Jazz History Final Exam Review
Terminology Horizontal Riff Counterpoint Vertical Dropping Bombs 3rd Stream Arrangement Comping Microtonal Shout Chorus Contrafact Head Chart Reharmonization
The Swing Era Recognize the types of Swing bands o Know an example band of each (i.e. Count Basie = Territory Band) Be able to diagram a typical big band Know the roles of a Swing rhythm section o Which section defined these traditions? Benny Goodman o The Palomar Club o Impact on Race Relations Arite Shaw and commercialism Glenn Miller’s way around the recording strike of 1942 Territory bands Kansas City scene Recognize types of Ellington compositions Recognize the following artists: o Count Basie o Lester Young o John Hammond o Charlie Christian o Billy Strayhorn o Django Reinhardt o Billy Holiday o Chick Webb o Ella Fitzgerald o Coleman Hawkins Bebop What caused Big Band to collapse? (know at least 4 things) Categorize characteristics of Bebop vs. characteristics of Big Band Minton’s impact on Bop Drug abuse and beboppers Charlie Parker o Main innovations o His partner in bebop was? Dizzy Gillespie o Main role in bebop o Influence on Latin Jazz Bud Powell Dexter Gordon Jazz History Final Exam Review
50s Jazz Recognize the different characteristics of Hard Bop vs Cool Jazz Cool Jazz o West Coast jazz o Significance of Birth of the Cool o Cool jazz pianist, famous for use of Odd meter o Group celebrated for their use of counterpoint Hard Bop o Who were the Jazz Messengers? . What role did the band serve for jazz? o Recognize Clifford Brown o Define Sonny Rollins’ new improvisational style o Know the innovations of Wes Montgomery Giants of 50s Composition o Recognize Thelonious Monk o Charles Mingus’s composition style
Miles Davis For all things Miles, refer to the essay question at the end of this guide
The Jazz Avant-Garde What 5 things is it free from? The first 3 major experimenters Ornette Coleman o The importance of “formless improvisation” and “freedom for all parts” o Free Jazz Cecil Taylor The three paradoxes of Free Jazz Free Jazz collectives The Loft Scene John Coltrane o Significance of Giant Steps o The Classic Quartet’s landmark recording o John Coltrane’s impact on the Avant-Garde
Fusion What is Jazz Fusion (aka Jazz-Rock)? o Know the 4 key bands and the main band leader or leaders
Essay Trace the career of Miles Davis from Bebop to Fusion by explaining his role, innovations and major contributions in each style he participated in. There are at least 7 genres you should discuss.