The Roots of Jazz
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Definition: One of the first songs brought over to the U.S.; it was used while performing
hard tasks on plantations.
o Answer: Work Song
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Bonus: Name the first one we ever listened to.
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Answer: Hoe Emma, Hoe
Definition: One of the first songs brought over to the U.S. by Africans that has a
“religious” background.
o Answer: Spiritual
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Definition: A leader has a statement and the follower replies with an answer.
o Answer: Call and Response
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True or false: African American slaves sang country music while completing their jobs.
o Answer: False, they sang work songs.
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Question: Name one of the spirituals that we listened to in class.
o Answer: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
The Blues
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Question: Where is the “Birthplace of Blues”?
o Answer: New Orleans
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Bonus: Why New Orleans?
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Answer: Shipping ports, lots of commerce.
Question: What are the three chords in the 12 Bar Blues? I, IV, and V? Or II, VI, and X?
o Answer: I, IV, V
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True or false: Call, Call, Response is a form used in the blues.
o Answer: True
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True or false: The Blues dealt with sad or depressing topics, but in a sassy or sarcastic
tone.
o Answer: False
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Bonus: There were three phases of the Blues. Name one.
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Answer: Country Blues, Classic Blues, or Urban Blues
Definition: A group of seven notes used by jazz soloists to improvise.
o Answer: Blues Scale
Duke Ellington
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Question: Name one of the members of Duke Ellington’s big band (besides Ellington).
o Answers: Sonny Greer, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Otto “Toby” Carter, or James
“Bubba” Miley.
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Question: What instrument did Duke Ellington play?
o Answer: Piano
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Bonus: Did he enjoy playing it when he first started?
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Answer: No
True or false: Duke Ellington did not write more than 100 musical compositions.
o Answer: False
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True or false: One of Duke Ellington’s nicknames was “The Piano Professional”
o Answer: False
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Bonus: Name one of his real nicknames.
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Answer: “King of the keys”, “The Duke” or “Piano Prince”
True or false: Billy Strayhorn was a musician that wrote songs for Duke Ellington.
o Answer: True
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Bonus: Name the song we listened to that they wrote together.
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Answer: Take the A-Train
Big Band Jazz
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Definition: To create or make up a melody right on the spot.
o Answer: Improvise
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Bonus: Who revolutionized improvisation by using the higher notes of the
scale?
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Charlie Parker
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Definition: An American style of music that came from the Blues and Ragtime; it is a
huge part of the United States history.
o Answer: Jazz
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Question: How many members are there in a jazz band?
o Answer: 12-18
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Question: Name three of the seven instruments that make up a big band.
o Answer: Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, piano, and drums.
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Bonus: Name the rest.
Question: What are the two other names for big band?
o Answer: Dance bands or stage bands
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Bonus: Where were many famous big bands featured?
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Answer: Live, nationwide radio broadcasts.
Big Band Swing
 Definition: A style of jazz that has a dance-like feeling to it; it is upbeat and fast.
o Answer: Swing Style
 True or false: Swing dance went hand in hand with Swing, a sub-genre of jazz.
o Answer: True
 How many musicians make up a Dixieland band?
o Answer: 6-8 musicians
 Bonus: What instrument typically carries the melody in Dixieland music?
 Answer: Trumpet
 Which famous trumpet player had the biggest impact on The Dixieland era?
o Answer: Louis Armstrong
 Bonus: Name one of the songs that we listened to by Louis Armstrong.
 Answer: What a Wonderful World or Hello, Dolly
 Question: When many musicians became frustrated with the lack of solo opportunities
in Dixieland music, __________ was born.
o Answer: Bebop
 Bonus: Name the three reasons that Bebop’s popularity grew.
 Answer: WW2, the “entertainment tax”, and the record company
strike.