Our final musician we will be looking at is Miles Davis. Born in 1926, he is another very influential musician. He takes jazz in a new direction more relaxed and "chill", cool jazz. He takes another step as well and creates jazz fusion to keep up with the evolution of popular music. Jazz fusion is a combination of jazz and any other musical genre, most of the time rock.
Davis' career was during arguably the most influential time for African Americans, the Civil Rights Movement. Davis was able to push his career and music through the racism and oppression and become a very successful African American Musician. He changed his music to evolve around the popular music of the day to help jazz become more main stream. This upset some traditional jazz musicians but it was very successful for Davis.
Cool jazz is my favorite type of jazz, it is very relaxing and easy to listen to. That is what makes Miles Davis so great, he makes every note he plays count. He uses fewer notes for a more complete song. Listen to "So What" posted below and you will see what I mean. There are much fewer note in this song compared to "Leapfrog" or "Groovin' High" and it is much easier to listen to.
Dizzy Gillespie was born in 1917 and similar to Charlie Parker was on of the pioneers of bebop just not as big as parker. Gillespie, a trumpet player, often played with Parker but Gillespie was a bit more responsible and not addicted to drugs like Parker was.
Gillespie grew up with the same social problems that Parker went through but I still would like to discuss Gillespie influence on jazz. He was seen as more responsible than Parker. Gillespie lead his own bebop big bands through the 40s and continued to play bebop even though jazz was becoming less and less popular because of rock. Gillespie was a phenomenal trumpet player with a solo ability comparable to Charlie Parker.
In "Groovin' High" listen to Gillespie on the trumpet. Compare his solo to Charlie Parker. Not as fast and agile as Parker but Gillespie uses his instrument in a different way to attack his melodies. Go back to "Leapfrog" and listen for the subtle differences in style between the two musicians.
Charlie Parker was born in 1920 in Kansas City. Charlie Parker was one of the greatest jazz musicians to ever live. He can be compared to Louis Armstrong with how influential he is the the evolution of jazz. Parker created a new form of jazz called bebop which is essentially super intense jazz improvisation.
Parker grew up through the great depression like many other jazz musicians and had his career going by World War 2. World War 2 was another frustrating time for African Americans since they were in the United States draft but their country never treated them like real citizens. There was still a struggle for equality in the African American society.
This frustration and struggle for equality became apart of the music. Bebop, as you will hear, is very quick and frantic reflecting the frustration of African Americans at the time. Bebop sometimes sounds a bit angry because of how quick and randoms the notes are being played. Charlie Parker pioneered this new type of jazz and it became quite popular with the young musicians. Unfortunately Parker died young in 1955 because of a drug addiction to heroine and morphine. I find this so sad because he was one of the greatest if not the greatest jazz musicians of all time. I think of what jazz could have become with a Charlie Parker not on drugs.
Listen to the posted song "Leapfrog" which features Charlie Parker on alto saxophone and Dizzy Gillespie on the trumpet. Listen to how quickly the two musicians are improvising, this is why Parker is one of the greats, his ability to jump from motif to motif in seconds while connecting them all together. Listen how it seems like they leave the rhythm section in the dust behind them. This music was much too fast to dance to or relax to so it was mostly played for other musicians in clubs and never became popular with the average person.
Born in 1904 in New Jersey, William James Basie also known as Count Basie grew up during a frustrating time similar to the musicians previously discussed. The Count was one of the best pianists during the Swing era along side of Duke Ellington. But, Count Basie's big band was know to have the most innovative rhythm section which is why I feel it is important I at least write a little about this great musician.
I have already made many comments about the time period that Basie has grown up in and how there were many race riots in the American cities during the 10s and early 20s. Also how the great depression created hard times for everyone and impacted the music world. Basie was molded by these events and persevered through them and the constant oppression from the white majority.
Basie's big band started in Kansas City and had arguably the best rhythm section of the time with bassist Walter Page, guitarist Freddie Green, and drummer Jo Jones, these guys held a tight beat.
The song posted shows off just how good count Basie is. Listen to how light his fingers are on the keys yet so precise and powerful when needed. The rhythm section behind him kept that tempo Basie set in the beginning of the song and kept those chord progressions going while Basie improvised. Similar to Duke Ellington, you can't help to move when you listen to Count Basie and his catchy rhythms and melodies.
Billie Holiday grew up in Baltimore in the 20s. She also grew up through the great depression as well. She made her way to the jazz rich city of New York where she began to grow as one of the best jazz vocalists along side Ella Fitzgerald.
The Harlem Renaissance in the 20s was a fantastic time for jazz. A great deal of new ideas and creative music coming from many talented African Americans, such as Louis Armstrong, were molded together to help shape jazz before the great depression and the swing era. This golden age for jazz helped inspire young Billie Holiday and is what drew her to New York City.
As a singer, Holiday was able to comment on social issues using the lyrics in her songs such as "Strange Fruit" which is about the lynchings of African Americans. Not only do her lyrics send a message but the music itself makes a point. In the song posted, "Fine and Mellow", the music is a 12 bar blues meant for singing the blues and that is exactly what Holiday does in this song singing about "her man". Though her voice is beautiful I find her lyrics to be quite depressing but, I admire her boldness in the commentary on the social issues at the time whether it be African American oppression or abuse to women. Listen for the sad tone in her voice in this song "Fine and Mellow" and listen to the accompaniment and how it's style compliments Miss Holidays voice.
Born in 1899 Duke Ellington was legend for his musical work in the big band swing era of the 30s. His big band was the most stable and longest lived big band in jazz history. So he was not only a fantastic musician but a very great business man as well.
It was tough be in the music industry after the great depression, especially for an African American who was still seen to be inferior to the white majority at the time. According to Hine, "record sales in 1932 were only a sixth of those in 1927" (425). Big bands started to become popular in dance venues. This allowed many African Americans to be noticed and appreciated for their talents. This did not stop the racism, many African Americans were still treated very poorly and unfair even though they were extremely talented musicians. African American big bands did have to compete with white big bands as well. Benny Goodman and his big band were all white and quite talented and may have received priority over African American big bands just because they were white.
This racism did not discourage Duke Ellington too much, his big band stayed very "classy" and formal at all their performances and acted very professional. To help his bands success he would often find ways to perform on the radio, newer technology at the time, to reach a broader audience. Many of you have probably heard at least one of the Duke's songs. He was a fantastic piano player, a smart business man, and a great composer. He composed the famous Nut Cracker Jazz version which you all have most likely heard. When listening to "It Don't Mean a Thing" listen closely for the different sections of the big band (trumpets, saxophones and winds, trombones, and the rhythm section). Also listen to how in sync this band feels and how it feels like you should be dancing, this is swing music's purpose.
Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 in New Orleans. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and Louis Armstrong was one of the founders. He was a very talented trumpet player who's solos were unmatched at the time. No one could play trumpet like Louis Armstrong and he set the bar for jazz solos and songs, he even shaped the sound of jazz itself.
Armstrong grew up during Word War 1 and the great migration this was a time where African Americans were desperate for equality. African Americans were apart of the draft and served a country which did not do much for them. There were many race riots which spread across the cities in America such as Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, and Tulsa. This was a frustrating time for African Americans but, Armstrong still persevered and managed to become very successful and influential to Jazz and African Americans around the country.
Armstrong loved the music and obviously had a passion for the music to continue through a very racist time. "West End Blues" by Louis Armstrong features his great talent in jazz improvisation. This is what jazz is, a small motif stated in the beginning followed by solos based off the motif. Listen how the note just flow out of Armstrong's Trumpet and how no two verses sound exactly the same. His ability to solo and spontaneously improvise music is what Armstrong is known for. As you might know Louis Armstrong sings as well, he is not know for his beautiful voice but the heart and soul he puts behind his music. He is doing what he loves and you can tell just by listening to him sing and play.
