks) 

• All about relationship |b| performer/audience
• Artists valued highly in society

• Functional/communal music 
• Plays importnat role in social settings
• Rhythm = Most important 

African Influence on Jazz

(3)

• Emphasis on rhythm (syncopation/polyrythm)
• Use of vocal inflection
• Call and response

European Influence on Jazz 

(3)

• Harmony – from polka/marches
• Symmetrical form
• Instrumentation – from marching bands

• Song used for manual labor
• Mournful plea for improvement of conditions

• Rhythmic accapella songs used to synchonize manual labor 

• Sacred themes – harmony comes from protestant hymns
• Hymns w/ a beat

• Refers to mourners who follow marching band in N.O. funeral
• Play sad, then happy hymns

• People of African and French/Spanish ancestry

• Simultaneous expression of joy/grief
• Born out of repression of slavery/hate 
• Religious overtones

• Earliest form of blues, from rural south
• Singer and guitar
• Loose and improvisatory

• Refers to a note that is changed (flatted) and outside the normal scale 

• 12 Measures
• Lyrics – Statement, statement, response (A,A,B)
• I – IV – V – I = Chord progression

• Most popular bules artist of era
• “Empress of the blues”
• Sold 2 million albums in 1923

• Ragged time = syncopated versions of popular songs
• Piano replicates parts for a 6-7 piece brass band
• Pianists expected to improvise

• Played popular music
• More improvisation than rag
• Faster, more aggressive style

• Father of stride piano
• Composed “The Charleston” 
• Bessie Smith’s favorite accompanist

• Student of James P. Johnson 
• Energetic player/performer 
• Amazing time/swing

• Greatest pianist of his time
• Raises the bar for piano music
• Swing

• New Orleans
• Chicago
• New York City

• N.O. trumpet player
• Pioneered use of mutes
• 2nd trumpet = Louis Armstrong

• Red light district in N.O.
• Clubs hire jazz bands/pianists
• Musicians play in streets 

• Loudest instrument
• Plays melody

• Plays counter melody/harmony
• Provides momentum

• Dictates chord changes

• 1917 – Original Dixie Land Jazz Band (NYC)

• MOST IMPORTANT figure in jazz – makes it art
• Introduces scat singing 
• NYC – Plays 1st trumpet w/ Fletcher Henderson

• Addition of saxophone
• Guitar replaces banjo
• Double bass replaces tube
• More complex music 

• Less flashy, very talented trumpet player
• Very melodic/lyrical 

• Vocals = Bessie Smith
• Trumpet = Louis Armstrong
• Call/response |b| Bessie and Louis
• “When I wasn’t nothin but a child”

• Louis Armstrong and the Hot Fives
• Intro = solo trumpet 
• Cowbell
• Scat singing 

• By – Georgia Sea Island Singers
• Hand clapping and body precussion
• “Throw me anywhere lord”
• Call and response (vocal/vocal)

• By – Jelly Roll Morton and his Red Hot Peppers
• Begins with black man talking
• Trombone gives somber intro
• Clarinet solo 

• King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
• Trumpets = Louis Armstrong/King Oliver
• Snake = 2 descending trumpets
• Dense texture

• By – James P. Johnson 
• Stride piano style – ONLY PIANO
• Left hand plays baseline

Listening: Singin’ The Blues 

• By – Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra
• Bix Beiderbecke = Cornet
• Very smooth/refined cornet sound
• Guitar playing chords