Jazz Related Questions
Who are some of the biggest names of the Jazz Age?
Some of the biggest names of jazz are Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, "Jelly Roll" Morton, Bessie Smith, Bix Beiderbecke, Benny Goodman, Louise Brooks, Henry "Red" Allen Jr., Peter Bocage, Buddy Bolden, Hoagy Carmichael, Warren Dodds, Tommy Dorsey, Bunk Johnson, Clarence Williams, Josephine Baker, Edward Kennedy Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charli Parker.
Who invented Jazz?
It is said that a New Orleans barber by the name of Buddy Bolden played the first tunes of jazz music in 1891.
What are the most famous Jazz Museums and where are they located?
Two great jazz museums are the American Jazz Museum, 1616 E 18th St. Kansas City, MO, and the National Jazz Museum of Harlem, 58 W 129th St, NY
When was Jazz music most popular?
Jazz music was most popular in the 1920s and the 1930s. During the Jazz Age.
How popular is Jazz music today?
Jazz music is still very popular today. Many musicians are still topping the charts. Even though there are very few jazz clubs left, the music still continues to be a staple in people's music collection.
What are different styles of Jazz music?
The different types of jazz music are Rag Time, The Blues, Dixieland, Big Band, Bebop, and Free Jazz
Where can I get items from the Jazz Age?
You can get items from websites and from numerous shops in Harlem, New York.
Who was the most famous Jazz musician of all time?
The most famous jazz musician of all time was Louis Armstrong. He opened the doors for today's jazz musicians. He continues to be aspiring musicians' inspiration.
When were new styles of Jazz created?
New styles of jazz have been created during the time in which people had different takes on what jazz music should sound like. It took an alternate turn during the Jazz Age.
What are some of the famous clubs in which great Jazz musicians have played?
Two of the most famous jazz clubs are the Cotton Club and Minton’s Playhouse in NY. Click Here to Learn More.
Evolution of Jazz
Over the Decade
Jazz has all the elements that other music has: It has melody; that's the tune of the song, the part you're most likely to remember. It has harmony, the notes that make the melody sound fuller. It has rhythm, which is the heartbeat of the song. But what sets jazz apart is a cool thing called improvisation.
BIG BAND
This style became popular in the 1920s, following the rise of Dixieland jazz. Big band jazz was performed in an ensemble consisting of 10 or more players, using such instruments as saxophones, trumpets, piano, drums, guitar, and bass. These jazz instruments worked together to create "swing" music-a high energy style that encouraged jazz fans to dance well into the 1940s. Popular big band jazz musicians included Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Paul Whiteman.
BEBOP
Minton’s Playhouse is most famous for the seminal role it played in the Bebop revolution. Bebop jazz emerged in the 1940s, following the popularity of big band. Bebop was very different to the style of its predecessor, however, seeing as it consisted of a small group of players (usually 4 to 6 musicians). Bebop was characterized by complex melodies and chord progressions, and was unsuitable for dancing. It also developed a style of singing called "scat," where nonsense syllables are sung to an improvised melody. The development of bebop is largely attributed to trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.
FREE JAZZ
This term was used to categorize the new direction jazz music was taking in the 1960s. Free jazz was an experimental and unique form of jazz in which pitch and tone quality were manipulated by players to produce squeaking and wailing sounds. This new form of jazz was not widely accepted by public audiences. Some of the major jazz musicians associated with this style of music were Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor.
RAGTIME
It is often referred to as the founding style of jazz. It originated in the southern United States during the late 1800's, and was composed primarily for the piano. Ragtime music is characterized by the vibrant and enthusiastic rhythms often associate with African dance. In 1899, pianist Scott Joplin published the first of many ragtime compositions.
THE BLUES
This style also had an important influence on the development of jazz. Blues songs are a part of a vocal tradition that expresses the emotions of the African Americans of the early 20th century. Usually blues vocalists sang with the instrumental accompaniment of guitar, piano, and harmonica. Important blues musicians of the early twentieth century include Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and W.C. Handy.
DIXIELAND
This is also referred to as ‘traditional jazz’ or ‘New Orleans jazz’. This style was created in the early 1920s, when the traditions of blues, ragtime, and brass band were integrated into one musical piece. Common instruments in a Dixieland jazz-style group included trumpet-cornet, clarinet, trombone, and occasionally the saxophone. The rhythm section could include the banjo, piano, drums, string bass, or tuba. Dixieland was usually performed without a vocalist. Well-known Dixieland jazz musicians include trumpeter Louis Armstrong, pianist Jelly Roll Morton, and trumpeter Bix Beiterbecke.
Useful Sites: Jazz, Mathematics and Science
What Are the Mathematics of Jazz? A Rhythm-Matic Discussion
Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations
Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations
Math Drives Musical Innovation
Visualizing Jazz Scenes of the Harlem Renaissance
Jazz Music and Physics Have a Lot More in Common Than You Think - Videos by Stephon Alexander