Chapter 31 Early Jazz Styles

Origins of Jazz 2 Origins of jazz cannot be chronicled Not recorded; improvised, oral tradition Rooted in American South (New Orleans) Combined characteristics of European and African music West Africa Jazz roots from Communal, everyone takes part Griots transmitted songs about their people and history 2

African Music Elements Call and response leader sings and group responds Polyrhythms multiple rhythm patterns played simultaneously Repetition of rhythm patterns provides stability amid polyrhythmic activity Harmony by-product of melodic combinations, not chords Scales 5 and 7 tone scales Instruments wide variety and use of percussion

Listening Guide: “Village Celebration,” Mende tribe of Sierra Leone Recorded in 1962 African tribal music Moderate tempo No structured repeating sections Quadruple meter with polyrhythms Instruments: segbure (gourd rattle with bead netting sewn around outside); sangbei (wooden drum with metal rattles attached); mouth organ Voices: male vocal leader; villagers respond Lead vocals are improvised and villagers probably danced as they sang responses Listen to an excerpt from this recording: Listening excerpt from CD 5, track 26, p. 295

Ragtime Syncopated (ragged) rhythms – African influence Sectional formal structure – European influence Ragtime

Ragtime Used as music for cakewalks in 1890s Played on banjos, fiddles, or by bands Piano became preferred instrument Ragtime is notated, not improvised Notable composers were Scott Joplin, James Scott, and Joseph Lamb Scott Joplin 1868-1917 4

Listening Guide: “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin Composed in 1899 Piano ragtime music Tempo di marcia (march tempo) AABBACCDD form Solo piano Duple meter Rags were played on Mississippi riverboats and in homes and nightclubs Listen to the A and B sections (repeated) from this selection: Listening excerpt from CD 6, track 1, p. 296

Blues 5 Developed from field hollers and work songs in rural South Singers accompanied themselves with guitar Text is personal, full of feeling, not always sad Loose structurally and rhythmically; easy to improvise lyrics Twelve-bar harmonic progression with four bars for each section (3-line verse:AAB) Typically quadruple meter 5

Blues Elements for Relaxed Feel Uneven beat subdivisions Lowered 3rd and 7th scale steps -blue notes Singers slide from note to note

Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues Singing career in minstrel shows, nightclubs, & theaters Collaborated with jazz musicians in 1920s and 1930s Recorded close to 200 songs Bessie Smith 1894-1937 Photograph by Carl van Vechten

Featured Listening: “Lost Your Head Blues” by Bessie Smith Recorded in 1926 Classic blues Five choruses of twelve-bar blues Bessie Smith with cornet and piano Quadruple meter with uneven beat subdivisions Listen to the first chorus (AAB) of this song: Lyrics I was with you baby when you didn’t have a dime. Now since you got plenty money you have throw’d your good gal down. Listen for blue notes and sliding between notes Listen for call and response between voice and cornet Listening excerpt from CD 2, tracks 20-24, pp. 298-299

Postcard of New Orleans, early 20th century Jazz Centered in New Orleans Flourished in Storyville district Dance halls, gambling places, brothels Jazz also known as Dixieland Postcard of New Orleans, early 20th century 7

New Orleans Jazz Combos Small groups: front line and rhythm section Front line played the melody 1 or 2 cornets, clarinet, trombone Rhythm section maintained beat and accompanied string bass, guitar or banjo; sometimes piano & drums Collective improvisation among front line members most important feature

Jazz Migration Several factors, including closing of Storyville, led to migration of jazz musicians Chicago became next important jazz city Focus shifted to individual soloists 8

Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong, from New Orleans, became leading soloist His style became embodiment of swing Credited with development of scat singing – singer improvises nonsense syllables in place of words Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as early influence Louis Armstrong 1900-1971

The Swing Era 9 Mid-1930s to early 1950s Larger ensembles organized Moved out of saloons to ballrooms and dance halls Radio broadcasts disseminated style to large audience New York became new jazz city 9

Big Band Swing Sound versus New Orleans Jazz Band Big Band Swing 1930s-40s 3-4 trumpets 3-4 trombones 3-4 saxophones Piano String Bass Drum set New Orleans Jazz 1920s 1 trumpet 1 trombone 1 clarinet Piano (guitar or banjo) String Bass Drum Set 10

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Born in Washington, DC Studied art & music, including ragtime Band performed at Harlem’s Cotton Club Called his band an orchestra; toured the US and Europe “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” recorded in 1932 DC residents selected Duke Ellington for their commemorative quarter; 2009 release scheduled

Listening Example on CD 6, track 2, Listening Guide: “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” by Duke Ellington Composed in 1932 Swing jazz AABA song form Voice, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, piano, banjo, bass, drums Quadruple meter Trumpets have mutes to diminish sounds Listen to the entire song; notice the scat singing Lyrics It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. It don’t mean a thing all you’ve got to do is sing. It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot. Just keep that rhythm give it ev’rything you’ve got. Listening Example on CD 6, track 2, p. 302

Other Swing Band Leaders Fletcher Henderson Count Basie Cab Calloway Benny Goodman Harry James Glenn Miller Artie Shaw Tommy Dorsey Woody Herman