Black History Month - Jazz

Jazz began in and around New Orleans, Louisiana around 1900 and is still played today.  By the 1930's New York City became the capital of jazz and many of the musicians lived there.  The instruments common in jazz include saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, and are accompanied by bass, drum set, and piano.  Jazz can be heard in either smaller trios, quartets, or quintets; or, in large ensembles called big bands.  Most jazz music involves improvisation either with ones voice or on an instrument.  This week we're studying the music of several influential African-American jazz musicians.

Louis Armstrong (1900-1971), Trumpet and Vocals - "Mack the Knife"

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans.  People knew him by two nicknames:  Satchmo and Pops.  Armstrong became famous not only as a trumpet player, but also as a great singer and actor.  His singing style sounded like a deep growl.  Pops played a style of jazz called "Dixieland" and was usually joined by a trombone, clarinet, drum set, piano, and bass.  




Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) - Vocals - "One Note Samba"

Ella Fitzgerald was born in Virginia but made her singing debut in New York City when she was only 17 years old.  Her nickname was the "First Lady of Song."  As a singer, she had an incredible range and could sing beautifully.  She also could improvise with her voice just like a saxophone or a trumpet player could with their instrument.  When she did, it was called "Scat Singing."  Ella was one of the great American singers and throughout her career, won 13 Grammy Awards.  



Ella Fitzgerald - "A Tisket, A Tasket"




Duke Ellington (1899-1974) - Piano, Bandleader - "It Don't Mean a Thing"

Duke Ellington was a pianist, bandleader, and composer from Washington DC.  He wrote and played a style of jazz called "Swing."  During the 1930's and 1940's, jazz was very popular in America as a dance-music.  People would go out on the weekends and swing-dance.  Try to imagine your grandparents out on their first date - there's a good chance they went dancing to jazz music.  Duke's band was large.  It had around 17 people in it and included saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, violin, drums, bass, and piano.





Charlie Parker (1920-1955) - Alto Saxophone, with Dizzy Gillespie - "Hot House"

Charlie Parker was born in Kansas City, Missouri but spent most of his life in New York City.  His nickname was "Bird."  Bird was the greatest saxophone player in American history and most young saxophone players begin learning his music in high school.  Along with his good friend Dizzy Gillespie, Bird invented a style of jazz called "Bebop."  Unlike Duke Ellington's "swing" jazz, people couldn't dance to Bebop.  It was too fast.




Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) - Trumpet - "Tin Tin Deo"

Unlike Charlie Parker, who only lived to be 34 years old, Dizzy Gillespie had a long life and career.  Dizzy was born in South Carolina but spent most of his life in New York City.  Over the years, Dizzy played many styles of music.  Later in his life, he developed an interest in Latin American, especially Cuban music.  Most of the musicians in his band were Spanish-speaking.  Notice in this video that the bell on Dizzy's trumpet is bent upward.  When he was younger, while having a party in his house, someone knocked his trumpet off of a table.  When it hit the floor, the bell bent.  Dizzy liked the sound from the bent trumpet better and kept it that way.




Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) - Piano

Thelonious Monk was a  piano player from North Carolina but also lived in New York.  He had a unique style of piano playing that was very percussive - almost like he was playing a drum.  Monk also had a unique personality often wearing interesting styles of sunglasses, hats, and clothes.  He would often hum along to his own playing when he would improvise.  If he was really enjoying himself, he would even get up and begin dancing.





Miles Davis (1926-1991) - Trumpet - "So What" 

Miles was born near Springfield, Illinois.  Throughout his life and career, Miles became the most successful jazz musicians of all time playing a strong role in many forms of jazz including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, fusion, and rock.  Miles was known for being tough and at times, unfriendly.  He was known to be mean to his fans and on a few occasions, would play with his back to the audience.  




John Coltrane (1926-1967) - Tenor and Soprano Saxophone - "Alabama"

Coltrane's nickname was "Trane."  Trane was born in North Carolina and spent time in Philadelphia and New York.  Early in his career, Trane played with Miles Davis but eventually went out on his own.  Over time, his music became more spiritual and experimental.  In some of his songs, Coltrane will improvise for almost an hour without stopping.




Buddy Rich (1917-1987) - Drums - Muppet Show, 1978

Buddy Rich was a drummer and bandleader born in Brooklyn, NY.  He is often called the "World's greatest drummer" and is known for his virtuosity, groove, power, and speed.  Much like Charlie Parker did for the saxophone, Buddy Rich revolutionized the drums.  Many young drummers today study the music and technique of Buddy Rich when they get more advanced.