Judy Davis

John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was born in South Carolina in 1917 and died in 1993. He was a jazz trumpet player, bandleader and composer. He received a music scholarship to the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. He was one of the pioneers in bebop and had performed in Minton’s Playhouse and Monroe’s Uptown House. He worked with Charlie Parker in 1945, and performed in New York and Los Angeles. After the Los Angeles performance in December 1945, Gillespie returned to New York and Parker…

Do you know what Scat is or how to scat sing? Just look up Louis Armstrong, he created this masterpiece. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, he was born in the birthplace of jazz--New Orleans, Louisiana. He was in foster care throughout his teenage years. His father abandoned the family right after Louis was born, and his mother resulted to prostitution, so he was often left with his maternal grandmother. He began working in fifth grade where he developed a interest in music, this…

When Elizabeth Van Lew, a famous Northern spy during the Civil War, died on September 23, 1900, she left behind a powerful summary of what it is like to be a spy on her graveyard. It reads, “She risked everything that is dear to man- friends, fortune, comfort, health, life itself, as for the one absorbing desire of her heart, that slavery be abolished and the Union be preserved.” (Zeinert 147) This quote draws attention to the extent to what one does as a spy. It highlights the costs and…

Adam was driving to school one day and he thought that after school he and a friend would go mudding through the forest before they go home. So at school that day he asked Leo if he wanted to go mudding after school. Leo said yes but he did not drive his truck to school he drove a mustang. So then adam said that him and Leo would just stop at leo's house to get his truck. They went and got his truck but neither leo or adam told their parents that they were going mudding. They headed off for…

Sarah Cabral’s work “is as authentic and inviting, as it is sophisticated” -- QUOTE. Born in southern Brazil, Sarah Cabral grew up in a time of great influence from North American pop music and music contained within telenovelas. Despite this, and having moved to the United Stated in the early 2000’s, Cabral never lost touch with the deep roots that exist in Brazilian music. This deep connection permeates throughout her debut, self-titled album, which Cabral also produced. In it she draws on…

Living a life faced with adversity it is truly remarkable the lasting impact Billy Strayhorn was capable of having on the development of jazz. He is acknowledged for being an exceptional pianist, composer, arranger and possessing one of the greatest compositional voices in the 20th century. He was truly an under appreciated revolutionary force decades ahead of his time, even while being the first closeted then out black gay man in a particularly homophobic environment of an all black male jazz…

Cuban jazz pianist and composer, David Virelles, has been widely solicited by the attentive musicians on the current scene, who immediately recognized his outstanding creative capabilities. In the recent past, he has played key roles in projects led by trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and saxophonists Henry Threadgill and Chris Potter. As a leader, Virelles always brings heritage into the game, and both Continuum (Pi Recordings, 2012) and Mboko (ECM, 2015) received accolades from the specialized media…

English saxophonist Paul Dunmall has built strong reputation in the European free jazz scene throughout the years. From soliloquies to large ensembles, Dunmall never ceases to surprise through his dashing improvised statements and writing skills. Among his successful past collaborations, saxophonist Elton Dean and drummer Tony Bianco come first in the list, while the improvising quartet Mujician with pianist Keith Tippett, bassist Paul Rogers, and percussionist Tony Levin will be always…

The History of Jazz Music. What I Already Knew / What I Wanted to Know I Have always liked jazz music. When I got older, I realized there were plenty of different kinds of jazz. Last year in music, I was briefly able to research the topic. I wasn't able to find very much in that small amount of time, so I thought it would be a good idea to do it now. I know there are many different types of jazz music. I also know that there are many artist that influenced the evolution of jazz. Now I want…

Occasionally, musicians become “crossover artists” whom can per- form good in more than one field of music. For example, Wynton and Branford Marsalis was train in jazz by their father, the great pianist Ellis Marsalis. Both of the sons has became successful classical artists. Bran- ford’s saxophone captures the richness of pieces by Ravel and Stravinsky. Wynton’s albums of classical trumpet music from the Baroque period has brung him many awards. Still, if he was to choose which kind of music he…