JAZZ ARTISTS
Early 20th Century
FIRST…WHAT IS JAZZ?
 Three Main Components:
• Like any other musical genre, Jazz will always have these• Melody
• Harmony
• Beat/Rhythm
 What makes it unique?
• Improvisation
• Syncopation- "If a part of the measure that is usually unstressed is
accented, the rhythm is considered to be syncopated."
WHAT IS JAZZ?
 Syncopation
• Jazz musicians don’t syncopate ALL the time (if they did it would be
monotonous). Instead, jazz music involves both syncopated and nonsyncopated notes -- just which ones to syncopate is up to the player
and, once they get good enough, they do this intuitively (that is,
without having to think about it; just like fluctuating your voice when
talking so you don’t talk in a monotone).
• Mack the Knife
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEllHMWkXEU
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
 August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971
 Singer and Trumpet Player
 Moved Jazz from collective improv. to solo performance
 What a Wonderful World
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM
 Basin Street Blues
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRjT4h7F_jw
COUNT BASIE
 August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984
 Jazz Pianist, Band Leader (Count Basie Orchestra), Composer
 Emphasized the Rhythm Section
 Things Ain’t What They Used to Be
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfmadpPy3yM
 Swingin the Blues
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYLbrZAko7E
BILLIE HOLIDAY
 April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959
 Jazz Singer
 Singing style strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists
 Had a very hard beginning in life
 Known for emotional delivery in singing
BILLIE HOLIDAY
 Summertime
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAITYPTTh3I
 I’ll Be Seeing You
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDlKb2cBAqU
DUKE ELLINGTON
 April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974
 Pianist, Composer, Band Leader
 Take the A Train
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY
 It Don’t Mean a Thing
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg
FATS WALLER
 May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943
 Jazz Pianist, Composer
 Laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano
 Ain’t Misbehavin
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSNPpssruFY
 Honeysuckle Rose
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5JiD9yxL4U
SARAH VAUGHAN
 March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990
 Jazz Singer
 Body and Soul
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUCo1kS7SrA
 Tenderly
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNi6M_A9AzU
DIZZY GILLESPIE
 October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993
 Jazz Trumpeter, Composer, Bandleader
 Considered one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time
 Salt Peanuts
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOmA8LOw258
 A Night in Tunisia
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpE7Uilf-kc