1. Jazz of the 1920s and 1930s

2. What is Jazz? American style music that blended African rhythms with classical structure Musicians often “improvised” or made up solos on the spot 1920s and 1930s jazz focused mostly on “big bands” with –Piano –Drums –Saxophones –Clarinets –Trumpets Dance music made popular at clubs and on the radio Most big bands had one key leader

3. Duke Ellington Piano player and most famous “big band” leader Born to piano teacher parents in Washington DC Played at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem throughout the 1930s “Take the A Train” was probably his most famous song (1939) Connected to the Harlem Renaissance when Black culture and arts flourished in Harlem Duke Ellington 1929 Movie "Black and Tan“Duke Ellington 1929 Movie "Black and Tan“ Take the A Train

4. Benny Goodman Most famous clarinet player: the “King of Swing” Orchestrated a “big band” and was the band’s leader Hugely popular on radio and for dances Born to a large poor Jewish immigrant family in Chicago 1938 Carnegie Hall concert is considered the greatest jazz concert ever: jazz became “respectable” because of the concert Benny Goodman's Sing Sing SingBenny Goodman's Sing Sing Sing

5. Fats Waller Famous piano player Enormous hands allowed him to play difficult chords and jump back and forth between bass notes “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (1929) most famous song, also became title of a movie and plays Ain't Misbehavin'

6. Louis Armstrong Most famous trumpet player and vocalist with a gravelly voice Used “Dixieland” orchestrations from his native New Orleans Long career started in 1920s and continued into 1950s Often sang duets with Ella Fitzgerald Louis Armstrong's Dinah (1933)Louis Armstrong's Dinah When the Saints Go Marching InWhen the Saints Go Marching In