Jazz for Dummies (ISBN - 0471768448)

386 Pages·2021·4.76 MB·English

by Dirk Sutro

Jazz

FOR

DUMmIES

‰

2ND EDITION

01_768448 ffirs.qxp 5/23/06 6:15 PM Page i

02_768448 ftoc.qxp 5/23/06 6:17 PM Page vi

by Dirk Sutro

Jazz

FOR

DUMmIES

‰

2ND EDITION

01_768448 ffirs.qxp 5/23/06 6:15 PM Page i

Jazz For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permit-
ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written
permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the
Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax [phone].
Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing,
Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, 317-572-3447, fax [phone], or online at http://
www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the
Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com and related trade
dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United
States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor
mentioned in this book.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REP-
RESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CON-
TENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CRE-
ATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CON-
TAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR
OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A
COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE
AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION
OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUR-
THER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFOR-
MATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE.
FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE
CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ.

For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care
Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax [phone].

For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may
not be available in electronic books.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2006922428

ISBN-13: 978-0-471-76844-9

ISBN-10: 0-471-76844-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2B/RS/QW/QW/IN

01_768448 ffirs.qxp 5/23/06 6:15 PM Page ii

About the Author

Dirk Sutro is a writer and jazz lover based in Encinitas, California. He’s cov-
ered jazz for more than 20 years. As host of The Lounge on KPBS-FM public
radio in San Diego from 1999 to 2004, Dirk interviewed jazz musicians includ-
ing Arthur Blythe, Don Byron, Holly Hofmann, Lee Konitz, Mundell Lowe,
Bennie Maupin, Steve Lacy, Joe Lovano, Charles McPherson, Sam Rivers, and
Mike Wofford. He was the jazz critic for the San Diego edition of the Los
Angeles Times from 1988 to 1992 and is the author of two books about archi-
tecture: West Coast Wave: New California Houses and San Diego Architecture
from Missions to Modern. He currently serves as program promotion manager
for the Department of Music at the University of California, San Diego. He’s a
graduate of U.C. Berkeley (BA in English) and San Diego State University (MS
in Mass Communications).

Author’s Acknowledgments

Thanks to those who have stoked my interest in jazz over the years: Craig
Huntington, Jon Hendricks, Todd Barkan and his Keystone Korner, and San
Francisco Chronicle jazz critic Thomas Albright. Also to those who have
encouraged, informed, and inspired me: My parents, Dr. Henry A. and Joann
Sutro; Grandpa and Grandma Sutro; Grandpa and Grandma Freeman; Jack
Freeman; Anthony Davis; Mark Dresser; Holly Hofmann; Chubby Jackson;
Tom Judson; Barney and Phyllis Kessel; Charles McPherson; Moody and
Linda; Peter Sprague; Tony Vick; Bill Wilson; and Mike Wofford.

Love and thanks for the patience to my wife and sounding board, Sally; my
daughters, Hannah and Semira; and their mother, Berta Harris.

01_768448 ffirs.qxp 5/23/06 6:15 PM Page iii

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration
form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media
Development

Project Editor: Georgette Beatty

(Previous Edition: Clark Scheffy)

Acquisitions Editor: Kathleen M. Cox

Copy Editor: Carrie A. Burchfield

(Previous Edition: Diane Smith)

Editorial Program Coordinator: Hanna K. Scott

Technical Editor: Mark Buselli

Editorial Manager: Michelle Hacker

Editorial Assistants: Erin Calligan, Nadine Bell

Cover Photo: ©Art Becker/Getty Images

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5th

wave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Jennifer Theriot

Layout and Graphics: Andrea Dahl, Brian

Drumm, Clint Lahnen, Barbara Moore,
Barry Offringa, Lynsey Osborn, Alicia B.
South

Proofreaders: Jessica Kramer,

Christine Pingleton, Techbooks

Indexer: Techbooks

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

01_768448 ffirs.qxp 5/23/06 6:15 PM Page iv

Contents at a Glance

Introduction .................................................................1

Part I: All That Jazz: A Tour of the Basics.......................7

Chapter 1: In the Beginning: Entering the World of Jazz ...............................................9
Chapter 2: Altered Ears: Understanding the Traits and Roots of Jazz ......................15
Chapter 3: The Scheme of Things: Elements of Jazz Theory......................................31
Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade: The Instruments of Jazz .............................................47
Part II: Jazz Greats and Great Jazz: An Evolutionary Riff....69

Chapter 5: The Birth of an American Music: Jazz into the 1920s...............................71
Chapter 6: The Golden Era of Big Band Swing: The 1930s and Beyond ....................93
Chapter 7: Bebop to Cool: The 1940s and 1950s ........................................................115
Chapter 8: A Radical Departure: The 1960s and 1970s..............................................143
Chapter 9: The Perfect Hybrid: Latin Jazz...................................................................165
Chapter 10: Looking Ahead: The Present and Future of Jazz ...................................183
Part III: The Beat Goes On: Jazz Appreciation 101......197

Chapter 11: Mass Appeal: Taking Note of Jazz in Popular Culture ..........................199
Chapter 12: Good Times: Jazzing Up Any Dinner Party ............................................213
Chapter 13: Lovin’ It Live: A Jazz Concert Survival Guide ........................................227
Chapter 14: Traveling Jazz: Your Ticket to the Best Festivals..................................241
Part IV: I Like the Way You Play: The Jazz Musician...253

Chapter 15: Feeding the Jazz Jones: Advice for Aspiring Players............................255
Chapter 16: So You Wanna Be in a Band: Fitting into a Jazz Ensemble ...................269
Chapter 17: Digital Jazz: Making Music in High-Tech Times.....................................291
Part V: The Part of Tens ............................................301

Chapter 18: Ten Great Cities for Jazz...........................................................................303
Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Building and Enjoying a Jazz Collection...........................317
Part VI: Appendixes ..................................................327

Appendix A: More Than 100 Recommended Jazz Titles ...........................................329
Appendix B: Trustworthy Jazz Labels .........................................................................335
Appendix C: Resources for Further Jazz Enlightenment...........................................341
Index .......................................................................351

02_768448 ftoc.qxp 5/23/06 6:17 PM Page v

02_768448 ftoc.qxp 5/23/06 6:17 PM Page vi

Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................1

About This Book...............................................................................................1
Conventions Used in This Book .....................................................................2
What You’re Not to Read.................................................................................3
Foolish Assumptions .......................................................................................3
How This Book Is Organized...........................................................................3

Part I: All That Jazz: A Tour of the Basics ...........................................3
Part II: Jazz Greats and Great Jazz: An Evolutionary Riff ..................4
Part III: The Beat Goes On: Jazz Appreciation 101 .............................4
Part IV: I Like the Way You Play: The Jazz Musician ..........................4
Part V: The Part of Tens.........................................................................4
Part VI: Appendixes................................................................................5

Icons Used in This Book..................................................................................5
Where to Go from Here....................................................................................5

Part I: All That Jazz: A Tour of the Basics .......................7

Chapter 1: In the Beginning: Entering the World of Jazz . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Delving into Jazz’s Characteristics and Roots..............................................9
Getting the Lowdown on Jazz Theory.........................................................11
Familiarizing Yourself with the Instruments of Jazz..................................11
Meeting Jazz Greats throughout History ....................................................12
Becoming a Fan ..............................................................................................13
Playing Your Heart Out..................................................................................14

Chapter 2: Altered Ears: Understanding the Traits
and Roots of Jazz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Defining Jazz: The Swingin’ Thing................................................................16

Swing and syncopation........................................................................16
Improvisation........................................................................................17
Bent notes and innovative modes......................................................18
Distinctive voices .................................................................................19

Back in the Golden Days: Digging the Roots of Jazz..................................20

Adapting West African traditions .......................................................20
Borrowing from European classics ....................................................21
Adding some blues...............................................................................23

The Real Deal: Appreciating Genuine Jazz..................................................24

Tapping the rhythm section................................................................25
Hearing harmony and melody ............................................................26
Comparing jazz’s musical personalities ............................................26

02_768448 ftoc.qxp 5/23/06 6:17 PM Page vii

New Edition: Updating the Jazz Tradition...................................................28

Considering avant garde, free, and acid jazz ....................................28
Linking to other relevant music forms ..............................................28

Chapter 3: The Scheme of Things: Elements of Jazz Theory . . . . . . . .31

Playing in Bars: Basic Song Structures........................................................31

Getting the hang of 12-bar blues ........................................................32
Examining the 32-bar format...............................................................34
Tuning your ears to different forms in jazz.......................................35

Moving with the Music: Swing, Syncopation, and Polyrhythms ..............36

Swing and syncopation: Messing around with the beat..................37
Polyrhythms: Tension and release.....................................................39

Just Wingin’ It: Methods of Improv..............................................................41

Finding inspiration in melodies..........................................................42
Experimenting with chords.................................................................43
Scaling the heights of jazz...................................................................44
Conversing with call and response....................................................45

Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade: The Instruments of Jazz . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Blow Out: Brass and Reeds...........................................................................47

Feeling saxy: Jazz’s signature sound..................................................47
Brassy cousins: Cornets and trumpets .............................................51
Sliding sounds: Trombones.................................................................52
Starring in the swing era: Clarinets....................................................53
On the edge of jazz: Flutes ..................................................................55

Strumming Along: Strings..............................................................................57

Building the foundation: The standup bass......................................57
Connecting with current: The electric bass......................................58
Picking it up: Guitars............................................................................58

Pound Away: Percussion...............................................................................61

Drums through the ages......................................................................61
Good vibes ............................................................................................64

Tickling the Ebonies and Ivories: Keyboards .............................................66

The piano’s many talents ....................................................................66
The organ as the piano’s soulful alter ego ........................................67

Part II: Jazz Greats and Great Jazz:
An Evolutionary Riff....................................................69

Chapter 5: The Birth of an American Music: Jazz into the 1920s . . . .71

Blending the Ingredients of Jazz in New Orleans.......................................71
We Were Here First: Jazz’s Earliest Musicians............................................73

Buddy Bolden and his powerful cornet.............................................73
Other Bolden-era innovators ..............................................................74

Jazz For Dummies, 2nd Edition
viii

02_768448 ftoc.qxp 5/23/06 6:17 PM Page viii