Monday 10/31

Evolution of a Genre 

Jazz
Louis Armstrong and the Hot Seven 
Wild Man Blues  -  1927
Instrumentation:  Trumpet, Clarinet, Trombone, Tuba, Banjo, Piano, Drums

Melody:  
  • Delivery
    • Instrumental melody played by trumpet (no words..)
    • Solos in trumpet and clarinet in middle of song
  • Content:  Instrumental, no words,  but we can deduce some from the Title:  'Wild Man Blues' - blues are generally about hardship/angst/human conflict etc. 
Harmony:  
  • Delivery
    • We hear a chord progression being played by the banjo/piano in a pulsing type patter
    • Very basic harmony (closer to a folk song than Beethoven...)


Rhythm: 
  • Provided by the pulsing in the piano , strums on the banjo, some hits on the drums along with those

Other Observations:
  • Recording Quality is poor due to technology
  • Recording only 3:00 (also result of recording technology)
  • Features mostly the trumpet, not other instruments
  • All acoustic instruments (non-electric)
Terell Stafford Quintet
Stop Start   -   2015
Instrumentation:   Trumpet, Saxophone, Bass, Piano, Drums

Melody: 
  • Delivery
    • Instrumental - both trumpet and Sax 
    • Solos in Sax, Trumpet, Piano, Drums
  • Content
    • Still instrumental, no words, but much faster and more frantic and disjointed rather than the slower relaxed/laid back vibe
​Harmony
  • Harmony now provided but he Piano and Bass - much more independent and improvisatory in nature (not just pulsing - we can hear the piano doing different things at different times - still links up with the other instruments at times)


Rhythm: 
  • Most obviously provided by a swing rhythm in the drums that is played throughout the entire song (we also hear the use of drum cymbals now...)
  • No longer get pulsing in piano/banjo, but pulsing in the bass every beat

Other:
  • Much longer in time and more complicated in form - more complicated melody and scheme for who is soloing where
  • much better recording quality (technology) 
General Differences:
  • Some differences in Instrumentation :  Subtraction of Banjo/Clarinet/Tuba. Clarinet replaced by Saxophone with similar roll.  Pulsing of Banjo and Low notes of tuba replaced by the upright bass

  • Big difference in how each instrument is used , with everybody being much more independent of each other.  
    • Drums now play groove throughout rather than pulsing hits sporadically with banjo.  Drums are independent of all other instruments, with a solo now as well
    • Bass - Walking baseline - pulsing on each beat - providing harmony AND rhythm
    • Piano - still providing the harmony - but much more independent and improvisatory in nature.  We can hear he is doing his own thing rather than sticking to the pulsing with the banjo

  • All instruments are now featured independently rather than a band accompanying a trumpet
Jazz
 Late 1910's/ Early 1920's -----------------------------------------------------------------------Present
    ​Louis Armstong                                                                                Terell Stafford 
^^^^^^^^^
We must assume that in between there was some development.....
In Between Armstrong and Stafford....
Big Band / Dance Band / Swing Band (1930s) : 
  • Popular music of the day
  • Meant for Dancing to
  • Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Bennie Goodman, Count Basie, 

Vocal Jazz (1930s +):
  • (there has been vocal jazz through the life of jazz)
  • popular music,  meant to be listened to 
  • Billie Holiday,  Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, 

Big Band Vocals/ Crooner (50's/60's/70's +):
Bebop (50's):
  • Instrumental, reaction to big band music
  • Complicated and virtuosic - meant to be enjoyed by fellow musicians (fast speeds and lots of notes)
  • Dizzy Gillespie,  Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk

Hard Bob (60's / 70's):
  • Resurgence of Bebop in later decades
  • Miles Davis, John Coltrane, 

Fusion (70's/80's):
  • introduction of new instrumentation to jazz - electric pianos/guitars/basses 
  • Incorporation of rock/funk styles 
  • Chick Correa, Weather Report, 

Evolution Group Activity

With your group, you are trying to get the best possible representation of the evolution of your respective Genre.  

Think of it as a time line :  Very early example  vs.  a very modern example , then discuss some of the things that happened in between. 

You should find:   
​1.    Early Example 
- one of the first recordings in this genre, or by one of the pioneers of the genre
-take observations about instrumentation/content/physical attributes of the piece

2.  Modern Example
-something that is representative of the state of your genre today
- Compare physical attributes to early example

3.   Discuss some of the developments between now and then
- notable sub genres,  important artists / composers / events that have influenced your genres evolution. Musical or cultural!

*** Get to know your genre from inception to present as best as you can ***
** You should have more observations related to CONTENT since your Genres are popular / Vocal **

GROUP 1:  Hip Hop / RnB

GROUP 2:  Rock