That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

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Part I: All That Jazz: A Tour of the Basics
� Jack Teagarden
� Ethel Waters
� Louis Armstrong
Known to jazz fans primarily as a trumpeter, Armstrong was also a singer
from the start, and his singing rooted in blues. Armstrong’s singing behind
the beat, stretching words over several notes, reinterpreting melodies, and
improvising (scat-singing), all characterized the blues that he imported into
jazz. (See Chapter 5 for more about Armstrong.) Other bluesmen who improvised
with voices and guitars and whose inventive techniques influenced jazz
include Lonnie Johnson, Robert (“Crossroads”) Johnson, and Leadbelly.
On her 1926 recording of W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues,” Bessie Smith was
joined by Louis Armstrong on trumpet in a performance that melded Smith’s
earthy blues vocals with Armstrong’s jazz trumpet, providing an important
early link between the genres.
By the way, if you’re into (or want to get into) the blues, check out Blues For
Dummies (Wiley) by Lonnie Brooks and Cub Coda.
The Real Deal: Appreciating
Genuine Jazz
When you begin to feel rhythms, hear harmonies and melodies, and get an
incredible rush from jazz’s amazing improvisers, then you know you’re on
the road to becoming a bona fide jazz fan. “Getting it” requires multitask
listening. To truly appreciate jazz, you need to identify each part (bass line,
melody, harmony, improvisation) and at the same time hear how all of the
parts fit together. And when the music gets under your skin, there’s no telling
how far you may take this new love affair.
Before I go into greater detail in the following sections, take your new knowledge
of jazz for a test drive. Cue up some jazz from Louis Armstrong, Lester
Young, or Charlie Parker and listen to how some of the following elements
jump out of the music:
� Bassists anchor the bottom end, help drive the rhythms, and play musical
counterpoint to other instruments.
� Drummers fuel the engines, propelling the music forward, also interacting
with all other instrumentalists to provide rhythmic variety.
� Guitarists and pianists hook up with bassists and drummers to keep
time but also provide rich harmonic textures, melodies, and solos.