humanities 17 Flashcards
one of the most gifted jazz musicians of the years immediately following the end of World War II. Talented from his teenage years, he pioneered the idea of improvisation in jazz, which in turn acted as a major influence for both later jazz musicians as well as the 1940s hipster subculture. Still, his addictions caught up with him, leaving the musician dead in his patroness’s hotel room at the age of 34.
Charlie “Bird” Parker
What subculture did Charlie Parker most heavily influence?
hipsters
Why was Charlie Parker’s musical style distinctive?
He made use of improvisations, movements on classic pieces that often seemed random.
Which musicians was influenced by Charlie Parker?
Miles Davis
famous trumpeter and composer and winner of nine Grammy Awards, ruled the world of jazz for many years.
Miles Davis
As a student of New York’s Julliard School of Music, Davis became famous for his improvisation, in which he composed music in the moment. Rather than playing with vibrato, or slight variations of one note or pitch, Davis preferred bebop - fast-paced, improvised harmonies and melodies.
In the ’50s, Davis released such works as Birth of the Cool, Porgy and Bess, and Kind of Blue, one of the best-selling jazz records of all time!
During the ’60s, Davis composed in the style of jazz fusion, a mixture of jazz and rock music. Bitches Brew, a Davis jazz-fusion album, earned the artist the cover of Rolling Stone.
In 1985 he released You’re Under Arrest which included jazz renditions of ’80s pop hits.
Davis won a 1986 Grammy for his album Tutu and a 1989 Grammy for his album Aura. He also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Miles Davis died in 1991 at the age of 65.
For the success of which album was Davis featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine?
Bitches Brew
What is jazz fusion?
a blending of jazz and rock music
How did Davis’ trumpeting style set him apart other legendary trumpet players?
He played bebop which is fast-paced, incorporating improvised harmonies and melodies.
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was one of the great jazz musicians of the 20th century, known for his incredible skills as an improvisational trumpet player.
Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy’s emotional melodies, performed at rapid tempos, required a mixture of pure talent, instinct, and intellect that few musicians since have been able to match. He was an instrumental figure in the style of jazz called bebop, characterized by a fast tempo and complex melodies. However, he was also active in Afro-Cuban jazz, the mixture of American jazz with Caribbean and Latin rhythms, instruments, and sounds. Unlike bebop, Afro-Cuban jazz is made for dancing. It’s not easy to transition back and forth between styles like that, but Dizzy Gillespie did. And he did it all with puffed cheeks and a bent trumpet.
What skill was Dizzy Gillespie famous for as a trumpet player?
His ability to improvise on the spot.
Dizzy Gillespie also played Afro-Cuban jazz. How does this type of jazz differ from bebop?
Afro-Cuban jazz is considered dance music.
Charlie Parker’s nickname was _____, while Louis Armstrong’s nickname was _____.
Bird; Satchmo
How did Charlie Parker influence jazz?
His syncopation and sense of movement greatly influenced jazz.
Where did Louis Armstrong first hear the trumpet and fall in love with music?
A reform school for boys
What popular band did Louis Armstrong knock out of the number one spot on the Billboard 100 with his hit Hello Dolly?
The Beatles
Which jazz musician adapted Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’ into the Broadway musical ‘Kiss Me Kate’?
Cole Porter
How does the background of Leonard Bernstein differ from that of Rogers and Hart or Cole Porter?
He had a background as a conductor of world-class orchestras.
Which of these works is credited to Leonard Bernstein?
West Side Story
Cole Porter’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’ was inspired by _____.
the Taming of the Shrew
Rodgers is known for his work with both _____ and _____.
Hart and Hammerstein
Which of these was the first Broadway hit musical written by Cole Porter?
Gay Divorce
What was Sondheim’s first major commercial success?
West Side STory
Why were Sondheim’s musicals so popular?
He was able to simply, yet effectively display a character’s emotions.
What characterizes Sondheim’s lyrics?
The conversational tone and flow