Dene Eang
Grade 10 Music (Ms. Olga)
August 28, 2015
Music Research – Cool Jazz
Introduction (History, Jazz roots)

Introduced by African Americans (1700s)
o Roots of jazz came from the work songs and spirituals done by slaves
from West Africa that were brought into North America
o African rhythms
 Banjo, guitar, percussion
o European harmonic structure
 Trumpet, trombone, saxophone, string bass, piano

Became popular at the beginning of the 20th century
o New Orleans
 The people of New Orleans were of various cultures
 Diverse music taste
o One of them being Jazz Music

A musical form that mostly relies on improvisation
o Never entirely composed nor entirely improvised
o Endless amounts of creative approaches
o Different to a classical music performer who expresses a composition
that is not their own
o Sound characteristics and syncopated rhythms were appreciated
o Improvisation was usually ignored
Well Known Musicians Of Cool Jazz
Thelonious Monk
 Born: Rocky Mount, North Carolina
 Moved to New York at the age of 4
 Well known pianist and composer
o Started learning at 11
 Most of his career consisted of playing with small groups at a club named
“Minton’s Playhouse”
 “One of the first creators of modern jazz”
 His music was well-known because of it’s “humorous” quality
o Complex and irregular harmonies
o Unique intervals and rhythms
o His compositions took the form of 12 bar blues and 32 bar ballad form,
which soon became the standards for jazz
 Well known works
o Well, you needn’t (1944)
o OFI mean you (1946)
o Mysteriouso (1958)
o Straight, no chaser (1967)
o Criss Cross (1967)
Dene Eang
Grade 10 Music (Ms. Olga)
August 28, 2015
What are the connections between Cool Jazz and other jazz styles in the list above?
 Similarity: Time Period (20th Century)
 Improvisation (Melody instruments)
o Bebop, Jazz Fusion, Free Jazz
 Difference:
o Cool Jazz used either slow vibratos or none at all
o Softer and less interactive drums
Can you investigate the historical, social and cultural influence on the
developments of the chosen style?



Historical Influence
o After world war 2, Americans became uncertain of the future (1950s)
 Symbolized emotion and self control
Social Influence
o Influenced by the other artists of Bebop music, known as a “reaction”
 Fast tempos
 Complex melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic ideas
 Cool Jazz used the ideas to develop a more relaxed version
Cultural Influence
o The “casual” and “laidback” image of California gave the perfect
foundation for Cool Jazz
 It developed and started to represent California, as it increased in
importance
Factual:





Loud and exciting
2 or more simultaneous melodic lines
People of various cultures shared their musical abilities
Ideas were combined to create a unique style
Cool Jazz Composers: Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk
o Unique abilities to play instruments and compose songs
Debatable:


Without slavery trade, Africans wouldn’t be able to contribute to the
development
o Rhythms, work songs, spirituals that built the foundation for Jazz
Jazz would either not exist or be very different to what it is now (not as exciting)
Dene Eang
Grade 10 Music (Ms. Olga)
August 28, 2015
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Dene Eang
Grade 10 Music (Ms. Olga)
August 28, 2015