Jazz Blog » African American Communities

What is Jazz Music?

admin2 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:32:54 +0000

There are many forms of music in the world which are quite popular with its numerous fans. Of these you will find that Jazz music has a wide following of fans ranging from the ordinary folk to that of celebrities. The beginnings of Jazz music can be found in the African American communities in the Southern US in the early 20th century. From its inception you will find that this style of music has incorporated into its genre a number of elements from 19th and 20th century popular American music.

The African roots can be heard from the elements of polyrhythms, swung notes, blue notes, improvisation and syncopation. You will find from historical references that Jazz used to be a West Coast slang term and around about 1915 it was used to refer to music which was sung and heard in Chicago. During these early days this form of music was spelled as “jass” instead of the more familiar spelling of Jazz.

While the main form of this music is known as Jazz music you can today find a number of variations and sub genres which are quite popular in the world as well. For instance you have the derivatives of this style in the form of krautrock, Rock’n'roll, drum and bass, ska, reggae and Rhythm and blues. Some of the subgenres that you will find in the Jazz style of music include Asian American jazz, mini-jazz, swing, vocal jazz, Avant-garde jazz, Big band, Bebop, Afro-jazz and many others.

From this form of Jazz you can find there are a number of Fusion jazz genres. These fusion forms of Jazz will include No Wave, Progressive Rock, Bluegrass, Humppa, Jazz Fusion, Acid Jazz, Calypso Jazz and many others. Regardless of these numerous styles you will also be able to hear the strains of the original Jazz music playing in the background. In the Jazz form of music there are a number of instruments which can be heard providing intriguing sounds and rhythms to the words of the songs.

The instruments you will hear in the numerous songs of Jazz are Bass guitar, banjo, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, guitar, tuba, vibraphone, double bass, drums, piano, trombone and the flute. With the aid of these instruments you will be able to hear many well known singers bringing Jazz music to life in a number of different ways. You will have heard songs which have been performed by great singers like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Dave Brubeck, Jessica Williams and Wynton Marsalis to name but a few well known Jazz performers.

In addition to these musical personages you can also find celebrities like Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, Diana Krall, Kurt Elling, and Cassandra Wilson who have shown how traditional jazz can be combined with pop music and rock music to from a musical style which is highly popular with fans from across the world.

By: Dilani M.

Where Can We Listen Live Big Band Jazz Music?

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Jazz–A musical art form was originated in the African American communities in early 20th century. It is one of the most tantalizing and distinguished forms of music and has a unique American flair to it. It embraces all other forms like rock, hip-hop. But the irony is it has now become less popular than the latter ones. The big band- also known as the jazz band, jazz ensemble, dance band, stage orchestra is an ensemble associated with playing the Jazz music. The typical instruments used are Saxophone, Clarinet, Piano, Guitar etc.

Jazz is one of the most significant contributions to the music world. Still there are many people who value its worth and love listening to it. No matter how old it grows, this is something which is agile and will always persist in the hearts of its admirers. One reason that jazz remains popular and alive is its ability to adapt to the world it lives in and yet being able to maintain its originality and touch.

There are a host of options available for the Jazz music lovers. In Chicago, you can hear some great musicians playing Jazz on nearly every street corner. Kansas City, Boston and New Orleans have great Jazz clubs where there are splendid performances of the original big band Jazz music the magic of the renowned artists is recreated. The idea is to go back to the period to feel and relive that pleasant light and easy music. They are like a holy spot for those who are passionate about this music.

For the music lovers who do not want to leave their homes want to find an economical way to live their favorite Jazz music, here is a shortcut- The Radio. Tune into some great Jazz radio stations. It may not be as mesmerizing and scintillating as hearing them live in person but close your eyes, flow with the music and imagine yourself with your favorite artists at a concert. That is the best way to enjoy it and pretty reasonable too.

By: Akhila Choudhary

Get MIDI Files And Jazz Play Alongs To Learn Jazz Music Faster

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Jazz music is one of the most popular music forms, and there is a huge mass following of this kind of music than any other kind of music. Most people have started to admire the beauty of jazz music and even youngsters are in love with it. Moreover, there are many online service providers who offer a huge range of Jazz Midi Files of renowned jazz bands and artists. If you are thinking to learn some jazz music by your own then you can seek the help of these online service providers and get your favorite Jazz play alongs that will allows your to practice jazz quite effectively.

Jazz is primarily an American musical art that originated during the early 20th century in the African American communities of the southern part of the United States. Jazz music mainly comprised of blue notes, poly-rythms, swung notes, improvisation and syncopation. It is also very difficult to define Jazz music as it has many facets. Jazz music has gone through an evolutionary process and there are many types of Jazz that include Latin Jazz, Cool Jazz, Bebop jazz, Free Jazz, Modal jazz, Hard bop, and Dixieland Revival. Improvisation is one of the most important features of Jazz music and higher the rate of improvisation the better will be the quality of the jazz music. Jazz music is played with instruments like bass guitar, saxophone, drums and piano. However, many new sophisticated instruments have been introduced to offer greater improvisation to the music.

By locating an online service provider, you will be able to get most famous jazz midi files loaded with many helpful tips for learning to play it at your home. Some websites also offer instructional videos for guitarists, pianists and bassists who are learning jazz music. Jazz play alongs, offered by online providers, are also very useful in building your improvisational talents. Many jazz play alongs track are available with different combinations of jazz instruments. It is also very easy to get started with these midi files and jazz play alongs tracks as they provide step to step procedures and detail information on how to use it. You can easily download them to your computer or store it in your iPod.

By: Akhila Choudhary

Big Band Jazz Music- Entertaining Music Lovers Worldwide

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Jazz music is a kind of popular music that is mostly liked by well established or the elite class. However, it has now become a popular taste for all kind of listeners. Big Band, a popular musical group, is widely known for its jazz music. From early 1930s to late 1940s, the group was one among the most famous jazz bands and has offered some of the best touching music pieces loved by everyone till date. Big Band Jazz music was played by musicians ranging from 12-25 in number.

One of the specialties of Big Band is that the group utilizes all the musical instruments that are required in composing a jazz music. Whether it saxophone, trumpets, rhythm section or the trombones, Big Band jazz music group has some of the most renowned players.

Moreover, jazz midi files can easily be downloaded via Internet or CDs can be purchased that are available in markets at an affordable rate. Some people who have interest in singing can also get karaoke CDs that consist of only jazz music. By buying such CDs, the music lovers can enjoy the Big Band Jazz Music as well as sing with the famous beats composed by them.

Many offline and online stores provide Jazz midi files of Big Band and they offer maximum numbers of files with excellent quality. One could also practice jazz bass lines using these jazz midi files offered by Big Band. Walking jazz bass lines are the most melodious and the neatest sounding parts being offered. One can practice jazz bass lines by studying original music beats composed by Big Band.

There are also many sources that distribute pirated CDs and popular music files of Big Band illegally. So, jazz lovers should check the copyright and the authenticity certification in order to get the original version. Jazz, as a form of musical art, has expanded beyond its genre definition and it keeps on transforming to remain in tune with the changing era. It originated as a moody music from the African American communities residing in the southern part of America. Formerly, the jazz music forecasts the moods and the struggle of the African American living in New Orleans. Around 1920s jazz music spread over the northern part of US and most of the jazz bands perform before the common society.

By: Akhila Choudhary

All About Jazz Music

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Jazz music is the American musical art form originated in earlier twentieth century. The African American communities of the Southern United States from the confluence of European and African music tradition were responsible for its beginning. The West African pedigree style is evident in the use of polyrythms, blues notes improvisation, swung notes and syncopation.

From the early development of jazz music until the present, it has also included music from the nineteenth and the twentieth century American popular melody. The word jazz music began in the form of a West Coast slang expression of tentative derivation. This term was initially used in order to refer to the music in Chicago in around 1915.

From its early twentieth century inception, jazz music spawned a huge variety of sub-genres from New OrleansDixieland including the early 1910’s, bebop from middle of 1940s, big band jazz music style swing from 1940’s as well as 1930’s, Brazilian jazz from 1960s and 1950s. Besides a fusion of the Latin jazz fusion like the Afro Cuban, jazz rock mixture from the late 1980’s and 1970s developments including the acid jazz that blended the jazz influences into hip hop and funk are several other melody types that constituted jazz music.

In jazz music, the trained performers interpret a tune in different individual ways and never play the same melody. Depending on the mood of the performer as well as personal experience and interactions with the fellow musicians or the totals number of audience, the jazz music performer might later the harmonies or melodies. The European classical music is said to be the composer’s medium.

Today as well, straight ahead jazz music continues to appeal a large amount of masses. The well popular jazz musicians whose career span decades like the Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins continue to record and perform. In the beginning of 1990 and 2000 various young talented musicians emerged such as Brad Mehldau, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Stefon Harris, Roy Horgrove, Vijay Iyer, Terence Blanchard and Joshua Redman. While Bugge Wesseltoft, Christian McBride, St. Germain are several other renowned names in the world of jazz music.

By: Akhila Choudhary

Jazz and Blues Steeped in Down-Home Tennessee Heritage

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:36:00 +0000

In addition to its beautiful, mountainous terrain and friendly, Southern appeal, Tennessee is well-known for its thriving music scene, particularly in the jazz and blues genre. From Nashville to Memphis, some of the greatest minds in the music industry have recorded, lived or played in the state, taking advantage of its musical heritage and deep-rooted fan base. Both the jazz and blues genres have their roots in African-American communities; however, over time, the genres have evolved to reflect and include all cultures and faces.

Jazz Roots

Tennessee blues is rooted in piano, guitar and vocal chord progressions and raw, gritty lyrics that reflect the struggles of everyday life. No topic is taboo when it comes to the blues, with songs relating to racism, love, loss, finances and more – all meant to reflect the pain and emotion of society at the time. Meanwhile, jazz is a bit more upbeat, incorporating blue notes and vocal improvisation to a melodious sound. Jazz is generally a bit more polished and includes more instruments than blues, which is usually more dependent on percussion, guitar and vocals.

Founding Father of Blues

When it comes to great artists, W.C. Handy is known as the Father of Memphis Blues and is credited with writing one of the first Memphis blues songs, appropriately titled “Memphis Blues.” He also was the author of “Beale Street Blues,” aptly written to describe one of the main thoroughfares through the heart of Memphis. Many people credit Handy with the entire inception of the Memphis blues genre and for bringing it to the forefront of the music industry.

Tennessee Music Festivals

Since music is such a large part of Tennessee’s history, there are several festivals and celebrations centered around music annually. Two of the biggest festivals held in Memphis, both of which are well-attended by residents and tourists alike, are the Memphis in May music festival and the International Blues Challenge. Both of these festivals draw large crowds and feature some of the best performers in the industry.

Past artists in attendance at these festivals have included BB King, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, the North Mississippi All Stars, James Brown and many others. The Blues Challenge is a competition that draws more than 100 acts from around the world, all of them competing for cash, industry recognition, record deals and other prizes. The Challenge is put on by the Blues Foundation in an effort to continue the tradition of showcasing new talent to keep the genre from being eclipsed by more popular musical trends.

Another great festival is the Memphis in May music festival, which spans an entire month and incorporates the Beale Street Music Festival as one of its events. For visitors looking to hear some real, down home jazz and blues, the Beale Street Music Festival is the place to be. It most represents what Tennessee music is all about and boasts an unlimited amount of raw, real talent in one place.

By: Jason Hagemann

The Evolution of Jazz Music in the 1930s

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:05:10 +0000

Jazz is a musical art form that has expanded well beyond its own genre definition, transforming with every era and begetting countless other popular modern genre forms in the process. As an artistic invention of African American communities primarily in the Southern region of the United States, jazz finds its earliest roots in New Orleans, where black performers blended Southern blues, the startling variations of Caribbean music, and an altered form of traditional European instrumentation.

Resistance to “hot jazz” in the early twentieth century ultimately contributed to the evolution of jazz music in the 1930s. In the 1920s, jazz music had spread to the North, Chicago and New York, where bands gave their performances on the margins of society. During the Prohibition era, jazz was often performed in illegal speakeasies and the Red Light district, causing this “wild” music to be associated with the decadence of that era. However, with the onset of the depression the Dixieland jazz that had dominated up until the end of the 1920s was gradually supplanted.

The End of Dixieland

Jazz slowly began to creep in at the edges of mainstream music because of its popularity on college campuses, and in general, amongst American youth. The evolution of jazz music in the 1930s amounted to a compromise between the music industry and the older generation of white Americans, who were gradually accepting the presence of jazz music in popular culture. However, this increasing popularization affected a considerable dilution of the form, shedding much of the raw, impromptu quality of earlier Dixieland jazz.

Dixieland was characterized by the convergence of many forms – polyrhythmic ragtimes, the low pitch of blue notes, French Quadrilles, and improvisation, as well as a large rhythm section of the trombone, trumpets, tuba, guitars, clarinet, the piano, drums, and banjo. It was unpredictable, and the individual performers showcased their improvisational skills, playing from their souls not their notes.

The Rise of Big Band Swing

At the beginning of the decade white big band swing performers played “sweet” jazz, making use of violins and arranged sheet music. The reasons for this particular evolution of jazz music in the 1930s were twofold. It was more composed and less offensive to the older white American audience. At the same time, the onset of the Depression created a widespread need for inexpensive pleasantries, and jazz-inspired music gradually gained footing in the newly burgeoning radio industry.

The more recognizable swing arrangements evolved when dancing became linked to big band. Dance styles, such as the Lindy Hop, that had been popularized in black communities in the 1920s were appropriated by white teenagers and introduced in dance halls. Swing orchestras became larger, with 20-25 pieces in a typical band. Music was still arranged, but individual performers were given complex solos, and as was also typical in sweet jazz, a singer performed vocals to the music. Popular performers of the era include Shep Fields, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller.

The undomesticated “hot jazz” of black performers – including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Jimmie Lunceford – persisted throughout the big band era, but never gained the popularity of its white counterpart. Big band singlehandedly dominated the entertainment industry, extending beyond radio to television and film in the 1940s. The evolution of jazz music in the 1930s led to its eventual popularity across the continent and later, internationally. Jazz music has been adapted globally across cultural lines, but its humble roots remain in New Orleans, Louisiana.

By: Ian Pennington