First I need to start by making a small addendum to my last article. I mistakenly referred to Jupiter as a song; the literal definition of “song” is something with lyrics sung by a choir, and it is improper to refer to an orchestral movement from a larger composition as such. For that mistake, I am sorry.
Now, onto the jazz!
Jazz music is the heart and soul of the late night city. Any trip downtown will find any city alive with jazz clubs, bustling with all forms of the music ’till all hours of the night. Jazz music is able to attract such a crowd because it is always new and exciting; it’s all about freedom and allowing for a lot of improvisation with solos to make it constantly change.
Such a freedom in music translates to a great freedom and diversity within jazz bands. Small bands require a strong percussion and bass to start off, becoming the heart of every song and holding everything together. After that, the composition of the band is as diverse as your imagination! Pianos and saxophones are common additions, but flutes and oboes can be added into the band for interesting changes. Strong brass is also very common within small jazz bands.
The larger ones are a bit more structured. Most large jazz bands have very strong brass sections, keystone rhythm, bass, and piano, and a strong soloist sax section. But this isn’t a requirement; many jazz bands are made entirely of brass, and they still sound amazing! And on top of all that you can always add a vocalist to give it a new feel.
With such a diversity in the composition of the band, jazz music is able to take on many different sounds; however, there are some common linking features. Complex rhythms evolve through syncopation, creating emphasis on the offbeat, as well as the blue notes, the ones that diverge from a major scale, to create a new feel. In fact, there are even scales specifically for jazz.
While keeping to these flexible rules of jazz, it has evolved into a wide and diverse genre of music. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough words to talk about all of it, so I shall focus on only two contrasting styles: Swing and Blues.
Swing
I don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. I’m sure you’ve all heard that somewhere, but what exactly does it mean? Well, swing is a technique that becomes the core of swing music. It is a technique that creates a lilting rhythm of uneven notes by making the first eighth note in a pair longer, and the second one shorter. This essentially establishes a groove that gets your feet tapping along with the beat. This style is used all over the place, extending through many forms of jazz and even into country! And seeing how I mentioned it before, why don’t you listen to “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”. In fact, listen to 2 versions and you’ll hear the freedom and improvisation that jazz is full of!
Blues
Blues, as its name suggests, is based around the blue note and often has sad and sorrowful undertones to it. These songs tend to be much slower, like a ballad, where the singer or band conveys the sorrowful emotion to the audience. Songs like “Since I Fell For You” are great examples of everything that blues music can hold.
Now you may be starting to realize how large jazz music really is from those two examples, but I haven’t even touched the surface! For example, my personal favourite song is “Children of Sanchez”, a must listen to piece, and that doesn’t even fall close to any of the above styles! Jazz is as ever changing as the people playing it, making this style one that will stay around for centuries, always new and exciting!
Until next time, when we dive into the world of Rock and Roll.
Keep your passion alive!
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