Definitions Of Jazz Words Flashcards
Added notes
Pitches that are added to a basic triad, without following the usual pattern of stacking extensions in 3rds.
Bebop
A style of jazz that appeared in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s, with a focus on smaller groups, fast tempo, and virtuosic improvisation over complex chord sequences.
Big band/swing
A style of jazz (developing in the 1920s and 1930s) focused on large ensemble arrangements and generally intended to provide an accompaniment to dancing.
Blue note
A note (usually the 3rd, 5th or 7th scale degrees) that has been flattened in relation to its normal pitch to clash slightly with the harmony, resulting in a ‘bluesy’ effect.
Blues
A style of African-American music that appeared in the late nineteenth century and that combined flexible African approaches to pitch and rhythm with aspects of European tonal harmony.
Chord symbols
A shortened system of notating harmony that tells the player which notes should be included in the chord without indicating a specific voicing or arrangement of pitches.
Civil rights movements
The political struggle in the United States against racial discrimination and segregation.
Cool jazz/west coast jazz
A style of jazz that is related to bebop but that has a more relaxed approach, created through the use of slower tempos and quieter dynamics.
Cool jazz sometimes features larger ensemble arrangements and classical music influences.
Extended chords
Chords with further pitches added to the basic triad or 7th, including 9ths, 11ths and 13ths.
Free jazz
A radical style of jazz that appeared in the 1960s, in which performers improvise freely, without any reference to a clear chord sequence or, in some cases, even a rhythmic pulse.
Fusion/jazz rock
A mixture of jazz with other popular music genres, including rock, funk and soul.
Gypsy jazz
A style of jazz developed in France in the 1930s, focused on the use of acoustic guitars, violin and double bass.
Hard bop
A style of jazz that is similar to bebop but with less emphasis on speed and a stronger blues influence.
Improvisation
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Jam session
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