Final Exam Flashcards
Gerry Mulligan Quartet
- Founded in LA, 1952
- Gerry Mulligan was saxophonist/arranger
- Chet Baker was trumpeter/vocalist
- No pianist or guitarist to provide harmonic support
- Specialized in highly lyrical soloing, improvised counterpoint, and imitative textures between trumpet and saxophone
What was the Gerry Mulligan Quartet known for?
There was no pianist or guitarist to provide harmonic support.
The Modern Jazz Quartet
- Began as rhythm section for Dizzy Gillespie’s 1947 big band
- Formed in 1952
- Vibes- Milt Jackson
- Bass- Ray Brown
- Piano/ director- John Lewis
- Drums- Kenny Clarke
Third Stream Music
The fusion of the forms, techniques and instrumentation of Western classical music and those of modern Jazz
What did MJQ popularize?
Third Stream Music
What did the Dave Brubeck Quartet popularize?
Odd time signatures
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Pianist/Composer- Dave Brubeck
- Alo Sax- Paul Desmond
When was time out recorded?
1951
Who was Dave Brubeck influenced by?
Darius Milhaud
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
- Definitive ensemble of hard bop
- Art Blakey was a drummer
- Trumpeters- Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, and Wynton Marsalis
- Saxophonist Wayne Shorter
Describe Art Blakey’s Drumming style:
- dramatic use of the press role
- great contrast in dynamics
- elements of West African drumming
Who is Horace Silver?
-Most prolific composer in hard bop
Describe Horace Silver’s compositions
- Repetitive bass parts
- liberal use of the blues scales and blues tonalities
- harmonies associated with Gospel music
- singable melodies
- rhythms associated with latin music traditions
Who was Clifford Brown?
-Dominant virtuoso jazz trumpeter of the 1950’s
-He co-led a quintet with Max Roach
Died in a car accident in 1956
Who was Clifford Brown influenced by?
Fats Navarro
Describe Clifford Brown’s playing style:
- remarkable clarity at any tempo
- long improvised lines
- highly lyrical melodic content
- a feeling of warmth and optimism
What were two of Sonny Rollins’ most famous recordings?
“Saxophone Colossus” (1956) and “A Night at the Village Vanguard” (1957)
Who was Wes Montgomery?
He was an extension of Charlie Christian’s electric guitar work.
Describe Wes Montgomery’s style:
- Dark sound
- use of octaves
- chordal solos
What is Wes Montgomery”s most famous song?
“Jazz Guitar” (1960)
What were the the characteristics of hard bop?
1) Extensive use of blues and blue notes and blues scales
2) Use of call and response
3) Harmonies and chord progressions associated with gospel music and the black sanctified church
4) Strong backbeats which simulate the off the beat hand claps of gospel music congregations
5) Less reliance on contra-fact
6) Strong degree of vocalization in wind and string instruments
7) More dynamic use of the drums in rhythm sections
Who was Bill Evans?
- The most influential pianist of the late 50s and 60s
- Co-composer of Kind Of Blue
- Pioneered the “equal voiced” trio
What was an “equal voiced” trio?
The bass was often in a melodic dialogue with piano in addition to walking bass lines.
Scott LaFaro conceptualized this style
Ornette Coleman
- Alto Saxophonist
- Developed his style on the West Coast.
- Didn’t use conventional tuning or chord progression cycles to structure improvisation
- Pioneered free jazz with Billy Higgins (drummer), Don Cherry (trumpet), Charlie Haden (bassist)
- Swinging quarter note feel
- Head-solos-head format
- Premiered at the Five Spot in New York in 1959
- Most famous albums are “The Shape of Jazz To Come” “Change of the Century”
