Jazz Festivals » Jazz Band

The Learning Ear – A Leadership Lesson from Jazz

admin2 — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:57:32 +0000

“The ear,” said jazz great Duke Ellington, “is the most essential instrument in the world.”

When I was doing the executive coaching program at Royal Roads University back in 2002, I remember Marj Busse introducing us to her favourite acronym – WAIT – “Why Am I Talking.” Now, for a Presbyterian preacher and former university dean and professor, that was a powerful challenge. It inspired me to start thinking about the skill of listening in a whole new way. What we can learn and provoke by considerate listening is crucial to the central task of leadership – doing your work through other people.

There are two key advantages for leaders in developing a more finely-tuned learning ear.

The first is that we build sustainable collaboration through listening and learning. Listening shows respect. People want their passions and talents heard and appreciated. And you can’t hear what they have to offer while you’re talking. The wisdom of the group is always richer than the wisdom of the individual. The secret is to find ways of letting it surface.

The second advantage is that listening and learning create innovation. So much of our talk these days is discussion and debate, in which closed minds battle to make their limited perspectives dominant. That approach alienates potential allies and keeps our thinking stuck in what we already know. If we are to find new ways out of the challenges we face, we have to listen, to use our learning ear and hear different perspectives and viewpoints that will provoke new ideas and possibilities. This is what William Isaacs calls “dialogue” and it’s essential to being able to improvise and adapt to the constantly changing environment in which we live.

We can take our cue from Duke Ellington. What he did with his ear was astounding. He led the greatest jazz band of the twentieth century. Let’s give him the last word on the proper use of the learning ear in leading.

“I regard my entire orchestra as one large instrument, and I try to play on that instrument to the fullest of its capabilities. My aim is and always has been to mold the music around the man. I’ve found out that it doesn’t matter so much what you have available, but rather what you make of what you have – finding a good ‘fit’ for every instrumentalist in the group. I study each man in the orchestra and find out what he can do best, and what he would like to do.”

That takes a special kind of ear, a learning ear. And we’ve all got two.

By: Brian Fraser

All About Jazz Band Instruments

admin2 — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:48:32 +0000

While your child may have been in the marching band or the concert band, they may also be interested in joining a Jazz band. Jazz band instruments are something to be considered when a child first decides to join band or as they learn, if they find they are interested in one of the jazz instruments, they can switch. Of course, in any of the music programs at school, they may have the opportunity to switch to a variety of instruments according to the band instructor or school music director.

Some of the instruments you’ll find in a jazz band are very similar to the ones that you may find in a concert band and often include instruments such as the trumpet or coronet, the clarinet, the saxophone, both the tenor and bass trombone, drums, the piano, and the double bass a string instrument. You may also find the bass guitar, the Congo drums, a banjo, the tuba, acoustic guitar, a keyboard synthesizer, and others.

There is no doubt that children who play in band appreciate music the rest of their lives, given the opportunity to jazz it up a bit, many music students at the high school level really enjoy a jazz band. You’ll often see those students who are playing musical instruments at home, and yet aren’t in concert band or the marching band, will be included in the jazz band. This offers a variety of students and styles of music to the jazz band.

One of the ways to introduce your child to jazz music is to listen to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Strings, the Art Blakely Quintet, John Coltrain, Miles Davis, as well as Freddie Hubbard. Any one of these jazz musicians will introduce your child to the music of jazz, and before you know it, they’ll be running rifts on their trumpet, clarinet, trombone or coronet.

If your child is interested in a jazz band instrument, make sure that you speak with the music director at school before you go out and buy one. Often, music students from the past who no longer play donate their instruments to the school that they played at. So your music instructor may be able to help you avoid paying for a second instrument. Also, look to used instruments, your community support groups, flea markets, secondhand stores, and of course their rental programs and purchase plans available.

By: Arman Hansen

Jazz History: "Pre-Jazz"

admin2 — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:56:25 +0000

Jazz as a style didn’t come into its own until around 1920. Before that there were such prejazz forms as band and piano ragtime, jug bands, banjo groups, country blues, European marching bands and pop songs, street calls, and African percussion music. Good examples of this early American music can be heard on the Smithsonian Folk Collection. Most good jazz texts run the history and descriptions down. One such book is Jazz Styles by Mark Gridley.

Jazz came about due to the inevitable confluence of ragtime and the blues. Of course, one could make a semantic argument which would confuse what the salient characteristics of jazz are (much of what they presented on BET Jazz I wouldn’t call jazz, for example). Similarly, I would not call the Original Dixieland Jass Band’s barn animal and slide-whistle gimmicks jazz. (Many contemporaries called their stuff jive hokum.) Jazz didn’t really swing until Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong, and simply because Louis and Jelly played ragtime before they evolved their great jazz groups does not make what they played before that jazz.

Certainly the music had been gradually evolving towards jazz for quite some time, but because the ODJB first used the term Jass (not Jazz) in their title isn’t that much of a big deal to me. I’m sure they thought it would help with sales and popularity (and it worked for them, too), since these terms–and others–were already in the air. And musicians did not uniformly refer to whatever music they played at that time as jazz by any means; these were loose terms. Many scholars do, however, acknowledge that the ODJB was the first recorded jazz band, and that is where I differ with them.

I cringe when I hear about ODJB in this regard: Having played their recordings for many Jazz History classes over the years, and compared their music to Louis, Jelly, and many others, I think they are an embarrassment. To me they are insufferably corny and they couldn’t swing their way out of a paper bag! Worst of all, they are the recorded caricature of the less-talented whites stealing the black man’s music–and doing it poorly.

By: Ed Byrne

Art Tatum – The Virtuoso of Jazz Piano

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:44:23 +0000

Being born blind never proved to go against the music in Arthur Tatum Jr’s heart. One of the most technically sound pianists, his technique and compositions manage to boggle musicians even in this advanced day and age.

Born on the 13th of October 1909, Arthur Tatum could barely see from one eye after having cataracts in one eye with the other having limited vision – a condition which he had from when he was just months old. A child prodigy, he started by learning how to play the piano rolls from recordings which his mother used to play at home. He slowly started playing duets not knowing that they were meant to be played as duets but playing both the parts himself.

Having learnt to play in this unusual manner, his playing style was very fast which he could surprisingly play with acute accuracy. While he was developing his talent, he also made sure that the piano was always tuned right and would insist that it be tuned right.

He underwent surgery to improve the condition of his eye which didn’t give him relief for too long. In around 1930 when he was around 20 years old, he was inflicted which damaged his eye again. He started his career in Ohio where he was born. He later shifted base to New York in 1932.

His music influences grew over the years and he started taking after James P Johnson and Fats Waller who were considered the best stride piano players. His claim to fame was a cutting contest. A cutting contest was a contest between stride piano players in Harlem where one player would “cut” into the piece the other player was playing and in the process try to outdo him. In a cutting contest in 1933, he beat his heroes at the keys – Fats Waller.

At these contests, the standard songs that used to be played were Harlem Strut, Carolina Shout and Handful Keys – all of which were composed between Johnson and Waller. Tatum competed against them with his own arrangement of Tiger Rag – a tune originally composed by the Original Dixie Land Jazz Band. He out beat them and all the other competition making the event one that marked the phasing out of the stride era. After that, he became known to be the authority on the stride style of playing the piano. He held the record for being the best at the instrument only to be challenged by Donald “The Lamb” Lambert who came the closest to challenging Tatum at the instrument that he had come to master.

The immediate reaction of a pianist to one of Tatum’s recording would leave him baffled at what he was doing where and how. His fingers flowed like water on the keys. He was consequently free stylist in his method of playing the piano. His mastery of being able to move his fingers fast over the keys of a piano with accuracy like as if one is listening to a sped up version of the player using the same techniques. This allowed him to fly like a breeze through a part that any other pianist would cringe to play because it was difficult.

The technique itself was not the complicated. Jimmy Rowles, an admirer and colleague, confessed that the despite slowing down the faster parts of his signature piece “Tiger Rag”, you’d find a perfectly coherent, syncopated rhythm. Taking ground from his stride piano roots, he took the same genius to playing jazz like the good usage of pentatonic scales which allowed for jazz to grow a form of music which was ideal for solos. He influenced many jazz masters of the period like Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Billy Taylor, Bill Evans, and Chick Corea.

Another handy work of the genius that Tatum was is the introduction of swinging the beat of a jazz song. He was firm believer that melody was king which showed in his music. He never attempted going away from the original melody of the song and preferred working with the original melody of the tune innovating with the chord progressions to suit the melody.

The man was such a genius at the piano because most musicians couldn’t keep up with his speed and extensive techniques. He will go down in history as the virtuoso of jazz piano.

By: Duane Shinn

How To Play Jazz Piano With Style

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:25:58 +0000

The piano is an important musical instrument for jazz bands since the origin of jazz music and it can be played in the style of a solo performance or as part of a band. Like the guitar, the piano is one of the few musical instruments in a jazz band which can play chords as well as notes instead just single notes only instruments such as the saxophone, trombone, trumpet or even the vibraphone (1 or 2 notes together).

Gone were the days when a jazz pianist’s role is just to keep tempo with repetitive chord combinations. Nowadays, the pianist is free to choose any technique or style to accompany a band or a singer using both short and sustained chordal and melodic fragments called comping.

An accomplshed jazz pianist must not only be good at sight-reading as well as good at improvising chord symbols but also must be able to adapt to the different playing styles of various bands he jams with. Jazz pianists must balance this interpretation and improvisation to the musical style the bands are playing.

The jazz pianist is indeed a happy musician because of the extended range of the piano. The piano offers the pianist with a much greater number of choices and techniques for improvisation, much more so than any other instruments in a jazz band.

In a jazz musical style known as “striding”, the left hand of the pianist alternates positions very quickly playing notes in the bass register and chords in the tenor register. The right hand will usually play the melody, but might also play harmonic content, chordally or even in octaves.

Jazz pianists play the solo with 3 basic objectives to fulfill simultaneously. The techniques are as follows :-

a) To provide a clear and swinging rhythm. This style is usually done by striking a beat with the right hand just after a weaker beat with the left hand. The objective of this technique is to mimic the combination of a cymbal ride as well as the walking bass. This technique can also be executed deftly with the left hand alone, by imitating the weaker beat preparatory swing note that is played by a bassist just before he strikes some of the notes of the bass phrasing.

b) Play the melody or solo improvisation with the right hand.

c) Establish the guide tones for chord changes.

One method commonly used by jazz pianists for tackling this triple situation simultaneously is to hold the hands together in a fork-like shape with the index and the third finger joining the thumbs to form a central group, whilst the fourth and fifth fingers are spread outwards.

This is done so that the pianist can use the left branch fingers to play bass notes, the middle fingers to moderate the guide tones and the right branch fingers to play the upper lines of the melody.

It is indeed challenging for the pianist to meet all these demands at the simultaneously. However these skills are inherent in most competent jazz pianists.

What is commonly called the ‘circle of fifths’ is also an important element in playing jazz piano because it provides harmonic diversity through a well guided harmonic phrase. Playing the circle of fifths technique is very much related to chord “planing” techniques which shift a chord, often voiced in fourths, up the scale, while implying a repeated harmonic pattern of tonic-dominant-tonic-dominant.

If you intend to be a good at playing jazz piano, then mastering these styles and techniques is a required skill.

By: Chris Chew

Play Jazz Piano In Style

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:16:22 +0000

By: Chris Chew

Jazz Piano and Style

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:42:34 +0000

The piano or keyboard is an instrument that can be played in a solo performance or it can be part of a band. Jazz bands make heavy use of pianos since jazz began. The reason for this is that pianos along with guitars are some of the few instruments in a jazz band that can play chords in addition to a melody or counter melody.

In the past, a jazz pianists main role was to keep tempo with a combination of repetitive chords, but in recent years this has changed. Jazz pianists now days are able to select from a multitude of styles and techniques that they will use to accompany a band or singer. Short and sustained chordal or melodic fragments are used.

Experienced jazz pianists are not only great at sight-reading, but can also improvise chord symbols and adapt to the various playing styles of jazz bands. A jazz pianist must balance this improvisation and interpretation with the music style of the band.

The extended range that the piano provides also helps a jazz pianist with creating unique sounds that other instruments in the jazz band can not create.

Jazz pianists have 3 goals that they aim to achieve while they are playing. The first is to provide a clear rhythm and swing. The second is to play a melody or improvised solo with the right hand. Jazz pianists are also expected to help guide the band into chord changes with the help of notes leading up to the chord change.

It is quite a challenge for pianists to meet these 3 demands at the same time. Most jazz pianists are quite skilled in this art and are able to maintain this while planning unique improvisations.

If the intend to be great at playing the piano in a jazz band, you need to master these styles and techniques.

By: Mary Nicole Hicks

Where Can We Listen Live Big Band Jazz Music?

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:51:21 +0000

Jazz–A musical art form was originated in the African American communities in early 20th century. It is one of the most tantalizing and distinguished forms of music and has a unique American flair to it. It embraces all other forms like rock, hip-hop. But the irony is it has now become less popular than the latter ones. The big band- also known as the jazz band, jazz ensemble, dance band, stage orchestra is an ensemble associated with playing the Jazz music. The typical instruments used are Saxophone, Clarinet, Piano, Guitar etc.

Jazz is one of the most significant contributions to the music world. Still there are many people who value its worth and love listening to it. No matter how old it grows, this is something which is agile and will always persist in the hearts of its admirers. One reason that jazz remains popular and alive is its ability to adapt to the world it lives in and yet being able to maintain its originality and touch.

There are a host of options available for the Jazz music lovers. In Chicago, you can hear some great musicians playing Jazz on nearly every street corner. Kansas City, Boston and New Orleans have great Jazz clubs where there are splendid performances of the original big band Jazz music the magic of the renowned artists is recreated. The idea is to go back to the period to feel and relive that pleasant light and easy music. They are like a holy spot for those who are passionate about this music.

For the music lovers who do not want to leave their homes want to find an economical way to live their favorite Jazz music, here is a shortcut- The Radio. Tune into some great Jazz radio stations. It may not be as mesmerizing and scintillating as hearing them live in person but close your eyes, flow with the music and imagine yourself with your favorite artists at a concert. That is the best way to enjoy it and pretty reasonable too.

By: Akhila Choudhary

Enjoy Big Band Jazz Music

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:22:20 +0000

Jazz enjoys a universal popularity. This form of music emerged in the beginning of the 20th century in the African- American community of the United States of America. The repetitive patterns of ‘call’ and ‘response’ define the jazz music. The various types of rhythm patterns that are prevalent in the jazz music are reggae, blues and the swing patterns.

A kind of musical assembly associated with the jazz music is known as the big band jazz music. This sort of ensemble can also be called as jazz band, jazz orchestra, jazz ensemble and dance band. However there is one primary difference between the big band jazz music and the other forms of jazz music. While the most of the jazz combos are highly improvised or and created spontaneously, the music that is played in the big bands jazz music is often arranged and prepared from before. In this form of music, the notations are notated on the sheet music in advance.

Started as an experimental form by the African slaves the jazz music attempted at combining the African folk culture with the American form of music. The most attractive fact about the jazz music that draws so many musicians to this form of music is its wide periphery that offers you to experiment with this musical pattern. The warm sound of jazz music also creates positive vibes in the mind of the listeners.

Nowadays, more and more people are getting attracted towards learning jazz music, particularly jazz guitar playing. If you wish to learn to play jazz guitar getting the apt guitar that has a distinctive jazz sound is very important. Of course jazz can be played on any kind of guitar, but the guitar with ‘f’ holes in its body, piezoelectric pickup and arched top are what gives a distinctive sound quality to the jazz music. In fact these guitar types give the warm and expressive feeling to the jazz music that this form of music is normally associated with.

To learn to play jazz guitar you need to listen to jazz music a lot. You have to have real passion fro this kind of music. Taking professional training or following online lessons can also help you to learn to play jazz music properly.

By: Akhila Choudhary

Big Band Jazz Music – Mesmerizing Mind, Body and Soul

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:59:23 +0000

Jazz music has become universally popular as it sounds mesmerizing to the ears. It follows numerous rhythmic patterns of music, including blues, reggae as well as swing patterns. In particular, the call and response pattern used in jazz is its USP and attracts major attention of music enthusiasts. And when the entire assembly gets connoted with jazz music, it emerges into the big band jazz music. This ensemble is also referred as jazz orchestra, jazz band and jazz ensemble.

The most amazing part of big band jazz music is that music combo notes are prepared in advance and only sometimes created spontaneously. They are the rich cultural blend of African as well as American music. This is because jazz music has its origin in African nations and once experimentally it was mixed with American music themes. It ended up successfully and since then it is being used with both mixes. Thereafter, its influence spread all over the world and it became one of the most popular music bands across the globe.

Big band jazz music generally comprises 12-25 musicians in order to play different musical instruments, including trumpets, trombones, saxophones, rhythm section and guitar to name a few. Although, the jazz music was associated with interests of elite groups, but with the easy availability of jazz midi files, it has reached almost every corner of world. This is because of the fact that jazz midi files can easily be downloaded from the internet for free. Even you can buy jazz cds at a cost effective price. So, people take a full advantage of this privilege and have complete access to the music of their choice.

Jazz music is gaining gradual prominence so much so that people are learning different forms, including practice jazz bass lines, guitars, and jazz pianos. All these popular forms have found strong ground in the hearts of music lovers and that is why they tend to learn and practice jazz bass lines to a large extent.

If you are interested in learning jazz music, you can also buy karaoke cds which have the basic essence of jazz as they play pure form of big band jazz music. So, learn your favorite band of jazz music and play it throughout your life.

By: Akhila Choudhary