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How to Listen to Jazz

Tags: #music #jazz #listening #appreciation #history

Authors: Ted Gioia

Overview

This book is a guide to listening to and appreciating jazz for both newcomers and experienced fans. I argue that the best way to understand jazz is through deep listening, focusing on the music itself rather than relying on theoretical concepts or received opinions. I begin by exploring the fundamental elements of jazz, including rhythm, phrasing, pitch and timbre, dynamics, and the expression of personality and spontaneity. I then trace the evolution of jazz through a variety of styles, from New Orleans jazz and swing to bebop and avant-garde. Along the way, I highlight the unique contributions of several key figures in jazz history, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. The book concludes with an exploration of the current jazz scene, emphasizing the vibrancy and diversity of the music in the 21st century. My goal in this book is not just to provide information about jazz, but to cultivate your ability to hear this music with greater discernment, and to open your ears to the many delights of this endlessly evolving art form.

Book Outline

1. Introduction

Music, especially jazz, is deeply mysterious and difficult to define. Even experts struggle to articulate the essence of this art form. Despite this, careful listening can demystify many of the intricacies and marvels of jazz. This deep listening must be cultivated in order to truly grasp the magic of the music.

Key concept: Extraterrestrials won’t waste time blowing up the Eiffel Tower and the White House. They will be too busy trying to figure out the significance of a Bach fugue, the rituals of the electronic dance music scene, and the rules of jazz improvisation

2. The Mystery of Rhythm

The most important element in jazz is its ecstatic rhythm. It is an almost magical quality that defies easy definition or analysis. You can grasp it best by listening deeply to the music and comparing the performances of amateur and professional bands. The best bands achieve a pleasing give-and-take that results in a holistic synergy emerging from the blending of individual personalities. The pulse of the music feels alive and potent.

Key concept: Listen a moment and then start right in.

3. Getting Inside the Music

To appreciate jazz, you must learn to listen at a deeper level, focusing on the fine-grained details of the music. This includes elements such as phrasing, pitch and timbre, dynamics, the expression of personality, and spontaneity. Each of these ingredients contributes to the overall impact of a jazz performance.

Key concept: “Mediocrity which claims to be intense has a peculiarly repulsive effect.”

4. The Structure of Jazz

Jazz, despite its improvisatory nature, follows certain structural patterns. Most jazz performances are built around a “theme and variations” structure, where a melody is stated, followed by improvisations over the song’s harmonic structure, and a final restatement of the theme.

Key concept: The vast majority of jazz performances follow a familiar pattern. You might call it “theme and variations”.

5. The Origins of Jazz

The origins of jazz are shrouded in mystery, but it’s likely that the music emerged from a mix of various influences, including blues, ragtime, and European musical traditions. The unique environment of early twentieth century New Orleans, a melting pot of cultures and a hub for musical innovation, played a crucial role in the birth of this new style.

Key concept: Jazz probably flourished for two decades, more or less, before the first African American bands were recorded in the early 1920s, but our understanding of this period is sketchy at best.

6. The Evolution of Jazz Styles

Jazz has evolved through a variety of distinct but interrelated styles, each with its own characteristic sounds, techniques, and personalities. The major styles include New Orleans jazz, Chicago jazz, Harlem stride piano, Kansas City jazz, big band jazz, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, avant-garde jazz, and jazz-rock fusion.

Key concept: NEW ORLEANS JAZZ: RECOMMENDED LISTENING

Louis Armstrong, “Heebie Jeebies,” February 26, 1926 Louis Armstrong, “Potato Head Blues,” May 10, 1927 Louis Armstrong, “Struttin’ with Some Barbecue,” December 9, 1927 Louis Armstrong, “West End Blues,” June 28, 1928 Sidney Bechet, “I’ve Found a New Baby,” September 15, 1932 Sidney Bechet, “Wild Cat Blues,” June 30, 1923 Johnny Dodds, “Perdido Street Blues,” July 13, 1926 Freddie Keppard, “Stock Yards Strut,” September, 1926 Jelly Roll Morton, “Black Bottom Stomp,” September 15, 1926 Jelly Roll Morton, “Sidewalk Blues,” September 21, 1926 King Oliver, “Dipper Mouth Blues,” April 6, 1923 King Oliver, “Froggie Moore,” April 6, 1923 Original Dixieland Jazz Band, “Livery Stable Blues,” February 26, 1917

7. A Closer Look at Some Jazz Innovators

To truly appreciate the artistry of individual jazz innovators, you must develop the ability to listen deeply to their music and understand their artistic vision. This chapter focuses on the unique contributions of several key figures in jazz history: Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, and Ornette Coleman.

Key concept: “Yes, I am the world’s greatest listener”, he announced in his autobiography.

8. Listening to Jazz Today

Despite the claims about the “death of jazz,” the contemporary jazz scene is vibrant and full of exciting new music. The music continues to evolve through the influence of globalization, hybridization with other musical traditions, professionalization, and rejuvenation through a dialogue with commercial music styles. This diversity and constant evolution are the lifeblood of jazz, and a great blessing for jazz fans. Always approach this music with a sense of optimism and high hopes, ready to be surprised.

Key concept: “Almost anything could happen tonight. Almost anything!”

9. Appendix: The Elite 150

An appendix listing 150 of today’s most notable early- and mid-career jazz musicians gives readers a starting point in their own exploration of the current jazz scene.

Key concept: The Elite 150 of Early- and Mid-Career Jazz Masters

Essential Questions

1. What are the underlying structures that govern jazz music, and how do these structures both constrain and liberate the musicians?

Jazz, though often perceived as a free-flowing, spontaneous art form, is actually built on a complex interplay of rhythmic and harmonic structures. These structures, however, are not rigid but rather serve as a framework for improvisation and creativity. The book explores the fundamental elements of these structures, from the twelve-bar blues to the thirty-two-bar song forms, and how jazz musicians utilize them as a foundation for their improvisations. Understanding these underlying structures provides listeners with a roadmap to navigate the seemingly spontaneous turns of a jazz performance.

2. How does the element of personal expression manifest itself in jazz, and how can listeners learn to identify the unique voices of individual artists?

The book posits that jazz is not just about technical proficiency but also about the expression of individual personality. Each of the great jazz innovators had a unique voice and style that emerged from their personal experiences, aesthetic sensibilities, and musical instincts. By analyzing the phrasing, tone, and improvisational choices of these artists, we can gain insights into their characters and their approaches to music-making. This personal dimension of jazz is what gives the music its emotional depth and enduring appeal.

3. How has jazz evolved over time, and what are the key stylistic innovations that have shaped the music throughout its history?

The evolution of jazz is characterized by a constant interplay between tradition and innovation, a willingness to embrace new ideas and influences while staying rooted in the core values of the music. The book traces this evolution through a variety of styles, from the early New Orleans jazz to the modern experimentation of jazz-rock fusion and beyond. Understanding this historical context helps listeners appreciate the diverse range of sounds and approaches that fall under the umbrella of “jazz” and how the music continues to evolve in the present day.

4. What are the key listening strategies that can help both newcomers and experienced fans get more out of their jazz listening experience?

The book argues that the best way to learn about and appreciate jazz is through deep listening. This involves going beyond passive consumption and actively engaging with the music, paying close attention to the nuances of rhythm, phrasing, tone, and dynamics. By developing their listening skills, audiences can gain a deeper understanding of the artistry of individual musicians and the collaborative interplay between band members. This active engagement with the music unlocks a whole new level of enjoyment and appreciation.

5. What is the state of jazz in the 21st century, and what are the key forces shaping the music today?

Contrary to claims about the “death of jazz,” the book argues that the music is alive and well in the 21st century. The contemporary jazz scene is characterized by globalization, hybridization with other musical traditions, the influence of professional jazz education, and a renewed dialogue with popular music. These forces have contributed to a vibrant and diverse jazz landscape, offering a vast array of sounds and styles to explore. The book encourages listeners to embrace this diversity and to approach the music with a sense of optimism and high hopes, ready to be surprised by the creative energy of the current generation of jazz musicians.

Key Takeaways

1. Jazz is a deeply personal art form, where individual musicians express their unique personalities and experiences through their improvisations.

This emphasis on the unique character of each musician’s playing encourages a deeper level of engagement with the music, moving beyond mere appreciation of technical skill to a more personal connection with the artist’s vision and creative expression.

Practical Application:

In the realm of AI and music generation, this principle suggests that rather than aiming for perfect replication of existing styles, AI models should be designed to capture the essence of a style while allowing for spontaneity and individual expression. This could lead to the creation of truly novel and exciting musical experiences that push the boundaries of the genre.

2. Jazz is not a monolithic genre, but rather a rich tapestry of interconnected styles, each with its own unique history, characteristics, and key figures.

By understanding these various stylistic nuances, listeners can develop a more sophisticated and nuanced appreciation for the music, recognizing the unique characteristics of each style and the historical context from which it emerged. This historical awareness is crucial for understanding the evolution of the music and appreciating the diversity of expression within the jazz tradition.

Practical Application:

For AI engineers working on music recommendation systems, understanding the nuances of jazz styles is crucial for providing accurate and personalized suggestions to users. This involves training AI models to identify the key characteristics of different jazz styles, including their rhythmic patterns, harmonic structures, and tonal qualities, in order to match users with music that aligns with their preferences.

3. Jazz is a music of constant evolution and innovation, always open to new influences and ideas.

By embracing a wider range of influences and perspectives, the music avoids stagnation and continues to evolve in fresh and exciting directions. This open-ended and adaptable quality of jazz is part of what makes the music so compelling and relevant in the 21st century.

Practical Application:

In the context of AI, this principle highlights the importance of training AI models on diverse datasets that encompass the full range of human creativity and expression. This could involve exposing AI systems to a wide variety of musical genres, cultural traditions, and artistic styles in order to expand their creative horizons and enable them to generate truly novel and original outputs.

4. The key to appreciating jazz is not through intellectual analysis or theoretical knowledge but through deep listening, focusing on the music itself and how it makes you feel.

This deep listening approach helps us unlock the mysteries of the music, appreciate the artistry of individual musicians, and experience the full emotional and intellectual depth of jazz.

Practical Application:

This deep listening approach has valuable applications in AI, particularly in areas like natural language processing and speech recognition. By training AI models to go beyond surface-level analysis and focus on the nuances of intonation, phrasing, and emotional expression, we can develop AI systems that are more attuned to the subtleties of human communication.

5. Jazz thrives on spontaneity and improvisation, and the most memorable jazz performances are those in which the musicians are fully present in the moment, creating something new and unexpected.

This element of unpredictability and the potential for transformative musical moments is what makes live jazz so captivating. It emphasizes the importance of experiencing the music firsthand, in a setting where the musicians are free to explore and create in real time.

Practical Application:

This concept has direct relevance to the development of AI systems, particularly in areas like generative music and improvisational AI. By focusing on creating AI models that can improvise and respond in real time, just like human jazz musicians, we can push the boundaries of creative AI and potentially generate entirely new forms of music that we can’t even imagine today.

Suggested Deep Dive

Chapter: Six: A Closer Look at Some Jazz Innovators

This chapter provides a deep dive into the individual artistry and influence of eight key jazz innovators, illuminating how they shaped the music and inspired subsequent generations. This deep dive into the biographies and musical innovations of these figures can provide valuable insights for AI product engineers working on music analysis, generation, and recommendation systems, demonstrating the interplay of personal expression, technical mastery, and stylistic innovation that drives the evolution of jazz.

Memorable Quotes

One: The Mystery of Rhythm. 1

“How do I know when to enter? When do I start playing?”

Introduction. 7

“Listening is the most important thing in music.”

Introduction. 13

With mouthwatering black and blue fruits distinctly tinged by fruit pits, smoked meat, chalk, and a medicinal iodine note, this formidably concentrated wine never forgets its duty to refresh.

Two: Getting Inside the Music. 43

“I’m going to give you one note today,” Bechet told his surprised pupil. “See how many ways you can play that note—growl it, smear it, flat it, sharp it, do anything you want to it. That’s how you express your feelings in this music. It’s like talking.”

Six: A Closer Look at Some Jazz Innovators. 165

“Yes, I am the world’s greatest listener”, he announced in his autobiography.

Comparative Analysis

How to Listen to Jazz stands out for its emphasis on deep, intuitive listening as the key to appreciating this complex and often misunderstood art form. Unlike more academic texts that focus heavily on music theory, this book emphasizes the emotional and experiential aspects of jazz, encouraging readers to develop their listening skills through careful attention to rhythm, phrasing, tone, and personality. While books like The History of Jazz by Gioia or Jazz: A Century of Change by Lewis Porter offer comprehensive historical overviews, How to Listen to Jazz focuses on the subjective experience of the music, providing practical strategies for cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation. The book also distinguishes itself through its exploration of the interplay between the individual artist’s vision and the collaborative nature of the music, offering a nuanced perspective on the creative process within the jazz tradition.

Reflection

How to Listen to Jazz is a compelling guide for those seeking a deeper connection with this rich musical tradition. It emphasizes the importance of approaching jazz through intuitive listening, encouraging a more personal and experiential understanding of the music. However, the book’s strong focus on subjective experience could be viewed as both a strength and a weakness. While it effectively captures the emotional and personal dimensions of jazz, it might leave readers wanting a more rigorous analysis of the technical aspects of the music. Additionally, the book’s focus on the “heroic age” of jazz might overshadow the contributions of female and non-American musicians, whose stories and innovations deserve equal attention. Nevertheless, Gioia’s enthusiastic and accessible approach makes this book a valuable resource for both casual listeners and aspiring jazz aficionados, ultimately contributing to a greater understanding and appreciation of this endlessly fascinating art form.

Flashcards

What is the most common thirty-two-bar song form in American popular music and jazz?

AABA

Define ‘Syncopation’.

A deliberate disruption in the flow of music, typically achieved by placing rhythmic emphasis between the beats

What is a useful technique for analyzing the specific tones, or pitch and timbre, in a jazz performance?

Playing a song or solo at half speed to discern details and subtleties.

What is the first thing you should listen for in a jazz performance?

Listen for the degree of rhythmic cohesion between the different musicians in the band.

What is the second key element to focus on when listening to jazz?

Pay attention to how the musicians shape their phrases.

What is the best way to approach the music of avant-garde jazz artists like Ornette Coleman?

To take in the music as an experience and focus on feeling the music rather than dissecting its theoretical aspects.

What style of jazz is characterized by a relaxed, laid-back swing and solos that prioritize melodic development?

Kansas City Jazz

How did jazz phrasing evolve between the 1920s and the 1930s?

Musicians playing long, complex phrases that extend across bar lines and structural demarcations in the music.

What creates the most characteristic moment in an early New Orleans jazz performance?

The interplay of three horns: the trumpet playing declarative melodies, the trombone supporting with forceful outbursts, and the clarinet adding ornamental phrases.