Jazz Age

matter. I was able to listen to relaxing jazz music, sing along with a great singer, and reminisce about my musical days. The incorporation of the black experience throughout the event was a fresh breath of air. I am an Africana Studies minor, so anything about the black experience has my attention! I appreciated the fact that although I did not read Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson, I was able to understand the era of the book through the various Harlem jazz and blues-inspired music…

Boasting a traditional jazz form (consisting of the “head,” a solo section, and then concluding with a repeat of the “head,”) “Take Five” was easy to follow and solo over. It also boasted a simpler chord structure, making the tune accessible to bands looking to transcribe, learn, and perform the…

Jazz began in the late 18th century in African-American communities in New Orleans. Soon these vocal tunes made by African-Americans turned into piano songs, and soon enough evolved into the Jazz we know and love today. In modern Jazz, there are pieces that are considered “Jazz Standards”, one major contributor to these standards is the trombone player and Big Band Jazz composer, Glenn Miller. Glenn Miller lived a short yet interesting life, he differed from his competitors and left a dazzling…

Louis Armstrong was one of the greatest Jazz Musicians of all times. Louis Armstrong had defined what it was to play jazz, throughout his amazing abilities, his joy and spontaneity which allowed him to be quick on creating inventive music, which still allows him to dominate jazz today. Jazz is a form of music that has been consistently defining itself among the music industry and the African-American culture. Jazz music has also become a major tradition throughout America, where it has grown and…

listen to the “Hot Style Jazz” of the time. Joe King Oliver acted as Armstrong's father and teacher for a large portion of his life, giving him his first trumpet and a chance to play at some of his gigs. From there he went on to join a variety of semi-successful groups. In 1922 at the age of 21 Louis moves to Chicago to again play Joe Olivers band. Slowly being recognized for his music, on April 5, 1923 he recorded his first song as a member of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. In February,…

Throughout the past few decades, our music taste, along with our society, has developed into an expressive community. People of all ages have been using music to express themselves for thousands of years. The 1920s, as well as 2000s are prominently known for their groundbreaking new sound. The two were ferociously popular in their time, but how can two genres, each with a different sound, be so popular? The purpose of the composer, instruments used and the sound produce, are vastly different…

Listening to Jazz for the Soul Jazz is widely regarded as one of the most influential types of music in American History. Since it’s formation, jazz has represented the literal sound of freedom for many African Americans. James Baldwin’s “Sonny's Blues,” tells the coming of age story about a young man named Sonny and his life as an aspiring jazz musician. To become one of the great jazz musicians Sonny must focus on listening to those around him including his older brother. Ironically the…

wasn’t received well. Some of the slaves later on went to Europe where their dancing was recognized. African jazz with European influences then made its way back to America. African Slaves→America→Europe Jazz→ Europe→America • Ragtime • Syncopated rhythms (marches, waltzes, other classic rhythms…) o Tommy Turpin (piano) Harlem Rag → the first Ragtime musical composition • 1900’s – Classic Jazz o Small musical ensemble, brass • Instruments from confederate war • Clarinet, trombone, tuba,…

“To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music” (Simone). Nina is one of the greats when it comes to African-American music, a black woman that children of color can look up to in awe knowing that our people had a contribution to real art. Simone was born February 21, 1933, in the small town of Tryon, North Carolina, but later died at her home on April 23, 2003, in Carry-let-Rout, France. Nina Simone attended Julliard School…

Argentinian tenor saxophonist, Gato Barbieri, has been engaging jazz fans for over 50 years. Gato Barbieri is Spanish for "Barbieri the feline"; his genuine name is Leandro Barbieri. Gato's vocation has crossed from free jazz to Latin jazz, to jazz-pop and in 2002, Gato discharged his 50th studio collection. He initially took up music with the clarinet, at age 12, subsequent to hearing Charlie Parker's Now's the Time. Gato Barbieri started his expert music life playing the alto saxophone with…