Music 111

Willie "The Lion" Smith

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spirituals

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Jelly Roll Morton:

A NO Dixieland musican. Used to tell people that he was from France, not true he was Creole. Jelly Roll claimed to invent jazz and was also a scam artist. He took Jazz out of NO for the first time. Jelly roll is slang for vagina. Settled and died in L.A. First person to write down Jazz.

ragtime:

A piano heavy pre cursor to Jazz. Some argue that it was the first Jazz form, but because it lacks improvisation many argue that it is not Jazz. The most significant Ragtime artists we discussed was Scott Joplin. There are also guitar rags, as seen with Gary Davis.

Mary Lou Williams

A piano player. Played piano for parties at age 6 to support 10 brothers and 4 sisters. Became an academic eventually and head of Jazz department @ duke after stopped touring. She had a light melodic touch and drive of stride. Boogey woogey. Wrote song for Armstrong, goodman and Ellington. Famous for saying "They don't think you're a women if you play well"

Benny Goodman:

Benny Goodman was considered the King oF Swing. He was white and was a Claranetists. Goodman was a prolific Swing Composer. Goodman was from Chicago and influenced by Fletcher Henderson. Fletcher Henderson and Don Redman worked together to produce big band Swing @Roseland. Benny grew up poor and his father got them music lessons so they wouldn't be poor. Got so good he dropped out of school. Learned Klesner music first- which was from Eastern Music. Goodman played Jewish Party music. Traveled to LA, didn't like, started disliking music so he tried starting his own band. Played sweet Jazz for money, on the side, played Henderson's music because he loved it. Gene Krupa was in his band. His band eventually ended up on the radio.

"The King of Swing":

Benny Goodman was considered the King of Swing.

"The Empress of the Blues":

Bessie Smith

Lester Young:

Born in Mississippi. He was raised inNO and played in Blue Devils band. He was very ambitious and wanted to take down rivals. Played the tenor sax and it played like an alto saxophone. Played Kansas CIty swing style. Also invented a lot of slang. Gata used to refer to somones swinging. Invented "cool" and homeboy and homie. He was known as a saxaphone leader in the sweet, pretty style.

Coleman Hawkins:

Born in missouri-bandmates w/armstrong in Henderson's band.Established tenor sax as a solo instrument. Bean was nicknamed (clever mind) and fueled by competition. Was considered a top player in Kansas City along with Lester Young. His style was much more aggressive and robust, very reflective of his personality.

Charles "Buddy" Bolden

Charles "Buddy" Bolden was considered the first king of Jazz. There are no recordings of him and only one picture ever taken. He was an amazing trumpeter and supposedly he was so strong if he played you could hear him miles away. He is mixed with legend and myth. His life was very tragic and he ended up in Mental Institution at a young age, likely due to consuming homemade alcohol.

Chick Webb:

Chick Webb played Swing Music and was a drummer himself. His orchestra was very famous and played in the top clubs around New York City. Chick himself was disabled, standing below 5 feet tall. Considered the King of Swing y some. He found Ella Fitzgerald.

Fisk Jubilee Singers:

Choir@ Fisk Univ: Sang choral arrangements of spirituals and folk music. George L White was the person in charge of starting the group.

city blues:

City blues were a successor to Country Blues. As black people moved into cities during the great migration, they continued to sing the blues. The 12 bar format is no longer required.

Count Basie:

Count Basie started out as a Stride Pianist. He was a student of Fats Waller. His style was simple and concise. This type of style became his trade mark. He played Swing music. He founded the Count Basie Orchestra and many famous people like Billie Holiday played with him.

All-American Rhythm Section

Count Basie: Piano. Freddie Green: Guitar Walter Page: Bass. Jo Jones: Drums

cutting sessions (or "cutting contests")

Cutting contests were popular during the Stride Piano era. Cutting contests would occur at a club or an apartment party. Two or more artists would display their skills on the piano and compete to see who was the best. Fats Waller, Count Basie, Art Tatum, and other famous Stride Pianists would compete.

New Orleans-style Dixieland:

Dixieland was another name for Jazz. Dixie comes from the Mason Dickson line.

Django Reinnhardt:

Django Reinnhardt is famous for brining Gypsy Blues to America. This style of Jazz was very popular in eastern Europe. It made logical sense for him to bring across the Atlantic. Got caught in a fire and fingers got fused together. Gave him a unique style. Gypsy Jazz never caught on and Reinhardt ended up returning to Europe. He was discovered by John Hammond.

Duke Ellington:

Duke Ellington was a talented pianist. He won the Pulitzer prize posthumously. The only reason he didn't get it while he was living was because he was black. Grew up working on white house where his dad was the butler. Had an in with the president. He liked both sophisticated and unsophisticated music. Also great visual artist, passed up going to Pratt to pursue music. Duke Ellington eventually started his own orchestra and they became famous for being very innovative. Kept band alive for 50 years. He performed programmatic music.

Chicago-style Dixieland:

Faster style than New Orleans Style. More emphasis on individual solos. White musicians.

"The King of Jazz":

First king was Buddy Bolden->Freddie Keppard->King Joe Oliver->Louis Armstrong Paul Whiteman was referred to as thing King of Jazz, by the press, but hated it. He was a classical musician. The whole King thing comes from Africa where whoever was the best at something was "King".

Fletcher Henderson

Fletcher Henderson is not famous as much for his talent as a musician, rather his arrangements. Fletcher Henderson is extremely important because he worked with both black and white musicians. He sold his arrangements to both Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman. Both of these band leaders wanted their bands to sound more black, so they both used his arrangements. Both were good friends. Henderson considered king of black music, while Whiteman was king of whites.

Gene Krupa:

Gene Krupa was a member of Benny Goodman's band. He was a drummer. While Krupa was not the greatest drummer of all time, he became a sex symbol. He had long hair and kept it slicked back. When he would play he would be very dramatic, often making his style of play look very difficult when it didn't need to be. He did many tricks and acted very cool.

"The Mother of the Blues"

Gertrude "Ma" Rainey

Freddie Keppard:

Got "King" title in Chicago and was first Jazz musician asked to record music. He misunderstood the offer and thought the opportunity was a audition. His pride got in the way and he left. He was also afraid of technology and would expose his techniques to his rivals.

Stephane Grappelli:

Gypsy Jazz musician. He played the violin. Gypsy Jazz never caught on. Duke Ellington pushed it, but it never caught on.

gypsy jazz:

Gypsy jazz originated in Eastern Europe and was very popular in this. The most significant Gypsy jazz musician discussed in class Django Reinhart. Gypsy Jazz uses string instruments like the violin and has less or no brass. Gypsy Jazz never caught fire in America even though Duke pushed it hard.

Louis Armstrong:

He was a very famous trumpeter. Considered one of the best and a King of Jazz. Started out in NO and eventually joined King Joe Oliver's Creole Jazz band. He said that he would only leave NO to join Joe Oliver and kept that promise. He ended up marrying Lil Harden who was also a member of Oliver's Band at one point. Interestingly, she wrote a number of his hits, but received no credit. Louis Armstrong eventually started his own band and surpassed Joe Oliver.

country blues:

Improvisation, 12 bar blues, simple instruments, Mississippi Delta. Thick deep backwoods. A lot of early African Rhythms stayed. Instruments from Africa Stayed. The music is very connected with Africa.

Joe "King" Oliver:

JKO was a King of Jazz. JKO was Louis Armstrong's idol. Known as tough band leader. Created a lot of vocal effects. Took armstrong under his wing. 1918 oliver left for Chicago. Armstrong took his place in his former band. Oliver asked armstrong to join him, but armstrong was busy making a name for himself in NO. He joined him eventually.

James P. Johnson:

James P. Johnson was a stride pianist. Created the striding style. Also created the competitive atmosphere where pianists challenged others in cutting contests.

John Hammond:

John Hammond was not known for being a musician, but an agent, talent scout, and record producer. He had an interesting upbringing. He was a member of both the Vanderbilt and Hammond families and very wealthy. He dissociated himself with their name and carved his own path. He was a driving force in the integration of Jazz music and therefore a major pusher an important catalyst (jazz) in the civil rights movement. He found numerous famous musicians like Billy Holiday, Bob Dillon, Aretha frankin, Bruce Springsteen.

stride piano:

Left hand played bass then cords. Left hand striding from low to middle. Originated from ragtime. Was like a full orchestra. Melody and improv were done by right hadn. Bass, percussion by left hand. Became very popular and were known as "style" pianists who would compete with one another. James P Jonhosn created striding style. Challenged other pianists to do too. This was for bragging rights. Biggest names, James P Johnson, Fats waller, Willie The lion Smith, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.

Lil Hardin:

Lil Hardin was female member of King Joe Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. She was the only female member of this band and it was very rare to see female band member's at this time. She played the piano and sung. She ended up marrying Louis Armstrong after being in the band together. She was his second wife. Hardin actually wrote a number of Armstrong's hits, but did not receive credit for doing so. Her contributions of Jazz as a female musician are very important.

Lionel Hampton:

Lionel Hampton played the vibes in Benny Goodman's integrated band.

minstrelsy:

Minstrelsy originated when Thomas Daddy Rice saw an African Slave singing and doing a certain dance. This Dance was named "Jump Jim Crow." TDR Saw it wrote it down and performed it in black face. Up until this point all theatre came from england. Black face caught on and was the first American theatre creation. It was a precursor to Jazz. Minstrels were around up until around 1960's.

"The Queen of the Blues":

No IDEA

"sweet jazz"

Not considered Jazz by many. led by Paul Whitman. The instrumentation includes violins, bells and other elements of classical music ensembles, as well as a bowed hand saw. Also, there is no improvisation and everything is written out for the musicians. This style was known as sweet jazz, and provided an "easy-listening" and dancing alternative to the more frenetic Dixieland style.

Paul Whiteman

Paul Whiteman was considered a King of Jazz, but this is highly disputed and he never claimed the title. Whitman started Sweet Jazz, which is not considered Jazz by money. Paul Whitman was very good friends with Fletcher Henderson and used his arrangements. He wanted to use black musicians. He respected Louis Armstrong greatly.

Teddy Wilson:

Played Piano in Benny Goodman's quartet. He was black. Goodman was initially nervous to perform because Wilson was black. Goodman was afraid of customer prejudice. Originally the only three members of the band were BG, GK, and TW. After the first performance was a hit, BG no longer worried about Wilson and even added another black.

programmatic music:

Programmatic music tells a story. The instruments and music are used to paint a picture and describe a situation. For example, a trumpet sound might sound like a boy trying to wake up in the morning. Duke Ellington is notable for utilizing this style.

saxophones:

Saxophones had been around since the 1940's. They had been primarily used in Marching Bands. Jazz turned saxaphone use into something seductive. Very much associated with Kansas City Swing. The two most well known from this time are Coleman Hawkins (played aggressive and robustly). Lester young is the other and played much more sweet and pretty.

Scott Joplin:

Scott Joplin was the leader of ragtime piano. His Maple leaf rag is quite significant.

Bessie Smith:

She had a very powerful voice, more powerful than Ma Rainey. Sung hokum blues which is a rique very of city blues. For example, one of her songs was "Put a little sugar in my bowl." She used hokum blues to show women's strength and sexuality. Opposed most white women singers styles. Was Bi, had affairs and fought men. Died in car crash.

Ma Rainey:

She was an African American Minstrel. She married Pa Rainey from Rabbit's foot minstrel group. Heard the blues and fell in love with. She asked a musician in her troop to write blues. Is credited for bringing country blues to the city. eee

Congo Square:

Slaves in NO were allowed to sing and dance every sunday there. Slaves from Louisiana did not come from Africa (ancestors did). Slaves from South AMerica borught work songs and spirituals. Creoles of Color had higher social status. Lighter skin meant they were closer to whites. Some owned slaves others were classically trained musicians. Identified w/ their white ethnicity. Slaves danced in Congo Square. Some say the first drum set came from this area. Eventually people began watching. Call and response present.

Storyville:

Storyville was located in New Orleans. It's important to note that while Jazz is related to Storyville, it was not created there. Storyville was the Las Vegas of its day. There was a great deal of gambling, prostitution, and other lowly behavior.

12-bar blues form:

The 12-bar blue forms is a popular way to perform country blues. It follows a I-IV-V progression (that means you only play 3 chords). If your in the key of A, you'd play A first, D, then E last. Musicians needed a way to know how to perform together rather than by themselves. This gave them a way to perform together. 12 bar blues are present in many other future forms of Jazz like Kansas City Style Swing used it. This happened because musicians in NO heard blues songs and took the format they were played in.

Cotton Club:

The Cotton Club was a popular club in New York City. The club had been located in multiple locations including Harlem and Lenox Avenue. It operated during prohibition. The cotton club was significant and unique because it mimicked a plantation. No blacks were allowed, but blacks performed and served food and drink. Many famous musicians like Duke Ellington played here.

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band was based out of NO and was composed by only white Musicians. They were led by Nick Larocca. This band recorded the first known Jazz song called Livery Stable Blues. Nick Larocca claimed he invented Jazz, but this is has been proven to be untrue. He was racist. His band did unique things like make their instruments sounds like horses whining.

cornet

The cornet was a predecessor to the trumpet. Interchangeable with trumpet.

Thomas "Daddy" Rice:

Thomas Daddy Rice was the first minstrel. He saw a black boy doing a dance and copied it. Dance was called Jump Jim Crow (Jim Crow laws). Minstrelsy began to make fun of black people by displaying their stereotyped traits. Often there was always a dumb black boy named Sambo, who was easily tricked.

Billie Holiday:

Took Billie dove's name and father's last name. Father was guitarist for Fletcher Henderson.. Holiday was bisxeual. Vocalist. San to armstrong's jazz technique of being behind beat. HEavy drinker and heroin addict. Would fight people. Embodied Bessie SMith in emotion and power. Armstrong in technique

brass instruments:

Trumpets, trombones and Tuba.

Savoy Ballroom:

Venue in Harlem that played Swing. Savoy was the 1st integrated dance floor. Chick Webb played here a lot.

Bix Beiderbecke:

Very talented White Trumpeter. Considered the best white trumpeter in Jazz. highly regarded by black jazz musicians for his flawless technique and agility on his instrument. His all-white band was one of the top jazz bands in the country for only a few years. He and Louis Armstrong were the leading trumpet players during the late 1920's and early 1930's. Beiderbecke died in 1931 at the age of 28 due to alcoholism. Also performed song "Somebody Stole My Gal."

work songs:

Work songs originated in Africa and were often sung by slaves or by prisoners (as seen in "When the sun goes down" by Ed Lewis." Work songs utilized call and response. The singer would sing and the chorus would respond. This is is seen in Jazz. In Work Songs, improvisation is also used. Again another key component of Jazz.

Kansas City style

originated in kansas city, used the 12-bar blues format for improvisations called "head arrangements" where the musicians would play off the top of their heads for the majority of pieces. This style made the saxophone popular as a jazz instrument.