The Different Styles Of Jazz Music

On 11.28.09, In Jazz Blog, By admin

There are different types of jazz music, each with their own origin and style. Jazz music is distinctly different from any other types of music and can be recognized world wide as having a uniquely American flair to it. Jazz had its beginnings in the United States but is now considered to have a fine mixture of African culture thrown in with it.

There are four distinct parts to jazz music that include rhythm, harmony, melody, and tonal qualities. No matter what type of jazz that you enjoy you’ll be able to find a club that caters to your tastes. There are many experimental jazz venues that are popping up all over the place, including many European cities where all types of music are welcomed and appreciated.

One jazz style is called the Work Song. It is upbeat and rhythmically fast because it was used to make the work day go by faster. The Work Song is repeated over and over and isn’t considered a modern form. This jazz tends to be associated with African American music. It’s probably the rhythmic beat that makes it the least popular jazz style today.

New Orleans Jazz is another style that had its beginnings in the early 1890’s American history. It began marching songs and gospel songs used in brass band performances. One of the foremost leaders in this style is the famous bandleader, William Basie, otherwise known for his band, the Count Basie Orchestra. This style of jazz is still popular today.

The Chicago Style of jazz started in the late 1917’s. Chicago, known as one of the premiere jazz locations in the country, drew many musicians from southern states as the prohibition forced people to move north looking for new jobs and places where they could play this new type of jazz. During this period, piano was added to the background of jazz music, creating an entirely new sound known as Chicago Style jazz.

World War II came and went transforming jazz yet again. This era is when Bebop was born. Bebop fuses fast tempo with changing rhythmic patterns and makes a softer, lighter sound. Bebop will often focus on a solo performer instead of the whole band.

As you can see, jazz is always changing, yet retains part of its original formation at it roots. Jazz is a musical style that changes with the times and the various outlooks of its listeners. One reason that jazz remains popular and alive is its ability to adapt to the world it lives in.



By: David Neehly

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Jazz Artist – Nat “King” Cole

On 10.25.09, In Jazz Blog, By admin

Nat “King” Cole was an American musician who had an undeniable impact on the jazz world of music. Nat “King” Cole trivia usually starts with the fact that even though he was born in Alabama, it would be Chicago where he would grow up, and in the incredible music scene that the city is so famous for that he would begin to learn his love for music and begin to make an impact on the world. An interesting Nat “King” Cole quiz point that you might not know is that even though he was most famous for his singing, he actually got into music as a piano player, and it was as a pianist that he would first garner attention as a professional musician.

An interesting piece of Nat “King” Cole trivia is that he arrived in Los Angeles entirely by accident, although it was there that his band would first start to make waves. He had been playing piano for a broadway touring show which flopped halfway through the run, while performing in Long Beach Cole decided that he would roll with the punches and decided to stay in the city and try to make his way as a musician. He moved from Long Beach to L.A. With the formation of the band the Nat King Cole trio comprised of Cole, Oscar Moore, and Wesley Prince.

Have you ever heard the expression “The House that Nat Built”? This is an interesting Nat “King” Cole quiz question, that refers to the first round office building to be constructed, which was the Capital Records building. Once he began recording with Capitol, Cole’s records sales were incredibly successful, providing them with the money that they needed to grow their small record company into a major player in the music business.

Another important piece of trivia about this great singers life is that he was the first African American to host a TV show like “The Nat King Cole Show” which featured popular artists of the time that Cole knew or whose work he was familiar with.

Cole would die young from lung cancer, and was noted by many as being a heavy smoker. He linked smoking with the quality of his voice and believed that he needed cigarettes in order for his voice to stay at the tone and quality that he was happy with.

By: Shawna S. Ruppert

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What Are The Best Jazz Guitars?

On 08.05.09, In Jazz Blog, By admin

In finding the best jazz guitars, it is important to look at some of the historical icons in the genre. The tone of any jazz instrument is of the utmost significance. Many famous jazz guitarists have developed signature sounds that have come to be viewed as standards in jazz music.

By looking at players who made a distinct mark on jazz with their signature tones and techniques, you can discover the reasons behind their choice of guitar, and this might influence your decision.

Charlie Christian

Charlie Christian was the first musician to make a name for the electric guitar in jazz. His work was so pivotal that jazz enthusiasts often talk about jazz “before Charlie Christian” and jazz “after Charlie Christian.” He played a critical role in developing the type of jazz known as bebop. Guitar legends like B.B. King and Eric Clapton followed in his footsteps and learned their craft from the efforts of Charlie Christian.

Charlie Christian was an arch-top man. He is the reason that the Gibson ES150 is such a legendary instrument. The arch-top guitar became a standard piece of equipment in jazz music. It features a hollow, resonant body, and f-holes. They are designed to produce a clear voice with little sustain that is free of distortion or feedback. If you want to focus on maintaining a traditional jazz sound, then an arch-top guitar is definitely the way to go.

Les Paul

Les Paul was not only a jazz guitarist, but he was an innovator who actually made some of the best jazz guitars. The solid body electric guitar appeared in the jazz world, much due to the efforts of Les Paul. These instruments got rid of the two things that no jazz guitarist wants – feedback and lack of sustain. Solid body electrics play an important role in jazz, and one of the most notable instruments is the Gibson Les Paul guitar. Many more affordable imitations of this instrument are also popular choices for jazz guitarists, like ESP and Heritage guitars.

Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt revolutionized the world of jazz. He was an acoustic guitar man, and he played a flat-top acoustic guitar made by Selmer, which was capable of resonating above the large bands in Europe. The instrument is commonly known as a Maccaferri, which happened to be the last name of the creator. While Selmer is not necessarily a leader in the guitar world (only about 1,000 of this particular model were manufactured), other companies have created successful models that are similar to Django Reinhardt’s instrument. Typical acoustic guitars that are commonly found in jazz music include Gallato and Dell’Arte models.

The best jazz guitars are designed with the functionality of the music in mind. Jazz should not be distorted or heavy, and the guitar does not typically play a role that requires a great deal of sustain. Arch-top, solid body electric, and flat-top acoustics can all accommodate the needs of the genre, and the best instruments are the ones that have stood the test of time, yet still come out on top!

By: David Smithe

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