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Home
Login
Genres
- Blues
- Folk
- Gospel
- Hip Hop
- JAZZ
  - Traditional Jazz
  - Swing Jazz
  - Bebop
  - Free Jazz
  - Modal Jazz
  - Jazz Fusion
  - Neo-Bop
  - Young Lions
- Jubilee Quartets
- Negro Spirituals
- Ragtime
- Soul
Student-Portal
Artists
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
  - Eartha Kitt
    - Eartha Kitt
    - Eartha Kitt
  - Erykah Badu
  - Etta James
    - Etta James
      - George Duke
    - ETTA JAMES
    - James Brown
      - I
        
        G
        
        Gladys Knight
        
        Janelle Monåe
      - India Arie
- F
  - Frankie Lymon
- H
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
  - Outkast
  - Outkast
  - Outkast
- P
  - Patrice Rushen
  - Prince
- Q
- R
  - Rick James
  - Rihanna
    - Rihanna
    - Rihanna
    - Rihanna
- S
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
Concerts
Blog

Beginners Guide
Jazz Terms
Styles/Genres
Musicians
YouTube
Women
Articles
Recordings

Understanding the Structure of Jazz: A Beginner’s Guide

Introduction
Jazz is an expressive and multifaceted genre that encourages improvisation and individual expression. Though it may seem complex at first, understanding a few fundamental elements can significantly enhance the listening experience.

Basic Jazz Forms
1. Blues Form: A 12-bar progression that’s foundational in jazz.
2. AABA Form: A common structure in jazz, with A sections that repeat and a contrasting B section.
3. Rhythm Changes: Based on George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm,” this structure is a favorite for improvisation.

Key Music Theory Terms for Jazz Listening
1. Improvisation:
Spontaneous creation of melodies over a chord progression.

Chord Progression:
A series of chords played in a sequence.

3.Swing Rhythm:
A rhythm that emphasizes the off-beats, creating a “swinging” feel.

4. Syncopation:
Unexpected accents that create rhythmic tension and excitement.

5. Scat Singing:
Vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables.

6. Modal Jazz:
Jazz that uses musical modes rather than traditional scales.

7. BeBop:
style of jazz characterized by fast tempo, complex chord progressions, and instrumental virtuosity.

8. Jazz Standard:
A well-known jazz tune that many musicians play.

Listening Tips
1. Identify the Form: Listen for repeated sections (like A or B) to understand the overall structure.
2. Focus on Improvisation: Note how musicians explore and expand on the theme.
3. Feel the Rhythm: Tap along to recognize swing or other rhythmic features.
4. Listen Actively: Engage with the music, make notes, and enjoy repeated listens to delve deeper.

Conclusion
Jazz is an enriching musical genre with a wide array of styles and expressions. By understanding basic forms and terms, you can appreciate the depth and creativity of jazz music. Keep an open mind and ear, and enjoy the musical journey.

Congo Square:
Historical meeting place for music and dance.

Buddy Bolden:
Cornetist, considered a key figure in jazz’s early development.

The Big Four:
Early New Orleans jazz musicians.

Clarinet:
Woodwind instrument with a rich jazz history.

Trumpet:
Brass instrument central to jazz ensembles.

Trombone:
Brass instrument known for its unique slide.

New Orleans:
Birthplace of jazz, influential in its development.

Bebop:
Complex and rapid style of jazz.

Swing:
Upbeat and danceable style of jazz.

Cool Jazz:
Relaxed and smooth style of jazz.

Fusion:
Genre blending jazz with other musical styles.

Ragtime:
Early syncopated music precursor to jazz.

Syncopation:
Offbeat rhythm characteristic of jazz.

Improvisation:
Spontaneous musical creation during performance.

Scat Singing:
Vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables.

Rhythm Section:
Instruments providing rhythm in a jazz ensemble.

Dixieland:
Early jazz style with collective improvisation.

Hard Bop:
Extension of bebop with stronger rhythm.

Modal Jazz:
Emphasis on modes and simpler harmony.

Acid Jazz:
Fusion of jazz, funk, and electronic music.

Blue Notes:
Notes sung or played at a slightly lowered pitch.

Call and Response:
Musical interaction between soloist and group.

Chord Progression:
Sequence of harmonies in a piece of music.

Comping:
Accompaniment with harmonies in improvised solos.

Double Time:
Playing twice as fast in a solo.

Front Line:
Main melody instruments in a jazz ensemble.

Head Arrangement:
Memorized group arrangement without notation.

Hot Jazz:
Energetic and lively style of early jazz.

Jazz Standard:
Well-known and frequently performed jazz piece.

Lead Sheet:
Simplified sheet music with melody and chords.

Licks:
Short melodic phrases used in improvisation.

Mainstream:
Conventional and widely accepted jazz style.

Modal Scale:
Scale emphasizing modes rather than keys.

Voicing:
Arranging notes in chords for a certain effect.

Walking Bass:
Steady bassline moving in a walking rhythm.

West Coast Jazz:
Relaxed and cool style developed on the West Coast.

Soul Jazz:
Combines jazz with soul music elements.

Free Jazz:
Emphasizes improvisation without traditional constraints.

Smooth Jazz:
Fusion genre featuring a polished and mellow sound.

Avant-Garde Jazz:
Experimental and innovative jazz style.

Bossa Nova:
Brazilian music genre influenced by jazz.

Ballad:
Slow and emotional jazz piece.

Big Band:
Large ensemble with brass and rhythm sections.

Boplicity:
Composition by Miles Davis, a play on “Bebop.”

Break:
Brief instrumental solo or interlude.

Cadenza:
Virtuosic solo passage in a concerto.

Charts:
Written music for a jazz ensemble.

Chop:
Short and rhythmic note or chord.

Combo:
Small jazz ensemble.

Counterpoint:
Combination of different melodic lines.

Cut Time:
Meter where each measure has two beats.

Dominant:
Fifth scale degree in a diatonic scale.

Fills:
Short musical phrases between main phrases.

Groove:
Rhythmic feel or pattern in a piece of music.

Harmon mute:
Mute used in brass instruments to alter tone.

Head:
Main melody of a jazz composition.

Hi-Hat:
Pair of cymbals operated by a foot pedal.

In the Pocket:
Playing tightly and in sync with the beat.

Jam Session:
Informal and improvised group performance.

Legato:
Smooth and connected style of playing.

Measure:
Notated musical unit of time.

Montuno:
Repeated and rhythmic pattern in Latin jazz.

Mute:
Device used to dampen or alter instrument’s sound.

Octave:
Eight-note interval in a musical scale.

Open Harmony:
Chords with intervals beyond an octave.

Overblow:
Technique to play higher notes on wind instruments.

Phrasing:
Shaping of musical phrases.

Pianissimo:
Very soft dynamics in music.

Polytonality:
Use of multiple keys or tonal centers.

Quartet:
Group of four musicians.

Quintet:
Group of five musicians.

Reeds:
Woodwind instruments like saxophones and clarinets.

Riff:
Short repeated musical phrase.

Ride Cymbal:
Large cymbal used in jazz drumming.

Scale:
Sequence of musical notes in ascending or descending order.

Second Line:
Dancing and music tradition in New Orleans.

Sextet:
Group of six musicians.

Shuffle:
Swing rhythm pattern with triplet feel.

Sideman:
Supporting musician in a band.

Skins:
Drumheads in a drum set.

Soprano Sax:
Highest pitched saxophone.

Staccato:
Short and detached style of playing.

Subdominant:
Fourth scale degree in a diatonic scale.

Syncopation:
Offbeat rhythm characteristic of jazz.

Tenor Sax:
Mid-range saxophone.

Timbre:
Unique sound quality of an instrument.

Time Signature:
Notation indicating the meter of a piece.

Tonality:
Key or tonal center of a piece of music.

Trill:
Rapid alternation between two notes.

Trio:
Group of three musicians.

Unison:
Playing the same notes simultaneously.

Vamp:
Repeated musical phrase used as an intro.

Vibrato:
Variation of pitch in a sustained note.

Washboard:
Percussion instrument made of a corrugated surface.

Whole Tone:
Scale with whole steps between notes.

Wind Instruments:
Instruments played by blowing air into them.

Woodshedding:
Intense practice and improvement on an instrument.

Chorus:
Repeated section of a song or composition.

Cross Rhythm:
Simultaneous use of different rhythms.

Afro-Cuban Jazz:
Fusion of African and Cuban musical elements.

Feel free to let me know if there’s anything else you need assistance with, Dr. Johnson.

Styles / Genres

Week 1 – Traditional Jazz: Louis Armstrong – “Hot Fives & Sevens”
Week 2 – Swing: Duke Ellington – “Ellington at Newport”
Week 3 – Bebop: Thelonious Monk – “Brilliant Corners”
Week 4 – Cool Jazz: Miles Davis – “Birth of the Cool”
Week 5 – Hard Bop/Ridges: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – “Moanin'”
Week 6 – Modal Jazz: John Coltrane – “A Love Supreme”
Week 7 – Jazz Fusion: Herbie Hancock – “Head Hunters”
Week 8 – Latin Jazz: Tito Puente – “Dance Mania”
Week 9 – Free Jazz: Ornette Coleman – “The Shape of Jazz to Come”
Week 10 – Post-Bop: Wayne Shorter – “Speak No Evil”
Week 11 – Acid Jazz: The Brand New Heavies – “The Brand New Heavies”
Week 12 – Smooth Jazz: Kenny G – “Breathless”
Week 13 – Avant-Garde Jazz: Cecil Taylor – “Unit Structures”
Week 14 – Contemporary Jazz: Esperanza Spalding – “Radio Music Society”
Week 15 – Neo-Bop: Wynton Marsalis – “Black Codes from the Underground”
Week 16 – Review/Final Insights: Compilation – “Ken Burns Jazz: The Story of America’s Music”

Musicians

Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Charlie Parker
Thelonious Monk
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Dizzy Gillespie
Charles Mingus
Ornette Coleman
Herbie Hancock
Art Blakey
Oscar Peterson
Sonny Rollins
Wes Montgomery
Clifford Brown
Sarah Vaughan
Wayne Shorter
Sun Ra
Dexter Gordon
Chet Baker
Chick Corea
Benny Goodman
Count Basie
Gil Evans
Stan Getz
Lester Young
Max Roach
McCoy Tyner
Freddie Hubbard
Cannonball Adderley
Joe Henderson
Bill Evans
Fats Waller
Wynton Marsalis
Cecil Taylor
Ahmad Jamal
Dave Brubeck
Jaco Pastorius
Bix Beiderbecke
Bud Powell
Gerry Mulligan
Eric Dolphy
Keith Jarrett
Tony Williams
Kenny Clarke
Lionel Hampton
Oliver Nelson
Sidney Bechet

Jazz Tutorial Resources

Introduction to Jazz

What is Jazz? - Jazz Academy

Basic Jazz Forms

Blues Form:
- Understanding 12-Bar Blues
AABA Form:
- Jazz Form - AABA
Rhythm Changes:
- Jazz Rhythm Changes Explained

Key Music Theory Terms

Listening Tips

How To Listen To Jazz

Styles / Genres

Esperanza Spalding – “Emily’s D+Evolution” (Full Concert)

YouTube Link
Summary: Grammy-winner Esperanza Spalding performs her unique blend of jazz, funk, and soul.
Cécile McLorin Salvant – “The Window” Album Preview

YouTube Link
Summary: A preview of Cécile McLorin Salvant’s acclaimed album, showcasing her vocal artistry.
Jazzmeia Horn – NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

YouTube Link
Summary: Jazzmeia Horn’s engaging performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk, highlighting her vocal range and expressiveness.
Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Trio – “Changin’ Up the Groove”

YouTube Link
Summary: Saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman showcases her multi-instrumental talent.
Yazz Ahmed – “La Saboteuse” Live at Le Guess Who? 2019

YouTube Link
Summary: Trumpeter Yazz Ahmed’s live performance blending Arabic musical traditions with modern jazz.
Lakecia Benjamin – “Pursuance: The Coltranes” Album Release Show

YouTube Link
Summary: Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin pays tribute to the Coltranes with her original approach to jazz.
Kandace Springs – “Soul Eyes” (Official Video)

YouTube Link
Summary: A music video by Kandace Springs, demonstrating her vocal prowess and piano skills.
Brandee Younger – “Wax & Wane”

YouTube Link
Summary: Harpist Brandee Younger’s performance, merging classical harp with contemporary jazz influences.

1. **”The Jazz Cadence of American Culture”** by Robert G. O’Meally
– [Link to Article](https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/oand93984)
– Summary: An examination of jazz’s impact on American culture and its role as a form of expression.

2. **”Jazz: A History”** by Frank Tirro
– [Link to Article](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1bmznq0)
– Summary: An in-depth historical review of jazz, exploring its roots, key figures, and musical evolution.

3. **”The Future of Jazz”** by Ted Gioia
– [Link to Article](https://academic.oup.com/oj/article/3/1/1/1543224)
– Summary: A forward-looking analysis of jazz, contemplating its future directions and continued relevance.

4. **”Improvisation and the Orchestra: A New Jazz Perspective”** by Raymond MacDonald and Graeme Wilson
– [Link to Article](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07494467.2019.1609280)
– Summary: Examines the interaction between jazz and orchestral music, and its implications for creative practice.

5. **”Jazz and Race in Colonial India”** by Brad Shope
– [Link to Article](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-musical-association/article/abs/jazz-and-race-in-colonial-india/1D9A8CC3D31C0EC8D9CABC6E5BD464CE)
– Summary: Explores the racial dynamics in the Indian jazz scene during colonial times and how it shaped the music industry.

6. **”Women in Jazz: Music Publishing and Marketing”** by Sherrie Tucker
– [Link to Article](https://jazzstudiesonline.org/resource/women-jazz-music-publishing-and-marketing)
– Summary: Discusses the role and influence of women in jazz, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in publishing and marketing.

7. **”Jazz on the Global Stage”** by Mark F. DeWitt
– [Link to Article](https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7tGfAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA239&dq=jazz+on+the+global+stage&ots=qrT5Cbzw03&sig=_3BMTiqAY_V4IYPQlraKKvZj2iQ)
– Summary: Analyzes the internationalization of jazz and how it has become a global phenomenon.

8. **”The Jazz Revolution of the 1960s”** by Ingrid Monson
– [Link to Article](https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-mus-092219-100331)
– Summary: An exploration of the transformational period of the 1960s in jazz, with focus on innovations and social contexts.

9. **”Digital Technology and the Future of Jazz”** by Roger T. Dean
– [Link to Article](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11098-006-9008-6)
– Summary: Investigates how digital technology is influencing jazz’s future, including new ways of composing, performing, and listening.

10. **”African Roots of Jazz”** by Eileen Southern
– [Link to Article](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1214482)
– Summary: Delves into the African origins of jazz and how they continue to influence the genre today.

Please let me know if you need information on more articles or additional assistance.

Recordings

These additions help to encapsulate a broader range of styles and periods within jazz, and they provide a more comprehensive picture of the genre’s evolution.

JAZZ

Understanding the Structure of Jazz: A Beginner’s Guide

Styles / Genres

Musicians

Jazz Tutorial Resources

Introduction to Jazz

Basic Jazz Forms

Key Music Theory Terms

Listening Tips

Styles / Genres

Recordings

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