Cool Jazz Artists

Question 1

Lennie Tristano

Answer 1

Blind Pianist
Influenced by Bach and CPE Bach, Tatum and Young
Long phrases, smooth lines
Not widely recorded
Taught many pupils to transcribe
Pre-dates free jazz

Question 2

Lee Konitz

Answer 2

Alto sax
Studied with Tristano
Incredible technique, brilliant tone, light and airy
Improvised counterpoint

Question 3

Miles Davis

Answer 3

BIRTH OF THE COOL (with nonet)

New approach to arr and playing

Question 4

Gil Evans

Answer 4

Pianist, composer, bandleader
Important arranger
Worked a lot with Miles
Influenced later arrs/com and film scorers

Question 5

Gerry Mulligan

Answer 5

??

Question 6

Stan Kenton

Answer 6

Good pianist, but more arr. and leader
Started in swing era
Later styles of “progressive jazz” & “jazz rock”
West Coast dude
Kenton Clinic reason why big band is in schools

Question 7

Hank Levy

Answer 7

Baritone sax in Kenton’s band
Wrote a ton of odd metered music
Unusual harmonies with lyrical themes
Started Jazz @ Towson

Question 8

Chet Baker

Answer 8

Prince of Cool
Trumpet, smooth mellow sound
Heroin kid in 50s 
Jacked up teef
Introverted

Question 9

Dave Brubeck

Answer 9

One of the only popular cool jazz pianists
Studied with Milhaud
Rhythmically similar to classical compostions
Time Out - unusual time signatures (Take 5)

Question 10

Paul Desmond

Answer 10

Alto sax
Melodic imporv
Light and soft timbre
No cliches, all original vocab

Question 11

Modern Jazz Quartet

Answer 11

Milt Jackson - vibes
John Lewis - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Connie Kay - drums