Jazz Festivals » Jazz Music

Jazz Piano Lessons – Tips to Help You Learn to Play Jazz on the Piano Fast

admin2 — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:33:13 +0000

In order to play Jazz piano you need to get a fundamental knowledge of piano theory. Some of this knowledge will consist of chord formation, rhythmic feel, and scales and modes.

All Jazz songs have a one of a kind chord progression in every piece. Your jazz piano lessons should focus on learning the different rhythms of a jazz piano.

Every jazz style is dependent on beat and has a unique rhythm. You should practice playing different rhythms in the bass line.

Your jazz piano lessons should emphasize weak beats which are also referred to as syncopating. You should know that in jazz music the second and fourth beats are emphasized by resting on the normally strong strong beats. In order to make a stronger syncopation you should rest on just the first half of the first and third beats.

Your lessons should also focus on a key element in the jazz feel and this is the swing rhythm. To accomplish this you need to play uneven eight notes.

Within a pair of eight notes you should play the first note longer than the second to make an uneven pattern. You shouldn’t hold all the notes for the exact same amount of time.

Your jazz piano lessons should practice jazz chord progressions. The basic progression is the twelve bar blues. The twelve bar blues includes progressions among the I, IV, and V chords.

In the key of C, the chords would be C (I), F (IV), and G (V). You should begin on the C and move between the C and F for various bars, adding a G chord until you get a pattern with twelve bars.

These are some of the things your jazz piano lessons should focus on. With the right lessons there is no reason you can’t learn how to play jazz piano songs.

By: Jenna Mae

Jazz Sheet Music

admin2 — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:22:14 +0000

Most jazz lovers or for that matter any music lover can never forget the name Louis Armstrong, or the famous ‘Satchmo.’ One of the most revered kinds of music styles in the world of jazz music is that of ‘Mr. Satchmo.’

Jazz music originated in 1920?s and continues to be popular not just in the United Stated but also in the whole world. Jazz sheet music is basically a blend of old African American music, with a little bit of a classical touch. Jazz music is a very soothing experience to ardent music lovers, not just of jazz, but also of classical music.

Music scores contain all kinds of styles and rock and roll music sequences. African Americans developed jazz music in the beginning of the 20th century in the United States in New Orleans. It was because of stars like Louis Armstrong that Jazz music became so popular and has such a great fan following in the world today.

Jazz sheet is no ordinary sheet music like other classical music sheets. This music sheet has many kinds of accidentals, rests and prolonged chords and so on. Jazz music sheets are quite complex in nature, as there can be variations for semitone changes for higher or lower pitches. Jazz sheet music is a combination of major, chromatic and diatonic scales. This music can also accommodate accidental bass pitches if any, with vocal parts as well. Jazz sheet music has many parts, and can sometimes produce non-harmony and non-melody music. Thus, a musician is always advised to select the right kind of players, instruments and voice pitches to produce harmony.

Jazz sheet music is indeed quite complex and difficult to read but indeed it is quite interesting and very melodious to play and listen to. Its popularity is at par with country music.

By: Kristy Annely

Jazz Influence and Fashion

admin2 — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:51:48 +0000

For years, jazz has influenced different countries culture. This influence is mostly spotted on fashion developments across the years. This industry targeted a society that revolved around a certain kind of music. The evolution in jazz music throughout the 1920s was accompanied by reflective changes in the fashion industry. The jazz music was so popular in the twenties, that the fashion industry was barely able to satisfy the needs of the costumers.

Like the music, jazz fashion evolved in a few stages. Upper and lower body freedom was essential when dancing the Charleston, so dresses were cut to reflect the ability to move freely while dancing.

The precarious hairstyles of the pre-war era were unsuitable for jazz dancing. The “bobbed” hairstyle of the 1920s was not only a mark of rebellion; it was a practical style for the popular dance music. The Charleston was a very strange and vigorous dance, and chest binding, while appearing bizarre to some people, would have been a functional practice for many women. In the Fashion Source book of the 1920s, Peacock states that an average ensemble for evening wear in 1927 would consist of: “A sleeveless mesh dress embroidered all over with gold sequins, a low V-shaped neckline, a loosely fitted bodice, and a flared short skirt. Gold kid shoes and matching handbag, along with a long string of pearls” (58).

Jazz music provided females of all ages with an outlet for rebellion. It helped to provide jobs for women within the music industry, and expanded the base of women as a consumer target market. Jazz encouraged primitive and sexual behavior through the uninhibited and improvisational feel of the music. This kind of music was rejected by the older generation, and therefore, jazz music and jazz dancing were ideal ways for young women (and even men) to rebel against the society of their parents and grandparents.

By: Johnh Thompson

Dallas Jazz Festival – A Taste of Sophisticated Jazz

admin2 — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:02:14 +0000

The annual Dallas Jazz Festival is a proof that music can bring people of various backgrounds together. People from different states attend the said festival to see great jazz singers perform and awe the crowd with their propensity and natural flair for music. It takes the audience into a magical world of entertainment, and relaxing musical.

The festival displays popular mainstream jazz singers and new talents in the genre. Local and international artists are invited to perform in front of a throng of audiences coming from various places in and out of the country. Since the conception of the festival, the organizers have never failed to give spectators a treat of ambient musical and topnotch entertainment. Each year, the program adapts completely different concepts and musical numbers to meet the audience’s rising expectations. This is the reason why Dallas Jazz Festival has always been well attended and applauded with great appreciation and amazement.

The event offers entertainment to spectators, and at the same time, orients new attendees more about the genre. Audience and artists alike benefit from the festival for while the viewers get live unadulterated and sophisticated jazz music. Artists are also given the chance to present their music to a wide group of enthusiasts. Many fresh talents have gained much popularity after a great and well-received performance the event. It has been a launch pad for many young and talented singers like Jamie Cullen and Nora Jones, even before they reached the stratosphere of success.

Organizers of the Dallas Jazz Festival intend to make the event both entertaining and enthralling. Many first time attendees have been reeled into a covenant of frequenting the event every year. The show’s idea is to highlight the beauty and unique sound of jazz through the involvement of audience. Guest artists are encouraged to have a dynamic rapport with the audience through their music. In the past years, more and more young people, and spectators from different status in life are viewing the concert, changing the notion that jazz is only for the elite.

People all over the world have embraced jazz music as one of the leading music genres of our time. The festival, being one of the best jazz events in the world, helps propel jazz music into unprecedented heights of popularity. Because of it, the genre has been inevitably improved by bringing new artists and trends onto the stage to widen the options of listeners. Whether you are new jazz enthusiast or have an aficionado for ages, Dallas Jazz Festival has something to reel you in.

By: Paul Aragones

Jazz Music and Its Significance in US History

admin2 — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:07:45 +0000

Jazz music which is thought to be an art creation of the American blacks during the early decades of the twentieth century has been an important subject of the social history of US. It gained popularity not only as an art form but it also helped the hapless blacks, who were the offspring of the enslaved African origin blacks brought into America by the white settlers to exploit them for their labor needs, to gain a social standing through the power of music. They, with the help of influential jazz music, brought to limelight the miseries that they are suffering because of the racial hatred.

Initially the jazz music flourished in the South American region. New Orleans was especially very dear to this art. From there it traveled to all parts of America. In the beginning years there was strong resistance seen on the part of whites who could not see the blacks progressing in some field. But despite all their malicious efforts to suppress the jazz music being spread into society, they themselves were vanquished by its influence. It made itself as a hallmark of the US culture. Whites and immigrants from other regions of world were seen getting into this music.

The music when adopted by people from different ethnic backgrounds living in the multicultural society of US groomed further and many other variations were developed of it. All these happenings with the jazz were signifying the growing influence of the Negroes. The lyrics of their songs, especially the improvisation technique used in the Jazz which allows the singer to sing without even the tune, were expressive of their true emotions and their social sufferings on being the isolated and neglected portion of the society. It, in a sense, played a considerable role in reducing the racial differences. Other people of different ethnicities also used it to raise their voice.

Jazz was setting its roots in the music landscape and became popular in all people. Because of its rapid development people started calling it the rise of ‘Jazz Culture’ in America.

It was just after the end of slavery in US the Jazz music started to grow. The slave trade, though it was ended by the American law, had profound effects for the US society. It generated a milieu of hatred for blacks toward whites and vice versa. This legacy had to last for generations and according to the recent studies there is still a huge tendency of racism that exist in American people. In addition to this there were immigrants from other regions of the world that further amplified the diversity and nationalistic feelings among people who were now living together in the multi-ethnic society of US. In such an atmosphere the empowerment of blacks through the help of their arts movements was a historic marvel. It was not just music that was their sole part of the black arts movement. Other genres of art like poetry, fiction, fashion were also distinctively used by them

In the city of New Orleans where the Jazz music was born there was a peculiar tradition among people. During the funerals the people were consoled by these jazz singers who used to play funeral songs that soothed the family and friends of the dead person. This practice was becoming more and more prominent and was taking a shape of a must element of funeral processions. Moreover the people of New Orleans were very fond of holding music parties, concerts, balls,etc. that further paved the way for jazz to get fame among people. In this way the city of New Orleans mushroomed jazz culture and is therefore called the mother city of jazz music. One of the most famous and much cherished jazz singer Louis Armstrong also belonged to that place.

From New Orleans Jazz was entering into the boundaries of New York and Chicago. These cities also proved to be welcoming for it. So large was becoming its influence that many recording companies, who initially were not providing equal opportunity to black artists to record their albums, started to give access to these jazz singers to prepare their albums in the recording houses. That rapidly boosted the growth of jazz music. Firstly the recording companies which were mainly owned by whites were skeptic that the jazz would be liked by the greater masses.

The things got contrary to their expectations. The jazz music was even adopted by whites who fell in love with it and made their own variations of the jazz. It was becoming the voice of the people. After its commercialization and likeness by the people more black singers were encouraged to release their albums. In this way they were assimilating their identities with other segments of the society. They were listened, played and copied. Their message that began to come in front of mounting audience helped to eliminate the prejudiced thoughts directed toward them.

Jazz music was a quintessential part of the famous Black Arts movement and its efficacy to bring the voice of blacks to the limelight proved more good than other arts. There were singers like Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, etc. who played a superb role in utilizing Jazz as a platform to express the miseries, fears, dangers, hatred and negligence the blacks face on the hands of whites. Initially, when the jazz was being adopted by white singers, the runners of Black Arts movement considered it as a threat and protested the involvement of non-blacks in it.

After the 1950s the Asian-Americans were also seen getting into Jazz. They too uses jazz to raise their voice which helped them to raise their social status. They were able to cast a political influence on the higher powers as well.

Jazz was a wonderful addition in the field of music and had been a healthy form of entertainment. A music that grew at a place where the subjugated class–blacks–had little opportunity to compete with the self-supposed superiors–whites–who could have set obstacles for the Jazz music to start its drive to nadir before making any rise. And in fact initially the intentions of the whites were not different than this but as the outburst of emotions can not be stopped they realized that the Jazz had to cross limits.

As the people of America have had love for music, the jazz not only became an entertaining music for them but it was to become the very part of the US culture and the way of American Life. Magazines, Newspapers, and the Television provided considerable space to the stuff related to jazz. Why the jazz made such a glorious fame was because of the characteristic of jazz which allows the intensity of emotions to be interpreted in the music. Now many other form of jazz are developed which testifies it has a potential to win more hearts and last forever.

By: Nauman Lodhi

Jazz Music Composition

admin2 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:14:29 +0000

Jazz music composition is the work of expert musicians with the ability to write, and create about the most memorable subject matter. What is more, Jazz music Composition is a course included in colleges and universities who deem it a valued subject to study. Composing Jazz music requires the theory of constructing chords that’re altered or substitute that would fit within the rules of thumb of composition.

Meaning, experimentation is fine given that you know how to actually be fitted into the musical shocks in the piece in a way to not disrupt the flow. It is mandatory to look after the essence of Jazz music a component of you when creating, and keep all considerations to restrict creative imagination out of your head. The purpose of Jazz music composition is to create what you feel about any subject into the reasonable of your musical work. To find your way into the making of Jazz music composition you should observe the ability of basic theory in ear training, notes on various instruments, key signatures, scales, chords, intervals, counterpoint, harmony, melody, music terminology, clefs, meters and time signatures, transposing of various instruments, and music reading.

Being attentive to Jazz music from various artists will present you with a feel for the sort of composition you will need to create. You can begin with music arranging which is recreating an old song with new ideas. For example, it has been done over and over by professional musicians to use a public domain song, or ask permission to use a particular song. One example is Chaka Khan’s ” The End Of A Love Affair” written for Billie Holiday by Edward C. Redding in an arrangement that fit Chaka Khan. There are many versions of Jazz standards like “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”, “Misty”, and “Stormy Weather” by different people who desired to either keep the elementary structure or interpret the song in their own personal special way. The basic rules to composing a Jazz Composition is to make a subject matter and plan the music around it.

Meaning, as in basic songwriting structure you will require a beginning, middle, bridge, and ending. The order is invariably up to the person(s )creating the music. You can start with the themes most frequent in notated Jazz and Blues sheet music or fake book forms. In addition, use the standard theory structure you find on sheet music as a format, but use your own personal ideas. In arranging, you can examine the standard format, and embellish on areas you think needs it. The direction one can go in music arrangement is infinite in keeping with the history of how each style of jazz music was created.

When making Jazz music composition one must continue to remember the essential element present in all true Jazz music which is improvisation. Jazz Improvisation is not notated in any shape, way, or form. As a matter of fact, the improvisation in Jazz composition is invented by pure emotion of the musician moved by the accompaniment. Improvisation in Jazz composition can be in the beginning, the bridge and also at the end of the piece. Most frequently there is embellishment in the heart of the piece, but it all depends on the mood of the creator of the music.

Once you learn the theory behind Jazz music composition, you can discover the shortcuts on creating. For example, lead sheets ordinarily have the Jazz chord symbol above the melody underneath it as an elementary structure to follow. When all is said and done, you will have made your own personal masterpiece as a gift to the world from your heart.

By: Norbert Elliott

What Do Classic Black Jazz Shoes and Tap Dance Footwear Have in Common?

admin2 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:07:24 +0000

Tapping To Jazz

Jazz music was, and still is sometimes, used for tap dance numbers, in fact jazz and tap were very closely connected when African American routines were in their heyday during the early 1900’s through to the 1950’s. However jazz dance and it’s respective footwear took a slightly different turn, becoming more of a modern dance that incorporated segments from ballet and other contemporary choreographed styles, and in many cases required a mix of footwear flexibility, the ability to perform a pirouette while still not being ballet, and later being able to add rhythmic movements, and most recently incorporate hip hop street dance styles.

Fred Astaire Tapping

Naturally the footwear once used for jazz, which consisted of basic black tap shoes in rather formal ballroomesque styles, had to change with the needs of the dancers. Dancers required diverse things, from an oxford to a soft flexible leather, or a modern sneaker to a street style high top boot that would be accepted on dance floors. These changes caused a split in the footwear designs. The classic black jazz shoes no longer “needed” to be equipped with taps because they fell under a more specific label of “tap shoes”.

If you close your eyes for a moment and think about what Fred Astaire wore on his feet, you will undoubtedly think of a pair of black tap shoes that looked like fashionable ballroom dance attire. And that is most often what tap dance footwear is about. Tapping. Shoes that are solid, often leather, that hold the foot tight and secure and on the bottom there are taps to click and clack to a rhythm. From flamenco women’s heeled designs to men’s oxfords that look like formalwear – that’s tap, whereas jazz dance footwear has become a whole new bread of flexible, soft, unusual and very dissimilar designs.

Jazz-Tap By Leo’s

Terms like jazz flex and jazz sneaker are now the norm. Companies like Capezio and Bloch are masters at designing affordable tan colored and black jazz footwear for men, women and children. There are however still jazz tap shoes, like the ones made by Leo’s, one particular design is the Giordano that is a leather shoe with a two part sole for flexibility, a heel, a rubber sole and taps.

So, jazz can have an element of tap and vice versa, although there are now many more specific design elements and dance characteristics to take into account when buying the right footwear for the right dance.

By: Nena Argent

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

Head to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

admin2 — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:32:13 +0000

When you think of the US city of New Orleans you probably think about jazz music and amazing food – and the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival gives visitors to the city the chance to combine both and get a taste of local culture.

The city is a real melting pot of culture and is certainly worth a visit on a holiday to the US.

The world famous festival attracts some really big names from the jazz music scene and no matter what type of sounds appeal to your ears, you will find it here. Artists play all sorts of jazz, from piano-led smooth music to high-tempo funk-tinged dance beats.

For those planning to travel around the USA on a fun-filled tour, the festival is a great place to stop. And it is ideal for any type of traveller, from those holidaying with a big group to those on singles holidays backpacking around the US under their own steam.

America travel is easy and good value so no matter where you are in the US, you can certainly get to New Orleans for the event.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is held every year in April or May and every event attracts world class performers.

Famous faces to have graced the stages at the event include the Little Freddie King Blues Band, the Alexis Marceaux Band, David Egan, June Gardner and the Fellas, John Lee, Frankie Ford and the Delgado Jazz Ensemble.

John Lee and the Heralds of Christ have also rocked the crowds at the jazz event, as have singers from the local McDonogh #42 Elementary School.

As well as being known for its great music, the festival is also a food-lovers paradise. Here you will get the chance to sample a huge range of cuisine cooked in the Creole or Cajun style, which is sure to tickle your tastebuds and be an interesting change to the burgers and fries diet seen in much of the rest of the US.

If you are seeking a traditional-style meal then look no further than the many stalls selling gumbo and jambalaya dishes, sometimes with chicken or shrimps caught locally. This part of the food is also noted for its rice and bean dishes and you are sure to find many delicious examples of such dishes at the jazz festival.

New Orleans is famous for its po-boy sandwiches, long crusty sticks of bread filled to bursting with fried shrimp, crawfish or other ingredients. If that doesn’t sound to your liking, you may want to sample the bread filled with delicious suckling pig.

Other classics on the jazz festival menu include crawfish bisque, shrimp cocktail, spicy potatoes, seafood casserole, fried green tomatoes, crab cakes and red beans and rice.

Kids are also catered for at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, with the children’s area home to its very own food market where youngsters can sample traditional cuisine which is a little less spicy.

After trying all sorts of delicious Cajun and Creole cooking, you may be fit to burst – but make sure you save some room to try some of the amazing desserts which can also be bought at the festival.

Why not sample a slice of traditional US pecan pie? Or treat yourself to a yummy piece of banana bread pudding or lemon pound cake?

Fans of arts and crafts may also want to head on over to the Congo Square and Louisiana Marketplace areas at the jazz event. In Congo Square, you can get your hands on an array of handmade items, all with an African American tinge.

Head here to pick up handmade jewellery and sculptures, interesting pieces of art and hand carved musical instruments.

If you want to take home a traditional piece of New Orleans craft, then why not buy a handmade pine needle basket from the Louisiana Marketplace? Stalls in this area also sell more handmade jewellery as well as clothing.

Whatever you decide to get up to at the New Orleans and Jazz Heritage Festival, it is sure to give you a day out to remember on a holiday to the US.

By: Dipika Patel

Gypsy Jazz Guitar – A One-Man Genre

admin2 — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 07:15:32 +0000

Gypsy jazz guitar is a genre based on the music of Django Reinhardt, a guitar player who overcame a severe disability to become a legend in jazz music. Most people have heard music by the Quintet du Hot Club de France or one of the gypsy jazz groups devoted to its style of music. Born in the 1930’s this group with Stephane Grapelli on violin, Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt and Roger Chaput on guitars and Louis Vola on bass, pioneered the concept of lead and rhythm guitar.

The group played popular jazz tunes of the time with Django and Grapelli alternating on the lead with the two other guitars playing rhythm and Vola playing walking bass figures. A drummer was never in the mix. They also wrote their own tunes, many of which have themselves become standards. Some of the group’s compositions include blue Drag, Minor Swing, Djangology, Django Rag, Django’s Blues, Django’s Tiger and Nuages.

The group’s violinist, Stephane Grapelli continued making music until his death in 1997 but the figure that has proved to be the inspiration of many gypsy jazz groups, Django Reinhardt only lived to be forty-three years old. Gypsy jazz has been behind the popularity of the Maccaferri and Selmer style guitars. The guitar that Django Reinhardt made famous was made by the Selmer company in Paris based on a revolutionary guitar design by Mario Maccaferri, one of the first generation of classical guitar players. Surprisingly, Maccaferri was never familiar with Django Reinhardt’s music.

As with all music associated with the tag “gypsy” the music is usually passed on directly from one musician to another. The Quintet Du Hot Club came out of an environment where playing music was simply a part of life. Each musician was both student and teacher. And there were not too many note readers among them. In fact Stephane Grapelli, a classically trained musician used breaks in the groups playing schedule to tutor Django in music. So every guitar player wanting to learn to play gypsy jazz is faced with learning the music of Django Reinhardt, as played by Django Reinhardt.

One element that made Django’s music unique was the fact that, due to an injury in a fire, Django played the guitar using only the first and second fingers of his left hand. This limited the range of notes available to him as he worked his way up and down the fretboard was severely limited. As a result of his injury, barre chords are not found in gypsy jazz guitar music. A close look at Django’s music will tell you he had little use for sevenths in his music.

If you want to listen to some contemporary gypsy jazz guitar, American groups devoted to the genre are Pearl Django and the John Jorgenson Quintet but Europe is still the place where there is most interest in this music, with groups like Hot Club of Hungary and Hot Club of France. If you want to learn to play gypsy jazz guitar, the ability to read tab would be a minimum requirement because there are many examples of Django’s music available as guitar tab.

By: Ricky Sharples