REVIEW III MUSIC 331: History of Jazz, Summer 2012
Short Answer Questions
Characteristics of Free Jazz Highly dissonant Lack of formal harmonic or rhythmic structure Use of polytonal approach Emphasis on sound textures/extended techniques Significance of Ornette Coleman Pioneer in free jazz Album Free Jazz springboard for genre Alto sax/composer not in the style of Charlie Parker
Significance of Charles Mingus One of the first virtuosic bass soloists in jazz Diverse body of compositions, still played today Diversity of styles blues, hard bop, and free Significance of Bill Evans Pianist, known for work with Miles Davis on Kind of Blue and piano trio with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian Unique harmonic approach influence on ECM sound Use of floating pulse Wrote/arranged many waltzes
Characteristics of Fusion Influence of rock and funk Use of electric instruments, amplification, sound textures of rock, etc. Miles Davis, Bitches Brew List the name, instrument, and a defining characteristic of a jazz musician who rose to prominence after 1980 Wynton Marsalis, trumpet, both classical and jazz, association with Jazz Repertory Movement Steve Coleman, saxophone, M-BASE concept
Terms
Polytonality Use of multiple key centers played simultaneously Avant-garde AACM Funk Vocalese Slap bass Ahead of its time, used with art and music, etc. Associated with free jazz Free jazz collective, Art Ensemble of Chicago is flagship organization of AACM, organized/promoted concerts and recordings Influence jazz fusion (e.g. Herbie Hancock s Headhunters) genre of popular music that emphasized African-American musical elements Addition of lyrics to instrumental solos or lines (e.g. Kurt Elling) Percussive styles of playing ( slapping or popping ), electric bass, origins in funk, used in fusion (e.g. Stanley Clarke)
Harmonics Associated with Jaco Pastorius, electric bass, sounding upper overtones by lightly pressing string Jazz repertory movement Klezmer Double stops ECM Gypsy Jazz Associated with Wynton Marsalis, preservation of jazz tradition, recordings/concerts of older jazz pieces American adaptation of traditional, Eastern- European Jewish music, associated with John Zorn Playing lines on two strings at a time on bass or violin Record label founded in Germany, distinct sound based in 1970s and influenced by European musicians, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett Associated with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, originated in France, blend of jazz and Gypsy/Romani music
Smooth Jazz More mainstream form of jazz fusion, very popular in 1990s Acid Jazz Synthesizer Jazz Waltz Quartal harmony Pentatonic lines Blend of hip-hop and jazz, jazz recordings as sample material Associated with Herbie Hancock, electronic keyboard instrument, variety of sounds Jazz composition using 3 beats per measure, ¾ time signature Associated with McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea, chord voicings built 4 notes apart, distinct sound Lines based on 5-note scales
Artists
Artist Genre Instrument Don Cherry Free Trumpet, pocket trumpet Cecil Taylor Free Piano Eric Dolphy Free/traditional Alto sax, flute, bass clarinet Sun Ra Space jazz, free Bandleader, keyboardist Herbie Hancock Chick Corea Fusion, funk, Miles Davis, modal, hard bop Miles Davis, free, fusion, Return to Forever Keyboard, composer Piano, composer, keyboard
Artist Genre Instrument Keith Jarrett Miles Davis, ECM, solo piano Piano Oscar Peterson Piano trio, swing with bop influence Piano Ahmad Jamal Piano trio, eclectic with use of space Piano Pat Metheny Eclectic, fusion Guitar, composer Joe Zawinul John McLaughlin Fusion, Cannonball Adderley, Weather Report Fusion, Mahavishnu Orchestra Keyboard Guitar
Artist Genre Instrument Jaco Pastorius Fusion, Weather Report (Fretless) electric bass Stanley Clarke Fusion, slap bass Electric bass Nancy Wilson Cannonball Adderley Voice Nina Simone Eclectic Voice Betty Carter Sarah Vaughn influence, scat singing Voice Kurt Elling Vocalese Voice
Artist Genre Instrument Cassandra Wilson Wynton Marsalis Toshiko Akiyoshi Eclectic, contemporary Neo-Classical, New Orleans style, Jazz Repertory Movement World jazz, solo piano, eclectic Vocalist Trumpet Piano Carla Bley Maria Schneider Contemporary, polystylistic (eclectic) Contemporary big band Piano, composer, bandleader Composer, bandleader Regina Carter Contemporary, classical jazz Violin
Listenings
Example #1 Primary Artist: Ornette Coleman Musical Characteristics Lonely Woman Free jazz (early) Don Cherry, trumpet Charlie Haden, bass Use of counterpoint
Example #2 Primary Artist: Bill Evans Musical Characteristics Piano trio bass and drums (Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian) floating pulse Emphasis on group interaction, equal role
Example #3 Primary Artist: Miles Davis Musical Characteristics Fusion From Bitches Brew Miles Runs the Voodoo Down World percussion Funk, rock, free/modal influences