Duke Ellington

Charlie Parker, or the ‘Bird’, was one of the best saxophone players in the world. His unique style of playing combined with this ability to combine chords rarely used in jazz, flowing seamlessly between them made Parker one of the greats. As a teenager, Parker was allowed the opportunity to play with the famous drummer Jo Jones, drummer of the Count Basie band, a most popular swing bands of the time. Parker enters his solo and starts to show off his unique style, but then he messes up, losses…

Racism was always mixed with jazz. But it just “created tension and strengthened” around the community at times but that changed in the 1930s. In the 1930s the Great Depression hit America which made a big impact in the economy and affected every part of America. Jazz music was mostly affected by the depression, people began staying “home and listening to the radio, instead of spending their money and going to nightclubs” (History of Jazz). In effort to save the jazz music and its popularity,…

For the Jazz Concert that I attended I saw the Nico Lembo Trio perform at Venkman’s in the Historic Fourth Ward of Atlanta. The Trio, consisting of drums, trombone, and electronic keyboard, had a sound that was heavily inspired by the “Cool Style” of Jazz in the early 1950’s with some hints of John Coltrane inspired Free Jazz elements. Throughout most of the performance the Trio played traditional instrumental jazz including classic songs by artists such as Miles Davis along with some original…

development of band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black musical arrangers and his influence was vast. He was often known as Smack Henderson (apparently due to his college baseball hitting skills) .Fletcher is ranked along with Duke Elington as one of the most influential arrangers and band leaders in jazz history, and helped bridge the gap between the dixieland and swing era. Fletcher Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia in 1897. He grew up in a middle-class…

Swing Dance begin in 1920s and 30s in America. In 1930s the words Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and Swing were all interchanged terms. How the dance was discovered you may ask in the 1920s the black community were dancing to contemporary Jazz music and the discovered the Charleston and the Lindy Hop which was originated in Harlem. Something that I found really interesting is in 1936 Philip Nutl, was president of the American Society of Teachers of Dancing said that swing would not last. Here it is 2016…

World War II was not only a time of destruction, but also a time of creation. Many new music styles appeared during this time period. One of these great innovators was George Gershwin, who created Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin’s introduction of a new music style in his first performance sent waves around the country that pulled in people of all music preference. The musical genius, Gershwin, created a new rhythm and style by combining Classical and Jazz music. In the time before Gershwin rose to…

Havana was also famous for its 'Creollo' cuisine. Dishes such as black beans, old clothes, Congrí (black beans and rice) with roast pork, cassava with mojo, ajiaco or desserts such as fritters, guava shells, 'Coquitos' (coconut balls) or 'Pan de Gloria' (Glory Bread) were a treat for both visitors and locals. And their drinks, 'Mojitos', 'Daiquiris', 'Piña Coladas' and other cocktails, such as those prepared in the legendary 'Bodeguita de El Medio', were world- renowned. Owing to its nightlife,…

Chintan Jani Professor Gonzalez Music Appreciation 101-01 September 28, 2015 Go Ahead John – John McLaughlin & Miles Davis Go Ahead John is an excerpt from Miles Davis’s cool jazz double album The Big Fun. Album consists of many tracks that were not included in Miles’ previous studio albums and one of those “rejects” was this piece of beauty. Originally recorded on March 7, 1970, Go Ahead John is brought to life by many musicians like Miles Davis on trumpet, Steve Grossman on the soprano…

American popular music from the 1930's reflects the cultural and social characteristics that shaped the American identity during the period. The music of the thirties is important when trying to understand the American people during a time of new technology, a massive growing in the population of cities, and a large scale depression. Over the course of the thirties, American taste in music changed dramatically. In the mainstream it moved from the bland and unchallenging "sweet" sound of Guy…

Do you love jazz music? Louis Armstrong became an amazing coronet player. He had a rough start in life, but overcame challenges. At first he wasn’t really out there for playing the cornet, but overtime jazz music became very popular and he became famous. Louis Armstrong was born August 4th, 1901. His dad, William Armstrong, was a mentor who also played the cornet and he was still only a little kid when his dad has left the house. Even then his mom left him, shrieking her parental…