1. Jazz

2. Unit Outline History of Jazz Characteristics Different Styles of Jazz
Ragtime
Blues
New Orleans Jazz
Swing
Bebop
Cool Jazz
Free Jazz
Jazz Rock

3. Unit Outline Continue
12 Bar Blues progression
Improvisation in Jazz

4. Early Jazz
Early jazz was neither notated or recorded as it was improvised and only existed in performance
Music originated from New Orleans in America.
Jazz was created by African Americans.
Jazz has been influenced from African and European music

5. Early Jazz Cont. African music: African music involves everyone
They have halls in Africa, although they do not sit around and listen to music - European influence
Songs were passed down by singers known as Griots (“gree-ohs“) who memorised and repeated the songs about their people and history.

6. Early Jazz Cont. African Music Characteristics Call and response
Polyrhythm
Call and response
Repetition of rhythms (rhythmic ostinato)
Harmony occurs when two or more melodies are played together
Scales were used ( pentatonic and seven note scales)

7. Ragtime
Ragtime gets it name from ragged or syncopated rhythms in the music
Ragtime was not polyrhythmic, but it uses a lot of syncopation which was influenced from African music
The structure of ragtime is formal (binary, ternary, rondo)
Piano rags were popular in homes, riverboats and nightclubs

8. Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin (1868 – 1917)
Listening:
Duple Meter 2/4
Moderato tempo
Right hand on the piano plays syncopated melody
Left hand on the piano maintains the beat with an “oom-pah” accompaniment

9. Blues
Originated from the African American slaves in America working to rhythmic songs in the fields.
Country blues is the earliest form of blues - vocals accompanied by guitar.
By 1900 the blues had developed into a highly structured style with distinct forms for lyrics and melodies

10. Blues Cont.
Lyrics followed the form of AAB when it consisted of two rhyming lines and the first line is repeated as shown below
a : Now listen baby, you so good and sweet
a’: Now listen baby, you so good and sweet
b : I want to stay ‘round you, if I have to beg in the street

11. Blues Characteristics
12 Bar Blue Progression
Section a a’ b
Bar
Chord I IV I V I
Eg C major key: I - Cmaj, IV – Fmaj, V – Gmaj
Vocalists and instrumentalists use “bent” notes and vocal scoops and slides

12. Blues Characteristics
Use the Blues Scale
Lowering the the 3rd, 5th and 7th notes
Rhythm is very flexible.
Vocalists and instrumentalists play “around” the beat, either just before or just after the beat.

13. Lost Your Head Blues by Bessie Smith (1894 – 1937)
Listening:
Blues characteristics
Tone colour of the voice and cornet
Pitch of the vocals
Expressive techniques used on the vocals