Jazz Festivals » Louis Armstrong

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

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

Popular Jazz Songs

admin2 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:40:17 +0000

Jazz music has been on the music scenes since the turn of the 20th century. It amazingly survived its crucial years, the first years, when racial discrimination against Black American was at its peak. Jazz music came into light through the musical intelligence of Black Americans. It is no wonder that many of the most popular jazz songs are composed and sung by Black Americans who are famous themselves in the field of music.

The most popular songs of this kind are great songs of all time. They live great impressions on their listeners not only because they belong to jazz genre, but because their melodies and lyrics can touch the hearts of many people. It is a source of wonder that many popular jazz songs are Christmas songs which are official soundtracks of popular Hollywood movies. Some have observed that the popularity of the movies contributed to the popularity of the songs. However, some have contested this by saying that the popularity of these songs contributed to the success of the movies. Whatever the contention many people hold, some of these songs are constantly played worldwide for reasons that vary from person to person. Read on to find out the most popular jazz songs.

• White Christmas
This song is at the top spot and is considered the most popular jazz songs to date. It is sung by Bing Crosby and was used as official soundtrack of a popular movie entitled St. Holiday Inn.

• A Holly Jolly Christmas
This is originally sung by Cast and was featured as original soundtrack of the film, St. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.

• What A wonderful World
This constantly played jazz song in many ad campaigns is originally sung by Louis Armstrong, one of the pioneers of jazz music.

• Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
This is standard jazz song that is constantly played in many parts of the world when Christmas season comes.

• A Year Ago
This popular jazz song is originally sung by Kenny G.

• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
This hit Christmas still tops on many radios during Yuletide season.

• Away In A Manger
Kenny G tops the billboard for popular songs list for a long time now with this Christmas carol as well as A Year Ago.

• Baby It’s Cold Outside
This standard jazz song is much popularized in the movie St. Neptune’s Daughter.

• Jingle Bells
No one can ever refute the popularity of this song because even little kids from all parts of the world can hum this song.

• New York, New York
Frank Sinatra is not only popular for his My Way. This jazz song makes it to the top ten constantly although there are time when it drops to places in the list of top 20.

By: Jim Oneil

Popular Jazz Artists and Their Music

admin2 — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:27:19 +0000

Many people consider jazz as the one true original American music. However, just as the country is a hodge-podge of different cultures, its music a mixture of different beats and melodies. In fact, jazz is a combination of African beat and European melodic influences. The combination is so unique only to America, which is why it cannot be considered as something that came from somewhere else. Jazz was first heard in the suburban areas in the south during the late 1800’s, in communities that were largely populated by Afro-Americans.

Because of its origins, the early popular jazz music artists were blacks. The genre was still at its inception stage with ragtime as its earliest form. The usual instruments used to create such music were banjo and piano. The popular artists then were Ernest Hogan and Tim Turpin, who published the Harlem Rag. By the end of the century, jazz developed further with the innovations created by Scott Joplin. Being a pianist trained in the classical music, he created a beautiful fusion of his specialty and ragtime. By the beginning of the 20th century, the blues came into being, with W.C. Handy as one of the most popular artists of such genre.

Big bands usually play jazz music during the early years. However, when swing music, another new jazz form, rose to prominence in the 1930’s, soloists became more popular too. Swing music highlights the skills of the trumpeter. Because of this, the trumpet player usually ends up becoming more famous than the other musicians in the band. During this time, the genre’s icons, such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington grew so popular that any jazz lover should know them and their music.

From the danceable swing music, jazz evolved further in the 1940’s to 1960’s with bebop. Bebop is known as the musician’s music because it gave emphasis on the talents of the instrument players. Every musician in the band was provided with moments to shine, from the piano, the base, to the wind instruments in the band. Among the top trumpeters were Clifford and Dizzy Gillespie. The most popular among the pianists were Thelonius Monk and Bud Powell. Even drummers gained recognition, with Max Roach as one of the more famous ones.

The 70’s saw the development of jazz fusion, a bold attempt to combine the elements of rock and roll with the classic jazz sound. These were the times when the jazz artists, such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Tony Williams became very famous. Not only did they develop a new jazz sound. They also influenced even the rock and roll artists of the time, such Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead.

By: Jim Oneil

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

Mishka Adams Jazz Singer and Musician, Space Album

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:39:10 +0000

Take a shy little girl who loves music, Joni Mitchell and the Philippines where she was born and has spent most of her childhood. Send her off to a scary Sussex boarding school and what does she do? She takes saxophone lessons, falls in love with jazz and starts setting her own poetry in motion.

Fast forward ten years and we find Mishka Adams, daughter of a Filipina sculptor mother and British writer father, enjoying life in London.

“When my father insisted on sending me to boarding school it was scary, says Mishka. I protested for a long time but appreciate it now. It was very hard, going home just three times a year.

“I started saxophone lessons aged ten and had a lovely teacher who was into jazz and gave me beautiful pieces to play. Music was a comfort and in secondary school I bought my first jazz record, one by Louis Armstrong, got involved in a jazz trio and big bands. I had a little stereo in the dormitory. I loved singing at school and wrote a lot of poetry”.

After A Levels, Mishka went back to the Philippines and started doing small gigs and happy hours.

Then came the chance to be noticed. “I was asked to sing at a Courtney Pine concert and someone from Candid sent a video to Alan Bates, whose wife is from the Phillipines and wanted him to showcase musicians from her homeland.

“The rest, as they say, is laro.”

Mishka finished her masters a year ago and, having met “a lot of lovely people, a lot of musicians who are always learning” now wants to enjoy her music and to work with others.

At 24, she also teaches music. “My youngest student is 14 and I remember how shy I used to be and tread gently. What’s the quote “Tread gently, you tread on my dreams?”"

If you want a glimpse of Mishka’s talent listen to her latest album, Space; the poetry is all there.

By: Patricia McLoughlin

Jazz and Its Journey

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:10:02 +0000

A lot of opinion that jazz are the music for elite and well established. But when us look back to root of the jazz may be spelled out members exactly leaves for back. Jazz is an expression art in the form of music. Jazz conceived of basal music in life man and way of evaluating his traditional values. Tradition jazz grows from a dusky skin public life style in oppressed America. Initially, influence from tribal drums and music gospel, blues and field hollers (rallying call of farmer) the parturition has showed that jazz hardly relating to defense of life and human life expression.

What is interesting is that of word “Jazz” comes from a vulgar term applied for action of sexual. Some of rhythms in jazz have ever been associated with houses for whore and women with dislike reputation. On the way then, jazz finally becomes form of music art, either in typical composition and also improvisation, what reflects melody spontaneously. Musicians jazz usually express the feeling which do not easy to be explained, because this music must be felt at heart. “If you ask it you will never know” so according to Louis Armstrong.

Legend of jazz is started in New Orleans and grows to Mississippi, Memphis, St. Louis, and finally Chicago. Of course jazz influenced by the music in New Orleans, tribal drums African and Europe for the music structure. Reasoning of jazz cannot be discharged from fact where jazz is influenced by many music such as: music spiritual, cakewalks, ragtime and blues. One of legend jazz believed that around 1891, an owner of hair shaped shave shop in New Orleans so called Buddy Bolden breezes it’s cornet and from that moment jazz started as new breakthrough in world of music. Half century after that, jazz in America gives many contributions in music world, studied in university, and finally becomes a music stream which is serious and considered.

Music Video Clip Website

By: Andri Irawan

Paris Jazz Scene

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:16:29 +0000

Paris is a city steeped in jazz history. This history is celebrated every year at the Paris Jazz festival, which takes place every year in the Parc Floral de Paris between June and July. This festival invites crowd pulling jazz legends but also endeavours to showcase new talent from emerging talents of the international scene. Concerts take place in the afternoons every weekend and are the perfect way to experience an authentic Parisian summer atmosphere. With numerous affordable modes of transport and competitively priced Paris apartments on offer, this is the perfect time of year for your romantic city break.

After World War I Paris was turned into a new and exciting hotbed of creativity and innovation, particularly in its underground music clubs and bars. This subculture evolved after the first influx of African American soldiers arrived during the war and brought with them their unique brand of music, which grew rapidly in popularity and quickly established itself in the area of Montmartre. This area has become the spiritual home of jazz in the city and was famed for clubs including Le Grande Duc and Bricktop’s.

This infectious music quickly spread to the areas of Montparnasse, Saint-Germain-des- Prés and the area around the Champs Elysses. The cabaret clubs of the 20’s and the 30’s were the setting for a significant change in the social and artistic development of Paris during this period with some early pioneers of the scene including Josephine Baker, Darius Milhaud and the now legendary Django Reinhardt.

The popularity of the music grew rapidly and by the 1960’s Paris jazz clubs were regularly blessed with jazz royalty such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Today there remains a strong musical tradition and Paris regularly plays host to reputable artists from the international scene.

There is a vast selection of offerings throughout Paris, and with live music every night there will be no excuse for staying in.The Balle au Bond is a truly unique venue. This jazz club is actually a boat that is docked in the Seine in central Paris with fairly reasonably priced drinks.

Le Bilboquet, 13 rue Saint-Benoit 6th is a Paris jazz institution dating back to 1947. This is a great place to soak up the unique ambience in this classy establishment. There is no cover charge, however the drinks are expensive (one glass of white wine costs 18€).

Autor de Midi, 11 Rue Lepic is an authentic underground jazz club. The roster generally contains the local players in this authentic dark jazz “cave”. Reasonably priced drinks and a friendly atmosphere.

Why not end the weekend with a “jazz brunch” in the famous Jazz Club Lionel Hampton at Le Méridien Etoile (81 Boulevard Gouvion St Cyr. This large and up market supper-type club offers smooth jazz and swing on Sundays with its brunch menu costing 36€.

For expert jazz aficionados or novices alike, Paris offers the perfect getaway to explore this musical culture and take in some of the most ambient spots that the city has to offer on the way.

By: Richard Jones

The History And Characteristics Of The Jazz Combo

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:49:27 +0000

Jazz is an American art form whose roots date back to the mid-19th century slave songs and chants. The early 20th century saw the art form blossom as instrumental music in the southern United States, mainly along the Mississippi river and specifically New Orleans, Louisiana.

Early instrumental jazz combos of New Orleans varied in instrumentation. More often than not, these early jazz groups generally consisted of trumpet, clarinet, trombone, tuba and drums. This instrumentation became what is known as the “dixieland” combo, making its way up the Mississippi river to Chicago where the music became popularized by jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong.

Dixieland combos can be thought of as groups that play “polyphonic” improvisational music. Each instrument is independent of every other instrument, with each player creating separate musical improvisations based on known melodies, or “tunes” of the day.

The players of these early jazz combos each had a separate role within the group. The trumpet player was depended upon to state the melody of the song, while the clarinet would improvise complex lines above him. The trombonists role was to improvise or “fill in” the middle register with lines and notes that were essential to the chord changes of the song itself. The tuba player (or bass player) generally laid down root notes (and 5ths) of each chord on beats 1 and 3 of each measure. The tuba served as the harmonic anchor for the group. Lastly, it was the drummers role to keep everyone together by keeping a steady beat throughout the entirety of the song.

As jazz music developed throughout the 1940s and 1950s, jazz combo instrumentation began to become more standardized. The jazz “quintet” and “sextet” became very popular during this time. The quintet consisted of trumpet and alto (or tenor) sax as the main melodic instruments while the rhythm section (piano, bass and drums) took care of rhythm and harmony.

The sextet added a trombone to form what essentially was a three horn front line, with rhythm section accompaniment. The extra melodic instrument of the sextet made it possible for the horns to add more harmonic depth to the sound of the group. Each instrument had a role not only as a melodic voice, but also as an integral component of the harmonic structure as well.

Modern jazz combos consist of a variety of instrumentation – 4, 5 horn combos are common place. As the group grows in size however, the name “combo” is replaced by “band” or “little big band”.

The jazz combo has provided a musical and creative outlet for countless musicians over the last 100 years. The jazz combo continues to provide jazz musicians the opportunity to work together to make music not only as a group but also to develop their own voice as individual jazz improvisers. It is, and probably always will be, the perfect vehicle for learning the art of jazz improvisation.

By: James P Martin

Big Band Jazz Music: The Music Of Soul

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:19:51 +0000

If we trace the birth of big band jazz music we have to go back in history to the 1920’s. Jazz music probably originated in Louisiana which was then a busy port attracting people from all walks of life from the world over. This gave the musicians ready access to different forms of music. The cauldron of recipes from South American to the American blues and European classical to folk music from far flung areas saw the birth of jazz. Louis Armstrong was probably among the first to popularize jazz with his fine trumpet solos. It was obviously due to improvisation that jazz music quickly gained in popularity.

The advent of the radio gave a fresh boost to jazz music with popular jazz bands in big cities like New York and Chicago in the 1940’s. The rhythmic jazz bands ushered in the “swing era” and the big band jazz music immortalized by the likes of Parker and Gillespie. The popularity of jazz music even today is indicative of our diverse cultures and spirit of the individual. Jazz music is truly the music of soul.

Jazz music is now a part of our music scene. Though its birth was in bars you can now hear jazz music in concerts, in street festivals, in movies and in clubs. It has been accepted globally as a fine form of personalized and individualistic music. Big band jazz music is still popular with guitar, piano, saxophone, flute, keyboard, percussion instruments and the trumpet among others adding to the tempo. The immense revival in the popularity of big band jazz music is adding to the growth in the numbers of amateurs wanting to learn principally jazz piano and jazz guitar among other instruments.

For amateurs of all age groups the internet has spawned a cache of websites making available the finest online courses. These courses taught by professionals help an individual to play along video recordings of popular jazz through jazz accompaniment tracks. So the learner can be taken step by step through his popular music track with his own selection of music instruments.

By: Akhila Choudhary