Jazz Festivals » Jazz Musicians

A Brief Introduction to Jazz Improvisation – Part 1

admin2 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:52:02 +0000

Many talented musicians seem to go pale when someone asks them to leave the music for a few moments and fill in those 4 bars with a bit of jazz improvisation. Some see it as a strange and uncharted land, full of weird things like Modes and Tritonal Substitutions. Don’t Panic! Although jazz theory can get become ‘involved’, a great deal of ‘good sounding stuff’ can be played or sung with understanding of just a few basic starting points. I have tried to distil some of these for you in this brief ‘Impro-Info-Pack’, which I hope you will find useful and enjoyable. After all, jazz improvisation should be satisfying and fun for all involved (that includes the audience!).

Encyclopaedia definition of Jazz:

“Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory and marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. It is characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation. Jazz has been described as “America’s Classical Music,” and started in saloons throughout the nation.”

1. Have confidence!

Standing up to ‘do a solo’ can be daunting to say the least, especially when there’s an audience in front of you! However, standing up, not flinching on ‘duff’ notes and projecting your solo to the listener will give them a sense that you are playing for them – a musical ‘gift’ if you like. It adds to your enjoyment and confidence.

If you make a mistake – maybe a wrong note – use it! Slide confidently up to a ‘right’ note, for example! Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, as they are a very good way to learn new ideas

2. Know What You Want to Play

I once attended a jazz class held by an ace pianist. The problem was that all the improvisations he did seemed to be ‘pre-programmed’ in his fingers. There were set arpeggios, runs, twiddles… and it was nice but all rather mechanistic.

Improvising should be having an idea and then expressing it – communicating it – in the ‘language of music’. But, we need to have the idea before even beginning to try and make it into music! We need to have an input of ideas that sound good to us.

Listen

…to music…All types of music from Bach to Beatles, Van Halen to Van Morrison! Most of all, listen to the jazz/blues ‘Greats’ – folk like:

Louis Armstrong,

Sarah Vaughan,

Nina Simone,

Sonny Rollins,

Ella Fitzgerald,

Peggy Lee,

Bill Evans

Stan Getz,

Dizzy Gillespie

Duke Ellington

Ray Charles

Dave Brubeck

Chet Baker

Art Farmer

Freddy Hubbard

Stan Kenton

Herbie Hancock

Cannonball Adderley

Art Tatum

Billy Holiday

Monte Alexander

Louis Jordan

Glen Miller

Errol Garner

Frank Sinatra

Oscar Peterson

Dinah Washington

Gerry Mulligan

Miles Davis

Fats Waller

Stephane Grappelli

Zoot Sims

Charles Mingus

Count Basie

Billy Holiday

Ray Ellington

…to name but a few!!!

Sing Along

Whether in your room, in the shower or walking down the street (careful – not too loud!), sing the melody line that you’ve heard and copy the player’s/singer’s phrasing. Whistle it, tap the rhythm, go to sleep with it going round your head and wake up with it still going round in the morning (although this can get annoying!). The more you can ‘hear’ and reproduce others’ ideas, the more you’ll be able to use them in your jazz solos, tailoring them to what you personally would like to hear. This process happens at a subconscious level too – an effective way to learn a language is by copying others.

So, Know what you want to play by listening to loads of varied music – not only jazz, it could be any genre!!

This series is continued in Part 2…

By: Olly Wedgwood

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 Musicians and the Art of Transcribing Jazz Solos

admin2 — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:51:05 +0000

Every great jazz musician has, at one time or another, transcribed jazz solos from recordings.

Buying a Good Jazz Guitar

admin2 — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:44:46 +0000

If you are planning to learn how to play the guitar and really want to be good at it, I would suggest that you start out with learning Jazz. Jazz guitar playing does not have any actual base of music theory but instead, is a theory which is a collection of ideas which were passed on from musician to musician. Jazz players never really needed music theory to come up with their music, but instead, needed to thoroughly know the instruments enough to give a rhythm to accompany the other jazz musicians. Jazz playing changed over the years and now has become a base for many other genres of music.

It is said, if a guitarist knows how to play jazz, he is really good. This is because jazz playing has a vast background and includes a huge number of unique jazz scales and licks. Jazz playing will teach you how to create your own strumming patterns and chord progressions, making your music very unique. When learning jazz theory, you will learn to rely mostly on the seventh and third notes of a chord. Jazz may seem like fun, but requires a good amount of practice and dedication. However, learning jazz is what I would recommend for anyone who is planning to start out with guitar playing.

When going to buy a jazz guitar, it is best to go with someone who already knows how to play the guitar, and plays it well. A person who has good experience with guitars will be the best one to tell whether or not a guitar is good. If you are buying the guitar online then you should consider only buying a reliable make. Also, read testimonials of people who have bought a guitar from the site you are planning to purchase your guitar. The prices online will definitely be a lot cheaper than at a regular music store, and you can also find places that offer other things along with the guitar.

Not all guitars are meant for jazz. Back in the day, before solid bodied electrics were made, people used acoustic guitars. But now however, the hollow bodied electric guitar is the ideal choice for a jazz guitar. When buying an electric guitar, make sure that you do not buy one without doing a good amount of research. The ideal jazz guitar is a hollow bodied electric guitar. Makes like Gibson and Epiphone are commonly used in jazz guitar playing and are known to be some of the best jazz guitars. Do not go in for a solid bodied guitar if you want to only focus on jazz since the tone of those guitars won’t suit the genres.

If you plan to play other genres of music also, then you should probably think of going in for a Gibson or a Fender. Guitar makes like Ibanez and Kramer are really good but mostly meant for heavy metal. The tone of the guitar mainly depends on it’s pickups as well as the design of the body. Archtop guitars are typical jazz guitars and you can find them in many makes. Make sure that the guitar you buy has a floating bridge to allow adjustments so as to increase or decrease the action. Once you get a good jazz guitar you will not have a problem with spending time learning.

By: Shoked Mohol

Learn to Play Jazz Guitar

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:35:09 +0000

One of the reasons that people devote their time to learning the guitar is that they love the idea of making up their own songs and music. Simply by sitting down at an inspired moment, a guitarist might come up with a great song in only one session. Some guitar styles differ greatly from another, but it is by learning the jazz guitar that many musicians have experienced the liberty it brings. The deviations in styles that somehow hold to one rhythm and work together in the name of improvisation are why jazz musicians are said to be filled with “soul”.

When training your ear or your mind to learn how the jazz guitar fits into an entire ensemble of musicians, it is important to first know how jazz music works, at the root level. Much like an athlete prepares for a race, a jazz musician also prepares for a performance. The jazz musician needs to warm up, have an introduction, and be allowed to have some time to get used to the atmosphere of a place and an audience. Some musicians, however, especially those who have played a long time together will jump right into a tune without warming up, giving listeners an awakening into what’s about to take place.

A jazz guitarist in a band may or may not lead the group through a melody. Many jazz performances may not have a singer, but instead a trumpet, or some other horn instrument will take this lead. If a horn isn’t present in the ensemble, then the guitar or piano might work to lead a session. Since jazz music is made up of a band, each person in the band has a certain role to fill before they begin their improvisational role. The jazz guitar tends to hold the players together within a certain chord so that other band members can stick to what’s being played. A jazz guitarist in this role, will not necessarily strum a rhythm such as in other forms of music, but will instead move rhythmically with the rest of the players involved.

In the game of jazz music, improvisation is key. If you know how to play another instrument, learning the jazz guitar might be a little easier. And, if you love improvising on the piano, for example, then you might love it on the guitar. “Improv” as it is sometimes referred to, is one way music can be highly addictive and liberating. When that liberation happens with a group who is playing together, the soul and reaction from the audience involved can be magical. Overall, learning to play the jazz guitar will be rewarding on many levels. Learning to play the necessary chords and knowing when and how to strum to the rhythm of others in the group takes time and practice. Give yourself plenty of time and dedicate yourself to listening to and learning how jazz music works and you’ll be on your way to playing along with a jazz group in no time.

By: Rich Matthews

Listen to Jazz Online Conveniently

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:05:29 +0000

Are you jazz lovers? Do you usually listen to local jazz radios? Well, as you certainly have understood, jazz radios can become perfect sources of jazz. Those jazz radios usually do not only broadcast jazz music but also provide the latest information about jazz music, musicians, singers, and industry. In other words, jazz radios are perfect partner for jazz lovers.

If you love listening to jazz radios, there is a more convenient way to listen to them. You now are able to listen to Jazz Internet Radio so you don’t need to be afraid of being unable to listen to your favorite jazz radios while you are out of town. You will just need to go to JazzRadioToolbar.com in order to get the toolbar. Using the toolbar, you will be able to listen to Jazz Radio Online wherever you are through live streaming. There are more than ten jazz radios that can be listened and this means that you can satisfy yourselves with unlimited access of jazz music.

To Listen to Jazz Online, you should install the toolbar to your computer. You will need seconds to have the toolbar installed. If you want to uninstall the toolbar, you can use the uninstaller that can be downloaded from this website for free. In conclusion, now you can listen to your favorite jazz radios wherever you are. So, visit this website and get the toolbar now.

The Development of Jazz in New Orleans

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 08:28:46 +0000

Jazz is known as being one of the only styles of music created in America, though it is a mixture West African and Western music traditions. Jazz’s began in New Orleans, around the 1900’s, but its roots can be traced back hundreds of years earlier when slaves who were brought to America developed spirituals and blues in order to communicate with one another and express sadness, desires and religious beliefs. The music was passed along orally with each new generation making their own unique changes to the songs, which were often of a call and response form and unaccompanied by musical instruments.

Rhythms and melodies from the black community were combined with European compositions leading to the development of Ragtime music around 1895. “Ragging” a song meant dragging out certain notes and livening up music by rearranging notes. Ragtime and Jazz are similar but Ragtime music is predominantly sole piano music while Jazz music is played in ensembles.

Though jazz is closely associated with blues and ragtime, one of the most important elements of jazz music is that it is improvisational music–well-known notes and lines are a starting point for musicians to develop unique songs around. Early jazz musicians often could not read music but they thrilled audiences by bringing emotion, excitement and the unexpected to their pieces. While ragtime music was popular in restaurants, clubs or hotels, Jazz was mobile, versatile music played at funerals, parades, weddings, and at festivals.

The 1920’s were known as the Jazz Age as New Orleans jazz was brought to nightclubs in Northern cities such as Chicago and New York. It was more upscale than the music of New Orleans, and New Orleans Jazz distinguished itself as being a more folksy and spontaneous form of Jazz. Throughout the 20th century, many variations of Jazz music were popular including Dixieland, bebop, Big Band, swing, cool jazz, soul jazz and Latin jazz.

All forms of jazz music and the types of music that inspired it or have preceded it are celebrated during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The event began in 1970 as means of showcasing the musical heritage, arts, crafts and cuisine unique of New Orleans. The first Jazz Festival had a lineup that included Duke Ellington and Fats Domino and only about 350 attendees.

Quickly the Festival’s popularity grew and it now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, world-renowned singers and the top talent of New Orleans and Louisiana. This year, artists including Rod Stewart, Jon Mayer, Harry Connick Jr. and ZZ Top are set to play in the event which will take place during the weekends of April 27-29 and May 4-6.

2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival attendees are invited to stay at the Hotel Maison de Ville in the French Quarter so that in addition to seeing the festival performances, they’ll be right by jazz clubs and bars where they can hear intimate performances by traditional and contemporary jazz artists who have been inspired by the earliest performers.

By: Carolyn Polinsky

The 7 Elements of Team Success – Lessons from Jazz

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:57:49 +0000

When it comes to learning lessons from jazz about team success, there are few teachers wiser than Frank Barrett. He played in the Tommy Dorsey orchestra, has a doctorate in organizational behavior from Case Western Reserve University, and teaches in the School of Human and Organization Development at the Fielding Graduate University.

Barrett has identified seven elements of success for teams that find themselves having to improvise in the face of uncertainty, change, and crises. This is the world in which business operates these days. If teams are going to be accountable, adaptable, and agile in their performance, these are the seven elements of team success that they need to learn and apply.

1. Provocative Competence

Successful teams encourage their members to be deliberate in challenging the process and interrupting habitual patterns of behaviour that are no longer delivering the results required. Such disruption stimulates new perspectives, new knowledge, and new skills that will accomplish the common goals more effectively. Developing this kind of competence will keep the team growing and improving. Jazz musicians are constantly testing new ways of seeing and doing things with core melody they are playing together. This skill is the key to productive innovation.

2. Errors as a Source of Learning

Successful teams accept the fact that making mistakes creates a source of new ways of making sense and meaning of what they are doing. Learning from errors is an essential experience in developing team resilience, the ability to deal with the stresses and crises that are increasingly becoming a constant feature of the workplace. Valuable energy and time is wasted in anger and correction that could be redirected to learning and improvement. Saxophonist Cannonball Adderley once said, “There are no mistakes is jazz, only opportunities to learn.”

3. Shared Orientation with Minimal Structures

Successful teams create clear but lean scenarios or charts that give members maximum flexibility in expressing their unique talents in the service of a common purpose. The great temptation is teams is to develop strategic plans that look like symphony scores, scripted in such detail that no room remains for improvising with individual talent and creativity. Jazz musicians trust their fellow musicians to contribute their best within minimal melody lines to create compelling performances.

4. Distributed Tasks

Successful teams engage in continual negotiation and dialogue to create synchronization and alignment among all members of the team. They know what each team member does best and enjoys most. They design their work so they can play to those strengths and spread the work out to those most suited to the task. Jazz legend Duke Ellington regarded his whole orchestra as his instrument. His job as the leader was to discover the true talents of each musician and arrange the music to bring all those talents into play.

5. Reliance on Retrospective Sense-Making

Successful teams encourage their members to reflect on past experiences to open up more possibilities and options. They are constantly revising the stories that give meaning to their work and devising new frameworks of understanding for the future. Jazz musicians review their performances to discover new ideas for interpreting the melodies. Their minds are constantly open to finding new ways of pleasing themselves and their audiences.

6. Hanging Out

Successful teams enjoy hanging out together. They see themselves as a community of practice in which mutual learning takes place as they talk and act with one another. Jazz musicians often just get together to jam, to explore ideas and test possibilities in conversation with each other. It’s an irrepressible inner drive that brings deep enjoyment.

7. Taking Turns

Successful teams align and schedule the work to that co-workers alternate between soloing and supporting. Charlie Parker talked about three aspects of great music – melody, harmony, and rhythm. Every aspect is essential to great performance and every musician in a jazz group takes turns providing support to the soloist playing with the melody by playing supportive harmonies and rhythms.

Thinking of your team as a jazz group opens up a whole new kind of conversation about success and ways of improving the contributions your team makes to your organization.

And remember, the most common form of improvisation or jazz is conversation. You are all jazz musicians. Enjoy the teamwork!

For more of Barrett’s thinking, see F.J. Barrett, “Creativity and Improvisation in Jazz and Organizations,” Organization Science, 9 (1998) 5:605-622.

By: Brian Fraser

Learn to Play Jazz Guitar

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:35:39 +0000

By: Sam Bateman

All About Jazz Music

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:52:31 +0000

Jazz music is the American musical art form originated in earlier twentieth century. The African American communities of the Southern United States from the confluence of European and African music tradition were responsible for its beginning. The West African pedigree style is evident in the use of polyrythms, blues notes improvisation, swung notes and syncopation.

From the early development of jazz music until the present, it has also included music from the nineteenth and the twentieth century American popular melody. The word jazz music began in the form of a West Coast slang expression of tentative derivation. This term was initially used in order to refer to the music in Chicago in around 1915.

From its early twentieth century inception, jazz music spawned a huge variety of sub-genres from New OrleansDixieland including the early 1910’s, bebop from middle of 1940s, big band jazz music style swing from 1940’s as well as 1930’s, Brazilian jazz from 1960s and 1950s. Besides a fusion of the Latin jazz fusion like the Afro Cuban, jazz rock mixture from the late 1980’s and 1970s developments including the acid jazz that blended the jazz influences into hip hop and funk are several other melody types that constituted jazz music.

In jazz music, the trained performers interpret a tune in different individual ways and never play the same melody. Depending on the mood of the performer as well as personal experience and interactions with the fellow musicians or the totals number of audience, the jazz music performer might later the harmonies or melodies. The European classical music is said to be the composer’s medium.

Today as well, straight ahead jazz music continues to appeal a large amount of masses. The well popular jazz musicians whose career span decades like the Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins continue to record and perform. In the beginning of 1990 and 2000 various young talented musicians emerged such as Brad Mehldau, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Stefon Harris, Roy Horgrove, Vijay Iyer, Terence Blanchard and Joshua Redman. While Bugge Wesseltoft, Christian McBride, St. Germain are several other renowned names in the world of jazz music.

By: Akhila Choudhary