Quiz 6A - Short Answer

Define: Bossa nova

A Latin jazz style that developed from Brazilian music in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Define: Third stream

A blend of jazz and European concert music. Improvisation is generally a vital component.

What was the Modern Jazz Quartet? Name at least one of the performers.

A jazz group who played a major role in the development of cool jazz. (started out playing bebop w/Dizzy Gillespie) John Lewis, piano Kenny Clarke, drums

Define: West Coast jazz

A jazz style of the 1950s that developed in California and embodied many of the principles of cool jazz.

Define: Hard bop

A jazz sub-genre of the 1950s that drew on the speed, intensity, and power of bebop, with influences from r&b, gospel, and blues.

Define: Sheets of sound

A phrase coined by jazz critic Ira Gitler to describe John Coltrane's method of playing that features, extremely fast notes with irregular phrase groupings, and several harmonies over a single chord.

Define: Ostinato

A repeated melodic or harmonic idea that forms the basis for a section or an entire composition.

Name one specific action taken by a jazz performer that related to the civil rights movement.

Charles Mingus' recording of Fables of Faubus

Name three technological advances that affected jazz, and for each, explain how the advance affected jazz.

Electric Instruments and amplification changed the way jazz was performed, Overdubbing allowed for more flexibility and creativity in jazz recording, Effects processing allowed for more creativity in both live performance and recording of jazz

What are three characteristics of cool jazz?

Increased compositional complexity, Slower tempos, Less overt emotional involvement

What are three characteristics of the music and performance of Coltrane's group, the Classic Quartet?

Modal improvisation, Extended pedal points, Motivic cell approach to solos

One of the mainstream pianists was Bill Evans. Describe three aspects of his playing.

Notable aspects of Bill Evans' playing included: refined lyricism, harmonic sophistication, rhythmic displacement, elastic meter, and conversational interaction with other instruments.

Define: Motivic cells

Short melodic ideas subject to variation and development (AKA thematic cells).