Monday, April 6, 2009
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Our class has formed strong opinions regarding jazz in America and uses this format to discuss what we have learned. Feel free to join in!
...how do i embed the clips. ms papke doesnt even know.?
ReplyDeleteCharlie Parker played with Dizzy Gillespie, and they played bebop. He was originally from Kansas City, Missouri. Parker died at the young age of 34 because of a mental disease, but the greatest thing he left behind was altered forms of jazz
ReplyDeleteSarah Vaughn
ReplyDeleteShe played in the Earl Hines band and learned from the best Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. She began singing and playing the keyboard in church as a young girl. Much of her career was spent as a solo singer because of her excellent voice. Her huge vocal range won the hearts of many listeners. Gary Giddins said, “the ageless voice of modern jazz—of giddy postwar virtuosity, biting wit, and fearless caprice ... a voice that happens once in a lifetime, perhaps once in several lifetimes.”
Miles Davis transformed New York City's embodiment of music into a version of "cool." It represented "playing in a calmer, quieter, more laid-back fashion, with little or no vibrato (unlike the quick, almost shaking vibrato often used by earlier jazz musicians to increase the emotional intensity of their playing)." His is the father of this rhythmic style by his published album, The Birth of Cool. Is this when the word cool got cool? Food for thought. I'm thinking that his relaxed style of low keyed mood music proved to help ease the tension that was rapidly erupting throughout the world in the WWII era. Miles Davis is noted to play “the frantic extremes of bebop.” His innovations revolutionized bebop by meticulously and precisely recording fresh melodic tones.
ReplyDeleteFUN FACT: (What the website left out. Purposely?) Despite his calm nature to music, his personality was anything but approachable. Im sure his door held a DO NOT DISTURB sign. His temper raged and flared making him utterly a person that although famous, was to be kept to himself. It's a shame that his musical genius could not have been exposed by him mentoring.
Edward Kennedy Ellington, also known as Duke Ellington, was booking bands for clubs in New York. He had the opportunity to listen to great musicians such as Willie "The Lion" Smith and James P. Johnson. He took their styles of music and combined them with different types of music and made it something of his own. Duke Ellington stood out in the crowd when he played because it was different from what all other musicians were offering. I think that since Ellington had the chance to listen to all bands before he started his own career, he had the time to create his own style. He took the time to listen instead of jumping into the music business.
ReplyDelete**Dizzy Gillespie**
ReplyDelete(1917 - 1993)
Dizzy was the best of the best. He began the B-Bop with Charlie Parker the saxophonist. Dizzy was a trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Many people knew Dizzy because of his cheeks. Dizzy was the youngest of nine children. Dizzys family was the backbone and inspiration in his works. Dizzy attended Laurinberg Institute of North Carolina in 1932, here he studied and practiced trumpet and piano. Roy Eldridge was Dizzys idol and he imitated his works. After school Dizzy moved to New York and later began the Cab Calloways band. The most exciting part of all while on tour Dizzy met Parker. Soon enough Dizzy, Parker, and others began playing after hour jam sessions in New York. As these artists continued to work together they developed a new unique form of music, called Bop. In 1945 the first B Bop recording was done by Dizzy and Parker. Example of the recording were Hot House, Groovin' High and Salt Peanuts.
At this site listed you can read some more about Dizzy and here a piece of his works.
http://www.neajazzintheschools.org/artists/gillespie.html
Stan Getz ,a tenor saxophone, gave the sound of a human voice through his instrument. He traveled on the road performing at age 15. Learning as he went transformed him into a popular jazz player of his time. He combined laid-back jazz with sweet melodies. This combination contributed to his fame. It’s a folk music,” Getz explained. “All folk music is beautiful. And it goes perfectly with jazz.”
ReplyDeleteCharlie Parker is said to be the most influential improviser ins jazz, after Louis Armstrong. Parker played the saxophone with Dizzy Gillespie. They played in the style of bebop. He dies of a mental disorder at the age of 34.
ReplyDeleteHe was the an only child. At the young age of 15 he showed a great interest in the alto saxophone. In 1945 he suffered a nervous breakdown and was taken to a state hospital.
Charlie Parker was very important for the bebop era. He left behind altered the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms of jazz.
Louis Armstrong
ReplyDelete(August 4, 1901-July 6, 1971)
Louis armstrong lived the ultimite "American Dream." He was born in the poorest neighborhood of New Orleans. At the young age of 23 he played in Fletch Henderson's band. When he followed his mentor King Oliver to Chicago Armstrong was careful not to outshine the "King." Armstrong was by far more talented on the trumpet he had a wider range and power. Not only did Armstrong play the trumpet he could sing the blues with a signiture raspy voice.
Armstrong used his musical genius and emotional intensity while playing in the "Hot five" and "Hot Seven." Armstrong even served as an Ambassador to other counties who had never heard jazz music before. This amazing artists will be remembered as the happy man who changed jazz and blues for the better.
Barb, I found Sarah Vaughn to be quite interesting. However, while I was read I had a question come to mind...Was she able to keep her earnings? She was a double minority...African-American and a woman. From what I have learned women did not own their paycheck until after the 1920's, but did that same law apply to her??? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteDave Brubeck was best known for his cool west coast style. He was born in California. He played the piano and the beat of his music lead people to believe that someone could dance all night when listening to his music. Growing up, Brubeck studied Darius Milhaud. Milhaud encouraged his to pick up jazz. During World War II, Brubeck lead the "first interracial army band." Afterwards he went back to California. Along with Paul Desmond, they formed a quartet. This quartet is known for the song "Take Five."
ReplyDeleteI find it really interesting the racial segregation started to end with music. Everyone always gives Jackie Robinson credit for integrating, but really it started with military bands.
ReplyDeleteSonny Rollins
ReplyDeleteHe was born September 7, 1930 in New York City. His idol was Coleman Hawkins who played tenor sax. Rollins started out on alto saxophone, and at age 16 he switched to tenor. He has become and amazing bebop jazz player. He was recording songs with Bud Powell and Miles Davis before he turned twenty. Miles Davis became a fan of Rollins and wrote this about him, "He was an aggressive, innovative player who always had fresh musical ideas." Everybody loved his music. In 1955, he joined the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet. During that time people thought he looked like the Dodger's pitcher, Don Newcombe, so Rollins nickname became "Newk." Some of his best known songs are "Valse Hot," "St. Thomas," "Blue 7," and "Way out West." Sonny Rollins was an oustanding jazz performer and still is today. (He will be in Fayetteville, Arkansas on April 15 if anybody would like to go)
For more info on Rollins you can check out this website:
http://www.sonnyrollins.com
Music is a huge stepping stone for ending segregation. Music was a way for all of these musicians on here to express what they felt, whether it be by blues or jazz or any other music style. For once people where beginning to listen to music instead of looking at a person's skin color.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting about Louie Armstrong, Ellen. It's amazing how a person can go from being so poor to famous in just a few years. Listening to his music, he is an unbelievable trumpet player. You should be playing like him by the spring concert, Ellen. :)
ReplyDeleteI will make it a goal of mine Trista Jo...you should be playing like that Benny Goodman guy...
ReplyDeleteJill...I find that Miles Davis is a very interesting guy. He was able to play this soft, soothing music, yet he was this angry guy. How could such an angry person create such calm music? I wonder what made him so angry?
ReplyDeleteCarrington...I agree. Since he took the time to listen, perhaps that is the reason he was so successful. I wonder why he went by the name Duke instead of his birth name Edward. By working in New York, he was surrounded by the best musicians of his time.
ReplyDeleteI love your post Jill! I especially like your Fun Fact. How can he be so "cool" and play relaxed music, but have such a temper? I agree with Nicole and wonder what made him so mad??
ReplyDelete