As one of the most revered musical art forms in America, jazz laid the foundation for an entire industry, introducing numerous names of brilliant composers, instrumentalists and vocalists to the world and spawning a wide range of genres. The 15 most influential jazz musicians are responsible for a global phenomenon that has occurred over the last century in the history of the genre.
Jazz developed in the later years of the 19th century and early 20th century as a combination of classical European and American sounds with African folk motives. The songs were performed with a syncopated rhythm, giving impetus to the development, and later the formation of large orchestras to perform it. Music has taken a big step forward from ragtime to modern jazz.
The influence of West African musical culture is evident in the way music is written and how it is performed. Polyrhythm, improvisation and syncopation are what characterize jazz. Over the past century, this style has changed under the influence of contemporaries of the genre, who brought their own idea to the essence of improvisation. New directions began to appear - bebop, fusion, Latin American jazz, free jazz, funk, acid jazz, hard bop, smooth jazz, and so on.
15 Art Tatum
Art Tatum is a jazz pianist and virtuoso who was practically blind. He is known as one of the greatest pianists of all time who changed the role of the piano in the jazz ensemble. Tatum turned to the stride style to create his own unique style of playing, adding swing rhythms and fantastic improvisations to the rhythm. His attitude to jazz music fundamentally changed the importance of the piano in jazz as a musical instrument from its previous characteristics.
Tatum experimented with the harmonies of the melody, influencing the structure of the chord and expanding it. All this characterized the style of bebop, which, as you know, would become popular ten years later, when the first records in this genre appeared. Critics also noted his impeccable playing technique - Art Tatum was able to play the most difficult passages with such ease and speed that it seemed that his fingers barely touched the black and white keys.
14 Thelonious Monk
Some of the most complex and varied sounds can be found in the repertoire of the pianist and composer, one of the most important representatives of the era of bebop and its subsequent development. His very personality as an eccentric musician contributed to the popularization of jazz. Monk, always dressed in a suit, hat and sunglasses, openly expressed his free attitude to improvisational music. He did not accept strict rules and formed his own approach to creating compositions. Some of his most brilliant and famous works are Epistrophy, Blue Monk, Straight, No Chaser, I Mean You and Well, You Needn't.
Monk's playing style was based on an innovative approach to improvisation. His works are distinguished by percussive passages and sharp pauses. Quite often, right during his performances, he jumped up from the piano and danced while the other members of the band continued to play the melody. Thelonious Monk remains one of the most influential jazz musicians in the history of the genre.
13 Charles Mingus
A recognized double bass virtuoso, composer and band leader, he was one of the most extraordinary musicians on the jazz scene. He developed a new musical style, combining gospel, hard bop, free jazz and classical music. Contemporaries called Mingus "the heir to Duke Ellington" for his fantastic ability to write works for small jazz ensembles. In his compositions, all the members of the band demonstrated their playing skills, each of which was also not only talented, but was characterized by a unique playing style.
Mingus carefully selected the musicians who made up his band. The legendary double bass player was known for his temper, and once he even punched trombonist Jimmy Knepper in the face, knocking out his tooth. Mingus suffered from a depressive disorder, but was not ready to put up with the fact that this somehow affected his creative activity. Despite this affliction, Charles Mingus is one of the most influential figures in jazz history.
12 Art Blakey
Art Blakey was a famous American drummer and bandleader who made a splash in the style and technique of playing the drum kit. He combined swing, blues, funk and hard bop - a style that is heard today in every modern jazz composition. Together with Max Roach and Kenny Clarke, he invented a new way to play bebop on drums. For over 30 years, his band, The Jazz Messengers, has given jazz to many jazz artists: Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Clifford Brown, Curtis Fuller, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, and more.
The Jazz Messengers didn't just create phenomenal music - they were a kind of "musical testing ground" for young talented musicians, like the Miles Davis band. Art Blakey's style changed the very sound of jazz, becoming a new musical milestone.
11 Dizzy Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie)
Jazz trumpeter, singer, songwriter and bandleader became a prominent figure in the days of bebop and modern jazz. His trumpet style influenced Miles Davis, Clifford Brown and Fats Navarro. After his time in Cuba, upon his return to the US, Gillespie was one of those musicians who actively promoted Afro-Cuban jazz. In addition to his inimitable performance on the characteristically curved trumpet, Gillespie was recognizable by his horn-rimmed glasses and impossibly large cheeks as he played.
The great jazz improviser Dizzy Gillespie, as well as Art Tatum, innovated in harmony. The compositions of Salt Peanuts and Goovin' High were rhythmically completely different from previous works. Faithful to bebop throughout his career, Gillespie is remembered as one of the most influential jazz trumpeters.
10 Max Roach
The top 15 most influential jazz musicians in the history of the genre include Max Roach, a drummer known as one of the pioneers of bebop. He, like few others, has influenced the modern style of playing the drum set. Roach was a civil rights activist and collaborated with Oscar Brown Jr. and Coleman Hawkins on the album We Insist! - Freedom Now ("We insist! - Freedom now"), dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Max Roach is a representative of an impeccable playing style, able to perform a long solo throughout the concert. Absolutely any audience was delighted with his unsurpassed skill.
9 Billie Holiday
Lady Day is the favorite of millions. Billie Holiday wrote only a few songs, but when she sang, she turned her voice from the first notes. Her performance is deep, personal and even intimate. Her style and intonation are inspired by the sound of musical instruments she has heard. Like almost all the musicians described above, she became the creator of a new, but already vocal style, based on long musical phrases and the tempo of singing them.
The famous Strange Fruit is the best not only in the career of Billie Holiday, but in the entire history of jazz because of the soulful performance of the singer. She was posthumously awarded prestigious awards and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
8 John Coltrane
The name of John Coltrane is associated with virtuoso playing technique, excellent talent for composing music and a passion for learning new facets of the genre. On the threshold of the origins of hard bop, the saxophonist achieved tremendous success and became one of the most influential musicians in the history of the genre. Coltrane's music had a sharp sound, and he played with high intensity and dedication. He was able to both play alone and improvise in an ensemble, creating solo parts of unthinkable duration. Playing the tenor and soprano saxophone, Coltrane was also able to create melodic smooth jazz compositions.
John Coltrane is the author of a kind of "bebop reboot", incorporating modal harmonies into it. Remaining the main active figure in the avant-garde, he was a very prolific composer and did not stop releasing discs, recording about 50 albums as a band leader throughout his career.
7 Count Basie
The revolutionary pianist, organist, composer and bandleader Count Basie led one of the most successful bands in jazz history. Over the course of 50 years, the Count Basie Orchestra, including incredibly popular musicians such as Sweets Edison, Buck Clayton and Joe Williams, has earned a reputation as one of America's most in-demand big bands. Nine-time Grammy Award winner Count Basie has instilled a love of orchestral sound into generations of listeners.
Basie wrote many songs that have become jazz standards, such as April in Paris and One O'Clock Jump. Colleagues spoke of him as a tactful, modest and enthusiastic person. Had it not been for the Count Basie Orchestra in jazz history, the big band era would have sounded different and certainly not as influential as it became with this outstanding bandleader.
6 Coleman Hawkins
The tenor saxophone is the symbol of bebop and all jazz music in general. And for that we can be grateful to be Coleman Hawkins. The innovations that Hawkins brought were vital to the development of bebop in the mid-forties. His contribution to the popularity of this instrument may have determined the future careers of John Coltrane, and Dexter Gordon.
The composition Body and Soul (1939) became the benchmark for playing the tenor saxophone for many saxophonists. Other instrumentalists were also influenced by Hawkins - pianist Thelonious Monk, trumpeter Miles Davis, drummer Max Roach. His ability for extraordinary improvisations led to the discovery of new jazz sides of the genre that were not touched by his contemporaries. This partly explains why the tenor saxophone has become an integral part of the modern jazz ensemble.
5 Benny Goodman
The top five 15 most influential jazz musicians in the history of the genre opens. The famous King of Swing led almost the most popular orchestra of the early 20th century. His concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938 is recognized as one of the most important live concerts in the history of American music. This show demonstrates the advent of the jazz era, the recognition of this genre as an independent art form.
Despite the fact that Benny Goodman was the lead singer of a major swing orchestra, he also participated in the development of bebop. His orchestra became one of the first, which united musicians of different races in its composition. Goodman was a vocal opponent of the Jim Crow Act. He even turned down a tour of the southern states in support of racial equality. Benny Goodman was an active figure and reformer not only in jazz, but also in popular music.
4 Miles Davis
One of the central jazz figures of the 20th century, Miles Davis, stood at the origins of many musical events and watched them develop. He is credited with pioneering the genres of bebop, hard bop, cool jazz, free jazz, fusion, funk and techno music. In his constant search for a new musical style, he has always been successful and has been surrounded by brilliant musicians including John Coltrane, Cannoball Adderley, Keith Jarrett, JJ Johnson, Wayne Shorter and Chica Corea. During his lifetime, Davis was awarded 8 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Miles Davis was one of the most active and influential jazz musicians of the last century.
3 Charlie Parker
When you think about jazz, you remember the name. Also known as Bird Parker, he was a jazz alto saxophone pioneer, bebop musician and composer. His fast playing, clear sound and talent as an improviser had a significant impact on the musicians of that time and our contemporaries. As a composer, he changed the standards of jazz music writing. Charlie Parker was the musician who cultivated the idea that jazzmen are artists and intellectuals, not just showmen. Many artists have tried to copy Parker's style. His famous playing techniques can also be traced in the manner of many current novice musicians, who take as a basis the composition Bird, consonant with the nickname of the alto-sakosophist.
2 Duke Ellington
He was a grandiose pianist, composer and one of the most outstanding orchestra leaders. Although he is known as a jazz pioneer, he excelled in other genres as well, including gospel, blues, classical and popular music. It is Ellington who is credited with establishing jazz as a distinct art form. With countless awards and prizes, the first great composer Jazz has never stopped improving. He was the inspiration for the next generation of musicians including Sonny Stitt, Oscar Peterson, Earl Hines, Joe Pass. Duke Ellington remains a recognized genius of the jazz piano - instrumentalist and composer.
1 Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong
Arguably the most influential jazz musician in the history of the genre, aka Satchmo is a trumpeter and singer from New Orleans. He is known as the creator of jazz, who played a key role in its development. The amazing abilities of this performer made it possible to build a trumpet into a solo jazz instrument. He is the first musician to sing and popularize the scat style. It was impossible not to recognize his low "thundering" timbre of voice.
Armstrong's commitment to his own ideals influenced the work of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Louis Armstrong influenced not only jazz, but the entire musical culture, giving the world a new genre, a unique manner of singing and playing the trumpet.
Jazz - this word is not just a designation of the next musical style, there is a whole story here new music, which first sounded at the beginning of the 20th century. The roots of jazz can be found much earlier, but it has received its development as an individual style relatively recently. It arose in the USA at a time when the country was experiencing the oppression of the Negro people, the persecution of this segment of the population, which was largely expressed in jazz compositions.
History of jazz
As far back as the 17th century, the first slaves from Africa were brought to America. These people were used on the plantations for the hardest work. Black slaves had practically no rights, being content with what they had. They found the only share of consolation and joy in music.
Africans have a great sense of rhythm, thanks to which they can sing to the beat. In those hours when they were given a little rest, dark-skinned slaves sang, accompanying themselves with blows on cans, tin cans, clapping their hands, etc. This is how the first motifs of the music that in the future will be called jazz arose.
History of the development of jazz
Jazz Development - New Orleans
In the cosmopolitan city of New Orleans, there was a development of different cultures, which led to the development new form musical art. The period from 1900 to 1917 is commonly referred to as the time of traditional or New Orleans jazz.
At this time, this style is gaining particular popularity. His fans are not only black guys, but also white Americans. One of the most famous performers of jazz music is Louis Armstrong, who was born in New Orleans.
Swing is a means of expression in jazz
With the beginning of the Swing era, many small ensembles reorganized into larger groups. Thanks to the development of this expressive medium, now jazz music gives the impression of a huge internal energy, which is in a state of unstable balance.
Bebop - modern jazz
Another style that gradually developed in jazz music. It is a fairly fast tempo, and is also distinguished by complex improvisations, which are created by changing not the melody, but the harmony itself.
free jazz
The late 1950s and early 1960s was the time of free jazz, which included a retreat from Western consonance and rhythm. The main emphasis from now on was on the search for greater freedom of expression.
Decline of jazz music
In the late 60s of the XX century, this style of music experienced a decline in popularity. Despite the fact that many performers tried to revive this style by introducing modern listeners to jazz, they did not succeed. It is for this reason that jazz musicians were left without work, and a large number of jazz clubs were closed during this period.
rebirth
However, as time went on, jazz gradually returned. Today it is of interest among listeners from all over the world, regardless of what nationality a person has. Jazz traditions were revived, the style became popular again.
It is noteworthy that in jazz there is no permanent composition. There is always an ensemble of soloists, which distinguishes this style from all others.
Jazz developed in our country as well, appearing in the 20s of the XX century. A special orchestra was organized by Valentin Parnakh. Ten years later, jazz began to gain particular popularity among the inhabitants of the USSR, largely due to the performances of the ensemble led by Leonid Utesov.
Jazz as a separate musical style lives on today. He has many fans who are ready to give a lot for him to develop and continue to exist for many more years.
JAZZ. The word jazz, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, began to mean new type,
music that sounded then for the first time, as well as the orchestra, which this music
performed. What is this music and how did it appear?
Jazz originated in the United States among the oppressed, disenfranchised black population,
among the descendants of black slaves, once forcibly taken away from their homeland.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the first slave ships arrived in America with a living
cargo. It was quickly snapped up by the wealthy of the American South, who became
use slave labor for hard work on their plantations. Torn off
from their homeland, separated from loved ones, exhausted from overwork,
black slaves found solace in music.
Blacks are amazingly musical. Their sense of rhythm is especially subtle and sophisticated.
In rare hours of rest, the Negroes sang, accompanying themselves with clapping their hands,
blows on empty boxes, tins - everything that was at hand.
In the beginning it was real African music. The one that the slaves
brought from their homeland. But years, decades passed. In the memory of generations
memories of the music of the country of ancestors were erased. Remained only spontaneous
thirst for music, thirst for movement to music, sense of rhythm, temperament. On
the ear perceived what sounded around - the music of the whites. And they sang
mostly Christian religious hymns. And the Negroes began to sing them too. But
sing in your own way, putting all your pain into them, all your passionate hope for
better life at least behind the grave. This is how Negro spiritual songs originated
spirals.
And at the end of the 19th century, other songs appeared - songs-complaints, songs
protest. They became known as the blues. The blues speaks of need, of hardship
labor, about deceived hopes. Blues players usually accompanied
yourself on some homemade instrument. For example, adapted
neck and strings to the old box. Only later were they able to buy
real guitars.
Negroes were very fond of playing in orchestras, but even here the instruments had to
invent yourself. Combs wrapped in tissue paper, strands,
strung on a stick with a dried pumpkin tied to it instead of a body,
washboards.
After the end of the civil war of 1861-1865 in the United States, the
brass bands of military units. The tools left from them fell into
junk shops, where they were sold for next to nothing. From there, the blacks, finally,
were able to get real musical instruments. Everywhere began to appear
Negro brass bands. Colliers, masons, carpenters, hawkers in
free time gathered and played for their own pleasure. Were playing
for any occasion: holidays, weddings, picnics, funerals.
Black musicians played marches and dances. Played imitating the style
performances of spirituals and blues - their national vocal music. On
with their pipes, clarinets, trombones, they reproduced the features
Negro singing, its rhythmic freedom. They did not know the notes; musical
white schools were closed to them. Played by ear, learning from the experienced
musicians, listening to their advice, adopting their techniques. Same for
composed by ear.
As a result of the transfer of Negro vocal music and Negro rhythm to
instrumental sphere was born a new orchestral music- jazz.
The main features of jazz are improvisation and freedom of rhythm,
free breathing melodies. Jazz musicians must be able to improvise
either collectively or solo against the backdrop of rehearsed accompaniment. What
concerns jazz rhythm (it is denoted by the word swing from the English swing
Swing), then one of the American jazz musicians wrote about him like this:
"It's a sense of inspirational rhythm that makes musicians feel
ease and freedom of improvisation and gives the impression of unstoppable movement
of the whole orchestra forward at ever-increasing speed, though
in fact, the tempo stays the same."
Since its inception in the southern American city of New Orleans, jazz
has come a long way. It spread first to America and then to
worldwide. It ceased to be the art of Negroes: very soon they came to jazz
white musicians. The names of outstanding masters of jazz are known to all. This is Louie
Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Beni Goodman, Glen Miller. These are the singers Ella
Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith.
Jazz music influenced the symphony and opera. American composer
George Gershwin wrote "Rhapsody in Blues Style" for piano with
orchestra, used elements of jazz in his opera Porgy and Bess.
Jazz is also in our country. The first of them arose in the twenties. This
was a theatrical jazz orchestra conducted by Leonid Utesov. On
for many years, the composer Dunaevsky connected his creative fate with him.
Probably you have also heard this orchestra: it sounds in a cheerful, still
the hit film "Jolly Fellows".
Unlike a symphony orchestra, jazz does not have a permanent staff. Jazz
It is always an ensemble of soloists. And even if by chance the compositions of two jazz
collectives will coincide, yet they cannot be exactly the same: after all, in
in one case, the best soloist will be, for example, a trumpeter, and in another it will be
some other musician.
Jazz is a type of musical art that arose as a result of the synthesis of African and European cultures featuring African American folklore. Rhythm and improvisation are borrowed from African music, harmony is borrowed from European.
General information about the origins of formation
The history of jazz originates in 1910 in the USA. It quickly spread throughout the world. During the twentieth century, this direction in music underwent a number of changes. If we talk briefly about the history of the emergence of jazz, it should be noted that several stages of development were passed in the process of formation. In the 1930s and 1940s, he was greatly influenced by the swing and be-bop movements. After 1950, jazz began to be seen as musical genre, which included all the styles that he went through as a result of development.
Jazz has now taken its place in the realm of high art. It is considered quite prestigious, influencing the development of world musical culture.
The history of the emergence of jazz
This direction arose in the USA as a result of the merger of several musical cultures. The history of the origin of jazz begins in North America, most of which was inhabited by English and French Protestants. Religious missionaries sought to convert blacks to their faith, caring about the salvation of their souls.
The result of the synthesis of cultures is the emergence of spirituals and blues.
African music is characterized by improvisation, polyrhythm, polymetry and linearity. A huge role here is assigned to the rhythmic beginning. The value of melody and harmony is not so significant. This is explained by the fact that music among Africans has an applied value. She accompanies labor activity, rituals. African music is not independent and is associated with movement, dance, recitation. Its intonation is quite free, since it depends on emotional state performers.
From European music, more rational, jazz was enriched with a modal major-minor system, melodic constructions, and harmony.
The process of unification of cultures began in the eighteenth century and led to the emergence of jazz in the twentieth century.
New Orleans school period
In the history of jazz, the first instrumental style is considered to have originated in Louisiana. For the first time this music appeared in the performance of street brass bands, very popular at that time. Great importance in the history of the emergence of jazz in this port city had Storyville - a district of the city specially allocated for entertainment establishments. It was here, among the Creole musicians, who had a Negro-French origin, that jazz was born. They knew light classical music, were educated, mastered the European technique of playing, played European instruments, read notes. Their high level of performance and upbringing on European traditions have enriched early jazz elements not subjected to African influences.
The piano was also a common instrument in Storyville's establishments. Mostly improvisation sounded here, and the instrument was used in more like a percussion.
An example of an early New Orleans style is the Buddy Bolden Orchestra (cornet), which existed from 1895-1907. The music of this orchestra was based on the collective improvisation of a polyphonic structure. At first, the rhythm of early New Orleans jazz compositions was marching, as the origin of the bands came from military bands. Over time, secondary instruments were removed from the standard composition of brass bands. Such ensembles often organized competitions. They were also attended by "white" lineups, which were distinguished by technical play, but were less emotional.
There were a large number of orchestras that played marches, blues, ragtimes, etc.
Along with Negro orchestras, there also appeared orchestras consisting of white musicians. At first they performed the same music, but they were called "Dixielands". Later, these compositions used more elements of European technology, they change the manner of sound production.
Steamboat bands
In the history of the origin of jazz, a certain role was played by New Orleans orchestras that worked on steamboats that cruised the Mississippi River. For passengers who traveled on pleasure steamers, one of the most attractive entertainments was the performance of such orchestras. They performed entertaining dance music. For performers, a mandatory requirement was knowledge of musical literacy and the ability to read notes from a sheet. Therefore, these compositions had a rather high professional level. In such an orchestra, jazz pianist Lil Hardin, who later became the wife of Louis Armstrong, began her career.
At the stations where the ships made stops, the orchestras organized concerts for the local population.
Some of the bands remained in cities along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers or away from them. One such city was Chicago, where blacks felt more comfortable than in South America.
big band
In the early 20s of the twentieth century, a form of big band developed in the history of jazz music, which remained relevant until the end of the 40s. The performers of such orchestras played the learned parts. The orchestration assumed the bright sound of rich jazz harmonies, which were performed by brass and the most famous jazz orchestras were the orchestras of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Jimmy Lunsford. They recorded genuine hits of swing melodies, which became a source of swing craze in a wide range of listeners. At the "battles of the orchestras" that were held at that time, big band solo improvisers drove the audience present to hysterics.
After the 50s, when the popularity of big bands declined, for several decades the famous orchestras continued to tour and record records. The music they played changed, being influenced by new directions. Today the big band is the standard of jazz education.
Chicago Jazz
In 1917, the United States enters the First world war. In this regard, it was declared a city of strategic importance. It closed all entertainment venues where a large number of musicians worked. Left unemployed, they migrated en masse to the North, to Chicago. During this period, there are all the best musicians from both New Orleans and other cities. One of the brightest performers was Joe Oliver, who became famous in New Orleans. During the Chicago period, his band included famous musicians: Louis Armstrong (second cornet), Johnny Dodds (clarinet), his brother "Babby" Dodds (drums), Chicago young and educated pianist Lil Hardin. This orchestra played improvisational full-textured New Orleans jazz.
Analyzing the history of the development of jazz, it should be noted that in the Chicago period, the sound of orchestras changed stylistically. Some tools are being replaced. Performances that become stationary may allow the use of become mandatory band members. Instead of a wind bass, a double bass is used, instead of a banjo - a guitar, instead of a cornet - a trumpet. There are also changes in the drum group. Now the drummer plays on a drum set, where his possibilities become wider.
At the same time, the saxophone began to be used in orchestras.
The history of jazz in Chicago is replenished with new names of young performers, musically educated, able to read from a sheet and make arrangements. These musicians (predominantly white) did not know the real New Orleans sound of jazz, but learned it from black performers who migrated to Chicago. Musical youth imitated them, but since this did not always work out, a new style arose.
During this period, the skill of Louis Armstrong reached its peak, marking the model of Chicago jazz and securing the role of a soloist of the highest class.
In Chicago, the blues is reborn, putting forward new performers.
There is a fusion of jazz with the stage, so the vocalists begin to appear in the foreground. They create their own orchestral compositions for jazz accompaniment.
The Chicago period is characterized by the creation of a new style in which jazz instrumentalists sing. Louis Armstrong is one of the representatives of this style.
Swing
In the history of the creation of jazz, the term "swing" (translated from English - "swing") is used in two meanings. First, swing is means of expression in this music. It is distinguished by unstable rhythmic pulsation, which creates the illusion of an acceleration of the tempo. In this regard, there is an impression that music has a great internal energy. Performers and listeners are united by a common psychophysical state. This effect is achieved through the use of rhythmic, phrasing, articulatory and timbre techniques. Every jazz musician strives to develop his own original way of swinging music. The same applies to ensembles and orchestras.
Secondly, this is one of the styles of orchestral jazz that appeared in the late 20s of the twentieth century.
A characteristic feature of the swing style is solo improvisation against the background of an accompaniment that is quite complex. Musicians with good technique, knowledge of harmony and mastery of musical development techniques could work in this style. For such music-making, large ensembles of orchestras or big bands were provided, which became popular in the 30s. The standard composition of the orchestra traditionally included 10-20 musicians. Of these - from 3 to 5 pipes, the same number of trombones, a saxophone group, which included a clarinet, as well as a rhythm section, which consisted of a piano, string bass, guitar and percussion instruments.
Bop
In the mid-40s of the twentieth century, a new jazz style was taking shape, the appearance of which marked the beginning of the history of modern jazz. This style originated as an opposition to swing. It had a very fast tempo, which was introduced by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. This was done with a specific goal - to limit the circle of performers only to professionals.
The musicians used completely new rhythmic patterns and melodic turns. The harmonic language has become more complex. The rhythmic basis from the big drum (in swing) moved to the cymbals. Any danceability has completely disappeared from the music.
In the history of jazz styles, bebop was the first to leave the sphere of popular music towards experimental creativity, to the sphere of art in its “pure” form. This happened in connection with the interest of representatives of this style in academicism.
Beopers were outrageous during appearance and demeanor, thereby emphasizing their individuality.
Bebop music was performed by ensembles of small compositions. In the foreground is the soloist with his individual style, virtuoso technique, creative thinking, mastery of free improvisation.
In comparison with swing, this direction was more highly artistic, intellectual, but less massive. It was anti-commercial. Nevertheless, bebop began to spread rapidly, it had its own wide audience of listeners.
Jazz territory
In the history of jazz, it is necessary to note the constant interest of musicians and listeners from all over the world, regardless of the country in which they live. This is due to the fact that jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and many others built their compositions on the synthesis of various musical cultures. This fact suggests that jazz is music that is understandable all over the world.
To date, the history of jazz has its continuation, since the potential for the development of this music is quite large.
Jazz music in the USSR and Russia
Due to the fact that jazz in the USSR was considered a manifestation of bourgeois culture, it was criticized and banned by the authorities.
But October 1, 1922 was marked by a concert of the first professional jazz orchestra in the USSR. This orchestra performed fashionable Charleston and Foxtrot dances.
The history of Russian jazz includes the names of talented musicians: pianist and composer, as well as the head of the first jazz orchestra Alexander Tsfasman, singer Leonid Utyosov and trumpeter Y. Skomorovsky.
After the 50s, they began their active creative activity many large and small jazz ensembles, among which is Oleg Lundstrem's jazz orchestra, which has survived to this day.
Currently, Moscow hosts a jazz festival every year, in which world-famous jazz bands and solo performers take part.
The term "jazz" first appeared in the mid-1910s. Then this word served to refer to small orchestras and the music they performed.
The main features of jazz are non-traditional methods of sound production and intonation, the improvisational nature of the transmission of the melody, as well as its development, constant rhythmic pulsation, intense emotionality.
Jazz has several styles, the first of which was formed between 1900 and 1920. This style, called the New Orleans style, is characterized by the collective improvisation of the melodic group of the orchestra (cornet, clarinet, trombone) against the background of a four-beat accompaniment of the rhythm group (drums, wind or strings, bass, banjo, in some cases piano).
New Orleans style is called classical, or traditional. This is also Dixieland - a style variety that arose on the basis of imitation of black New Orleans music, hotter and more energetic. Gradually, this distinction between Dixieland and New Orleans style was almost lost.
The New Orleans style is characterized by collective improvisation with a clear emphasis on the leading voice. For improvisational choruses, a melodic-harmonic blues structure was used.
Of the many orchestras that have turned to this style, J. King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band can be singled out. In addition to Oliver (cornetist), it included the talented clarinetist Johnny Dodds and the incomparable Louis Armstrong, who later became the founder of his own orchestras - Hot Five and Hot Seven, where he took the trumpet instead of the clarinet.
The New Orleans style brought to the world a number of real stars who had a great influence on the musicians of the following generations. Pianist J. Roll Morton, clarinetist Jimmy Noon should be mentioned. But it was mainly thanks to Louis Armstrong and clarinetist Sidney Bechet that jazz went beyond the borders of New Orleans. It was they who were able to prove to the world that jazz is primarily the art of soloists.
Louis Armstrong Orchestra
In the 1920s, the Chicago style developed with its characteristic features of the performance of dance pieces. The main thing here was solo improvisation, following the collective presentation of the main theme. A significant contribution to the development of this style was made by white musicians, many of whom had professional musical education. Thanks to them, jazz music was enriched with elements of European harmony and performing technique. In contrast to the hot New Orleans style, which was formed on american south, the more northerly Chicago style has become much cooler.
Among the outstanding white performers, it is necessary to note the musicians who in the late 1920s were not inferior in skill to their black colleagues. These are clarinetists Pee Wee Russell, Frank Teschemacher and Benny Goodman, trombonist Jack Teagarden and, of course, the brightest star of American jazz - cornetist Bix Beiderbeck.
