A quiet evening listening to my jazz collection shuffled randomly on my winamp 5. A Clear night with the moon sneaking over the horizon and the stars come out to play. A cool breeze blows lightly, teasing the blades of grass and rustling of the leaves in the trees. Sitting down at my pc, I have a little sip from my Nescafe and waving my hand slowly with forefinger extended to the beat of the Don Grausin and the vocals of Pete Belesco, Michael Buble, Diana Krall. Amateur as I am though, (too many styles to listen too within this genre and I do admit that I approach some styles with trepidation and prejudicially select only contemporary styles such as acid, cool and smooth, slightly stomaching swing.) I decide then, that I would write up about the only music genre that I truly take pleasure in, that never ceases to get me bobbing to it’s musical chords as it plays out over the air, and move me in so many ways, I can’t even begin to describe.
What is Jazz? Jazz, an American art form, an as much of America’s cultural export, is an international phenomenon. The following in KL, is quite small though (in my personal opinion) strictly concentrated in clubs along Jln Ampang, hotel lounges and the once in the blue moon Jazz festivals in Mont. Kiara. Jazz for the most part it is a style of music that originated in the turn of the 20th century New Orleans (The official home of Jazz), St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago from Ragtime c.1895, the syncopated rhythms of Ragtime and minor chord voicing characteristic of the Blues brand of music carried traits form West African Black music developed in the Americas joined with European poplar and light classical music from the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Classic Jazz - At the beginning of the 1900’s, Jazz styles took the form of small band music and its origin credited to New Orleans. This musical style is sometimes mistakenly referred to as “Dixieland” but is less solo-oriented. Though traditional New Orleans Jazz was performed by blacks, whites and African-American creoles, “Dixieland” is a term for white performer’s revival of this style.
New Orleans style - originated with brass bands that performed for parties and dances in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Musical arrangements varied considerably from performance to performance and many of the solos embellished the melody with ornaments of Jazz improvisation (a shared analogy in Rock would be ‘goreng’ of the lead guitarist). This lively new music combined syncopations of ragtime with adaptations of popular melodies, hymns, marches, work songs and the Blues.
Hot Jazz - c.1925 popularized by Louis Armstrong and considered to be absolute Jazz classics. Also characterized by improvised solos, around melodic structure, that ideally built up to an emotional and “Hot” climax. The rhythm section, usually drums, bass, banjo or guitar supported this crescendo, many times in the style of march tempo.
Chicago Style - Characterized by harmonic, innovative arrangements and a high technical ability of the players, Chicago Style Jazz significantly furthered the improvised music of it’s day.
Swing - The 1930s belonged to Swing. During that era, most of the Jazz groups were Big Bands. Derived from New Orleans Jazz style, Swing was robust and invigorating. Swing was also dance music and boy could they dance back then! The mid 1990’s saw a revival of Swing music fueled by the retro trends in dance….girls with short pleated skirts and sneakers with socks and the customary sweater and scarf and the guys in jocks sweaters with jeans – retro fashion? Once again young couples across America and Europe jitter-bugged to the swing’n sounds of Big Band music, often played by much smaller ensembles.
Kansas City Style & Gypsy Jazz – Following along the lines of swing with some minor – yeap! You guessed right! - improvisation.
Bebop – Here Jazz starts to evolve into something I can identify with what I am listening to these days. Developed in the early 1940’s, Bop had established itself as vogue by 1945. Until then, Jazz improvisation was derived from the melodic line. Bebop soloists engaged in cordial improvisation, often avoiding the melody altogether after the first chorus. Usually under seven pieces, the soloist was free to explore improvised possibilities as long as they fit into the chord structure. Differing greatly from Swing, Bebop divorced itself early-on from dance music, establishing itself as art form but severing its potential commercial value. Ironically, what was once thought of as a radical Jazz style, Bebop has become the basis for all the innovations that followed.
Vocalese - The art of composing a lyric and singing it in the same manner as the recorded instrumental solos. Vocalese reached its highest point from 1957-62. Performers may solo or sing in ensemble, supported by small group or orchestra. Bop in nature, Vocalese rarely ventured into other Jazz styles and never brought commercial success to it’s performers until recent years.
Mainstream - After the end of the Big Band era, as these large ensembles broke into smaller groups, Swing music continued to be played. Re-emerging as a loose Jazz style in the late ’70s and ’80s, Mainstream Jazz picked up influences from Cool, Classic and Hardbop. The terms Modern Mainstream or Post Bop are used for almost any Jazz style that cannot be closely associated with historical styles of Jazz music.
Cool - Evolving directly from Bop in the late 1940’s and 1950’s, Cool’s smoothed out mixture of Bop and Swing tones were again harmonic and dynamics were now softened. The ensemble arrangement had regained importance. Nicknamed “West Coast Jazz” because of the many innovations coming from Los Angeles, Cool became nation wide by the end of the 1950’s.
Hardbop - An extension of Bebop that was somewhat interrupted by the Cool sounds of West Coast Jazz, Hard Bop melodies tend to be more “soulful” than Bebop, borrowing at times from Rhythm & Blues and even Gospel themes.
Bossa Nova - A blend of West Coast Cool, European classical harmonies and seductive Brazilian samba rhythms, Bossa Nova or more correctly “Brazilian Jazz”, reached the United States c.1962 (timeline). The subtle but hypnotic acoustic guitar rhythms accent simple melodies sung in either (or both) Portuguese or English.
Soul Jazz - Derived from Hardbop, Soul Jazz is perhaps the most popular Jazz style of the 1960’s. Improvising to chord progressions as with Bop, the soloist strives to create an exciting performance. The ensemble of musicians concentrates on a rhythmic groove centered around a strong but varied bassline.
Groove - An off-shoot of Soul Jazz, drawing its tones from the blues and focuses mainly on the rhythm. Sometimes referred to as “Funk” it concentrates on maintaining the continuous rhythm “hook” complimented lightly by instrumental and sometimes lyrical ornaments.
Fusion - By the early 1970’s, the term “Fusion” had come to identity a mixture of Jazz improvisation with the energy and new rhythms of Rock music.
Afro-Cuban Jazz - also known as Latin Jazz, is a combination of Jazz improvising and highly infectious rhythms. Evolving from it’s early Bop centered roots, Afro-Cuban Jazz has become a true fusion between North, South and Central America.
Post Bop - The terms Modern Mainstream or Post Bop are used for almost any style that cannot be closely associated with historical types of Jazz music. The alternate path to Groove and Funk, starting in 1979. Elements of Avant-Garde offer soloists new exploratory directions while polyrhythmic beats from Caribbean influences lend a wider diversity than previous Bop music.
Acid Jazz - The term Acid Jazz is loosely used to cover a wide range of music. Although it is not a true style of Jazz music that has evolved from traditional stems. Originating in the 1987 British dance scene, it defined a funky music style which incorporated sampled classic Jazz tracks, 70s Funk, Hip-Hop, Soul and Latin grooves, with the main focus on instrumental music and not the lyric. The resulting mosaic usually ignored improvisation giving argument to whether Acid Jazz is, in fact, Jazz.
Smooth Jazz - Evolving from Fusion, but leaving behind the energetic solos and dynamic crescendos. Improvisation is also largely ignored, giving the same argument as Acid Jazz on whether the term “Jazz” can truly apply. High tech layering of synthesizers and rhythm tracks give it unobtrusive and slick packaging, where the ensemble sound matters more than individual expression. Perhaps the most commercially viable form of all Jazz styles since Swing appealing to the more youthful generations nowadays (Including myself).
Source: Various Sources such as allaboutjazzdotcom, pbsdotorg,jassdotcom.
now to think of a great moniker!
