Abstract As the title suggests, "Jazz" connects key aspects of jazzmusic to the disenchanted lives of the book's characters, creating three significant parallels. Overall, the book becomes an instrument for Toni Morrison's melody. The paper shows that, first, like a jazz ensemble, each character's solo is arranged together to create a disjointed unity, contrasting notes that somehow come together. Second, a new and unique rhythm, voice, beat and language are created that go beyond the conventional forms of both music and storytelling. In other words, the book tries to portray the importance of jazz for blacks in Harlem in the 1920's. It becomes a way of communicating a history, a present, and a future that have never before been told. The paper shows that, finally, the door is opened for improvisation, change, and perhaps even hope.
From the Paper "Essentially, through these jazz-like lyrics, Morrison provides these characters with a way to tell their story. Otherwise, they do not know how to talk to each other; in fact, they can't seem to communicate in the traditional way through conversation. Therefore, they need, even want, their own form or method for saying what they want to say. For example, the narrator tells us that "Maybe everybody has a renegade tongue yearning to be on its own" (24). In the meantime, however, "Violet shuts up. Speaks less and less until "uh" or "have mercy" carry almost all of her part of a conversation".
Abstract This paper takes a look at the Jazz Age during the twenties in America and how the music both reflected and inspired great social change. The author discusses the history of Jazzmusic, how it originated and spread and how it came to express the nature of society.
From the Paper "The Twenties was a crazy time in America. There was crime and violence, illegal alcohol and drugs, and dancing and jazz music. Despite the depression and prohibition, jazz music was able to lift the spirits of Americans and get their knees knocking and their arms flailing. Jazz spread like wildfire through the nation, and taught Americans how to make the best of a "depressing" situation. Some jazz represents the spontaneity and confusion of the decade while the more serious jazz shows the underlying rhythm of the twenties. If one listens to jazz music from the 1920s one can sense the mood of the times, and feel the excitement that jazz brought to the nation."
Abstract Jazz is a music that belongs to all races. This paper argues that, even though there have been a majority of African-American musicians in the jazz community, anyone can play it, write it, and express their feelings through it. There was music being played at the same time jazz began by other people who had a big influence on jazz, however. This paper shows that there have also been many white musicians who have made important and influential contributions to jazz. Over the last few decades, many jazz artists and critics have become vocal about their opinion about jazz and race because there are so many strong opinions about it. The writer concludes that this issue has been discussed privately since jazz became popular and that the connection between jazz and race continues to be a widely discussed topic in the jazz community.
From the Paper "The connection between jazz music and race has been discussed since jazz first became a genre one hundred years ago. Over the last four decades, many jazz artists have become more vocal about the idea that jazz is a black music. The argument is not that all good jazz musicians are black, but that the most immediate and significant ancestors have been black. Some of the major jazz innovators such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane have been black. The view of jazz as a black music, however, is controversial. There are many that believe that jazz is not the property of just one racial group. Artists who are or were not black such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw Stan Getz, Bix Beiderbecke, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck, Frank Trumbauer, and Charlie Haden have also left distinguished marks on jazz. At the turn of the century, when jazz first became popular, white and black musicians were playing very similar, though not identical, forms of music. Some artists and critics claim that the jazz expression of black Americans is a creative reflection of the black experience, however, most artists see jazz as a way to express personal experience, no matter what race they are. Though the first innovative jazz musicians were black, jazz is a music that belongs to all races."
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of jazz appreciation. It begins by discussing the history of jazzmusic and how its popularity has changed over time. The paper defines jazzmusic and discusses jazz musicians. It then goes on to discuss how music, in general, can be used in education and how jazzmusic, in particular, can be used as a vehicle for urban-area education.
From the Paper "Anyone in today's world can turn on the radio and find almost every genre of music, except for one: jazz. Jazz was a music form that dominated the billboard charts fifty to sixty years ago, and has slowly faded away, leaving the music industry as a money-interest only business, not very concerned about the music itself. Jazz as a whole today can be found in very few places such as small jazz clubs in big cities, private parties, and unfortunately, elevators. When music is restricted only to certain venues, it is bound to die out soon. Today's music world has pop and rap genres dominating. What many music followers fail to realize is that the roots of their "popular" music evolved from jazz. Jazz music is on a definite decline due to a lack of appreciation and media attention. The music of jazz brings along many positive aspects, most importantly, a vehicle for urban-area education. Through the different stages of the jazz period, and the influences that made a milestone in that period, this classic genre has made a landmark in our world's history."
Abstract This paper provides an in depth look at the history of jazz, the early development of the music style, through African American musicians trying to create music that was uplifting; the direct opposite of the blues. The author discusses rhythm and instrumentation, numerous jazz artists and popular tunes.
From the Paper "Jazz is associated with the African American people and this is an influence unequaled in the field of music. The true spirit of jazz arises from a revolt from convention, custom, authority, and boredom, even sorrow, from everything that would confine the soul of man. The blacks that invented it called their songs the blues, and they weren't capable of satire or deception. Jazz was their explosive attempt to cast off the blues and be happy, carefree happy, even in the midst of sordidness and sorrow. Jazz is a release of all the suppressed emotions at once. Jazz is a part of the direct process of African American music. In rhythm it goes directly back through ragtime, through the minstrel period, through the spirituals and dances to its African origin."
Abstract This paper explores the origins and history of jazzmusic from its early beginnings in New Orleans to the more well-known and popular forms we hear today. The paper explains how the earlier forms, known as ragtime and Dixieland, started in the late 1800's and were well formed by the early 1920's. The paper also shows the development of jazz into what we know as blues music today.
From the Paper "One theory about how Jazz began to coalesce into a recognizable music style relates to the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Some historians note that military bands came to New Orleans to be decommissioned, and many of the band instruments were sold to African-Americans and others. Most of these people taught themselves to play (Morgan, 2003), so from the very beginning, jazz did not have strong ties to European styles of musical sound, form, instrumentalization, rhythm and melody. Because of New Orleans? ethnic mix of Spanish, French, Creole and others in addition to Caucasian and African-American (Morgan, 2003), New Orleans was in a position to meld many influences together into a new form."
Tags: new, orleans, blues, music, instrument, club
Abstract This paper analyzes the topic of drug abuse and alcoholism during the Jazz Age and specifically discusses the history of abuse and its effects on musicians and the music itself. It looks at how jazzmusic has a long and varied history in the United States and how, unfortunately, it includes a long history of drug and alcohol abuse among performers, too. It attempts to show how this abuse helped give jazz an undeserved reputation among many listeners and how it also created a sub-culture among performers that has been difficult to overcome.
From the Paper "Jazz is more than music and enticing rhythms, jazz is a state of mind for many, and that may be why so many jazz musicians and performers alter their states of mind with alcohol and drugs. Jazz music first came into being in the early 20th century, and the word was first noted around 1913 (Teachout 58). A jazz writer notes, "That word jazz is ambitious. [?] The origin of the word is uncertain. The term has been applied also to noisy proceedings, to loud writing, to eccentric and discordant coloring'" (Osgood 10). Often performed by black musicians, jazz played a part in the Harlem Renaissance in New York, and remains one of the most popular forms of music today."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of music appreciation. Specifically, the paper discusses the author's personal attraction to jazzmusic and some of its composers and performers. An annotated listening list is appended to the paper.
From the Paper "Jazz is a uniquely American creation, and perhaps that is one reason I enjoy it so much. In the early part of the 20th century, the music we call jazz and blues were beginning to develop into popular songs people enjoyed. One critic writes, "Unquestionably, the most significant contribution made to music by the United States in the period under discussion lay in the field of popular music" (Hansen 84). Jazz used atypical syncopation and "blues notes," which included a complex variation on the major scale. Most music experts believe jazz and the blues developed from black spirituals and folk music of the South, and stretched from New Orleans to Chicago and then the East. In due course, jazz would influence later styles of music, such and be-bop and swing. In fact, jazz helped generate a popular music rage that seized the country. That passion for jazz continues today. Jazz also influenced other styles of music, as the uniquely American compositions of George Gershwin and Aaron Copland clearly illustrate."
Tags: harlem, renaissance, new, york, louis, armstrong, duke, wellington, cotton, club, blues
Abstract A review of the history of musical notation, the way that musical compositions can be passed from one generation of performers to the next generation of performers. According to the paper, musical notation makes musical training both more diverse as well as more practical. This paper discusses the development of classical and jazzmusical notation.
From the Paper "Fake books and jazz notation originated with illegal transcriptions of overheard music, although most fake books today copyrighted with the permission of the artist. The original fake book transcribers were not trained musicians, however, merely persons who had overheard or played a particular song they liked and wished to improvise from the tune's base. The books began with music 'of the people' and were designed for musicians who were not often formally trained themselves, perhaps could not even read music very well, but knew enough to use the notes and skeletal information to create music in the context of a performance. Unlike a large orchestra, the musicians knew one another well, and could communicate with one another musically during a performance, unlike musicians across a large concert hall."
Tags:musical, ear, gifted, performance, band, composer, Mozart, instrument, Beethoven
Abstract This paper gives a persuasive paper on the positive aspects of Latin Jazzmusic, considering it holistically from a musical perspective including rhythmically, tonally and its evolution into popular culture.
Abstract The paper describes the racial tensions and riots that led to the African Diaspora, when black performers, mostly jazz musicians, left the United States and went to Europe. The paper discusses how these African-American performers found the freedom in Europe to compose and perform their jazzmusic. The paper focuses on Josephine Baker, a black woman who was able to find acceptance, fame and fortune in Paris and throughout the world.
From the Paper "In the summer and fall of 1919, race riots erupted in Northern and Southern cities across America. Called the Red Summer of 1919, three violent episodes happened in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Elaine, Arkansas. The resulting tension throughout the United States made it impossible for African-Americans and Whites to live together in peace. Musicians in bands suddenly found themselves estranged from their close friends, members of bands argued and refused to talk to each other. Bands split up and African-American groups were barred from performing in venues throughout the United States. This led to the African Diaspora, when black performers, mostly jazz musicians, left the United States and went to Europe, where segregation and prejudice were not prevalent, and surprisingly, found the freedom and success they had lacked in the United States, to compose and perform their jazz music."
Abstract This paper describes the origins of American popular music in European and African culture. The author claims that In effect, American music is a hybrid of musical movements from blues and spirituals to European folk music.
From the Paper "Much of American culture bears the mark of the melting pot effect. Essentially a land of immigrants, America has served, in many ways, as a palette from which popular culture draws an innumerable array of shades. As such, popular social trends often are a reflection of the hybrid mainstream instinct. Pop music, in its incubational phases, is highly indicative of that notion. This is particularly evident in ostensibly indigenous musical movements like blues/folk music and spirituals, both of which employ extensive European and African influences, social imports that create a tapestry of globally unique and distinctively American sounds."
Tags: art, jazz, music, race relations, rock, social traditional, values, blues, folk, Africian American
Abstract This paper delves into the indigenous, American creation of jazzmusic. It looks at the relationship between the origins of jazz and the history of African-Americans, the main characteristics of jazzmusic, and the instruments originally used for playing jazz. The beginning of jazzmusic in New Orleans is discussed, as well as some of the influences on the music and the different types of jazz that evolved over time. Famous jazz musicians and singers are also mentioned.
From the Paper "A significant relationship exists between the origins of jazz and the history of African-Americans. To entertain themselves and get through the grueling days, plantation slaves would perform music that would remind them of their African homeland. Their songs, sounds and compositions would be on the wide variety of singing, rhythms and melodies that ranged throughout the continent."
Abstract In this paper, the writer introduces, discusses, and analyzes the development of jazz and the blues. The roots of these two forms of American music are traced. The author also explores the influence of African-American slave music on these forms of music. Several notable jazz and blues artists are discussed. The author concludes by stating jazz and blues are popular forms of music throughout the world.
From the Paper "Some of the more recognizable blues artists include Robert Johnson, Billie Holiday, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Patton, Son House, T-Model Ford, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, Muddy Waters, and Leadbelly (Gioia). Many jazz musicians have influenced the music and become famous in their own right, too. Early musicians include Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others. Jazz continues to evolve today, with "smooth jazz" gaining in popularity, and modern influential artists include Wynton Marsalis and Kenny G. Advocates included many black and white writers of the times, such as Richard Wright and Langston Hughes, who recognized the importance of the music and helped spread interest about it around the world."
