Some Prominent Jazz Style Periods

Steve Raybine:



Blog #3;




Some Prominent Jazz Style Periods





1.) Vaudeville Era:


A time period in the history of American music (circa 1900-1930) when musical styles such as Ragtime; Dixieland/New Orleans Classic Jazz (combo jazz) were popular. Jazz historians often refer to Ragtime (piano-based music) as the first authentic jazz style. Jazz artists popular during this time were: Louis Armstrong (trumpet and first great jazz soloist); Jelly Roll Morton (piano and first great jazz composer and stylist); Scott Joplin (piano--more strict Ragtime); etc.






2.) Swing Era:


The period in jazz history during the 1930's and 1940's when Swing music played by Big Bands utitlizing large-scale arrangements were popular. Arguably the most popular period in jazz history, the large band format (Big Bands) consisted of: Glenn Miller (trombonist); Tommy Dorsey (trombonist); Duke Ellington (pianist); Count Basie (pianist); Artie Shaw (clarinetist); Benny Goodman (clarinetist); Harry James (trumpet); etc.






3.) Bebop Era:


An innovative form of combo-style jazz music pioneered by alto saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker; trumpeter John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie and pianist Thelonious Monk in the 1940's. The musical focus was oriented towards fast tempos; complex harmonies (altered and unaltered chord extensions) and virtuosic, linear outlining of the underlying harmonic structure.






4.) Cool Jazz Era:


An introspective ('cool') chamber-like jazz style that flourished in the 1950's subsequent to the Bebop period. This predominantly combo style (varied in size) of jazz music was also referred to as the West Coast Style. The music, which was championed by Miles Davis (trumpet); Gil Evans (arranger); etc, contains Bebop-influenced musical components (harmonies, improvisational elements) with provocative textural orchestrations and a modal (jazz theory modes) orientation. The improvisations generally unfolded more gradually and were less frenetic and complex as Bebop-style improvisations.






5.) Hard Bop:


An impassioned and hard-edged derivative of Bebop music, which was popularized during the 1950's and 1960's. The music also contained "Blues-oriented" funky stylistics, which was a precursor of sorts to the Smooth Jazz genre of the late 1980's and 1990's and continuing throughout current times. Hard Bop musicians were Horace Silver (pianist/composer) John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Art Blakey (drums); etc.






6.) Third Stream Music:


A provocative form of chamber jazz played by groups (combos) such as the Modern Jazz Quartet, whose musical trademark featured a synthesis of jazz and art music ('classical') from the Western European tradition.






7.) Avant Garde Jazz:


Atypical jazz focus (melody/harmony) which utilizes substantial re-orientation of the principles of jazz while exploring more overt melodic dissonance and density of improvisational construction. Albert Ayler (tenor saxophone); Pharoh Sanders (tenor saxophone); Art Ensemble of Chicago; Don Cherry (pocket trumpet); Ornette Coleman (multi-instrumentalist); etc., were associated with the avant garde jazz movement.


8.) Fusion Music:


Fusion music emerged in the 1960's and continued throughout much of the 1970's as initially, a synthesis of musical elements from the jazz and rock idioms creating a hybrid known as Jazz-Rock. In contemporary music, the spectrum of fusion encompasses multicultural world music and art music from the European Classical tradition. Some people may even consider elements of New Age Music to factor within the discussion of Jazz Fusion, albeit an ethereal, hypnotic form of the genre. Weather Report; Chick Corea's, Return to Forever; Miles Davis (Bitches Brew); Mahavishnu Orchestra; etc., were significant fusion groups.






9.) Smooth Jazz:


Smooth Jazz (mid-late 1980's to current times) incorporates the following musical elements: Jazz; R&B; Gospel; Blues (prevalent in all jazz styles); Urban Funk; 'Pop'/Rock; Latin/Afro-Cuban styles; etc. The music generally features strong, hook-like melodies and funky rhythms. The Rippington's; Boney James; Brian Culbertson; etc., are archtypical Smooth Jazz artists/groups.






Note: While all these various style periods have emerged throughout the history of jazz, they've generally continued to remain vital and popular (in varying degrees) with certain jazz audiences. Some of these styles have re-emerged in a slightly altered form, which may reflect other musical influences.




Copyright 2009 Steve Raybine


All Rights Reserved

http://www.steveraybine.com/

http://www.myspace.com/steveraybine

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Raybine/56070941106

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/raybine3

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Steve+Raybine&search_type=&aq=f

http://www.smoothjazz.eu/index2.html