The 1940’s were a decade of great change in America. In 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor; the first ever attack on U.S. soil, in 1944 American troops landed in Nazi-occupied Europe, and in 1945 the microwave oven was introduced to America. There was another great change taking place, but in the world of jazz music -- a new sound was developing that would alter the genre forever, pioneered by such people as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. As 1940 was coming to a close, a recently opened club called Minton’s Playhouse on 118th street in Harlem was becoming home to a group of bold new jazz musicians. What separated Minton’s from all the other clubs was that it wasn’t about dancing or entertainment, it was truly about
…show more content…
It also became less about the grand performance that was such an integral part of swing music, and more about being privy to a private jam session among the musicians. It was basically a jam session – the musicians would experiment and try new things, with no real obligation to the audience, often with their backs to the audience. They were playing what they wanted and not adhering strictly to music sheets. Also, the drum kit was no longer simply a kind of metronome for the band, but it became more of its own instrument -- drummers would play solos and bring something of their own to the group’s sound. Kenny Clarke for instance, a drummer, who had played with just about everyone, began experimenting with time, claiming, “tempo should be in your head” and that his band mates shouldn’t rely on him (Jazz, 291). Another musician who was on the forefront of this shift in music was Thelonious Monk, who was heavily influenced by such musicians as Fats Waller and Duke Ellington. However, Monk had a totally unique style – he would often start and stop suddenly, with short bursts of silence at unexpected times. His rhythm was unlike anyone else and it divided his audience, he really incorporated a kind of dissonance into his style. This new jazz that was coming out of …show more content…
There were many reasons for the decline of big bands, one simply being that when the war came, every man who was fit and healthy was sent off to fight for his country. Many big bands lost a lot of their members to the draft. Not only did World War Two leave the country with a shortage of men, but a shortage of money too. It became very expensive to travel with such a large band and smaller groups of four or five suddenly became far more affordable and more appealing to the managers of these bands. Of course the economy had an effect on the audience too, many Americans became more inclined to stay home and watch the television than go out and pay an entry fee to a dancehall, many of which were also beginning to close down. Another reason for the decline was the recording band of 1942, which forced many record companies to focus on the recording of solo singers and singing groups. Although for many years after the war Duke Ellington continued to tour with his band, as did Count Basie, swing music was simply not as popular as it had been in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Louis Armstrong for instance, was still touring with a sixteen-piece band, yet his salary was often less than half of what he had earned
Gavron
It also became less about the grand performance that was such an integral part of swing music, and more about being privy to a private jam session among the musicians. It was basically a jam session – the musicians would experiment and try new things, with no real obligation to the audience, often with their backs to the audience. They were playing what they wanted and not adhering strictly to music sheets. Also, the drum kit was no longer simply a kind of metronome for the band, but it became more of its own instrument -- drummers would play solos and bring something of their own to the group’s sound. Kenny Clarke for instance, a drummer, who had played with just about everyone, began experimenting with time, claiming, “tempo should be in your head” and that his band mates shouldn’t rely on him (Jazz, 291). Another musician who was on the forefront of this shift in music was Thelonious Monk, who was heavily influenced by such musicians as Fats Waller and Duke Ellington. However, Monk had a totally unique style – he would often start and stop suddenly, with short bursts of silence at unexpected times. His rhythm was unlike anyone else and it divided his audience, he really incorporated a kind of dissonance into his style. This new jazz that was coming out of …show more content…
There were many reasons for the decline of big bands, one simply being that when the war came, every man who was fit and healthy was sent off to fight for his country. Many big bands lost a lot of their members to the draft. Not only did World War Two leave the country with a shortage of men, but a shortage of money too. It became very expensive to travel with such a large band and smaller groups of four or five suddenly became far more affordable and more appealing to the managers of these bands. Of course the economy had an effect on the audience too, many Americans became more inclined to stay home and watch the television than go out and pay an entry fee to a dancehall, many of which were also beginning to close down. Another reason for the decline was the recording band of 1942, which forced many record companies to focus on the recording of solo singers and singing groups. Although for many years after the war Duke Ellington continued to tour with his band, as did Count Basie, swing music was simply not as popular as it had been in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Louis Armstrong for instance, was still touring with a sixteen-piece band, yet his salary was often less than half of what he had earned
Gavron