Jazz essays response PDF

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In-class essay response to topic covered in the course....

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Jazz Essay Qs

Q: In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman was crowned the King of Swing. How did the white native Chicagoan rise to this achievement? Identify the contributions of Hammond and Fletcher in his success. Also explain the role of the radio. A: Benny Goodman was a white Chicago native on May 30th, 1909 who played the clarinet and alto sax. His early music studies were in his local synagogue and later the Chicago Hull House. Goodman eventually joined Ben Pollack’s Orchestra and did a good deal of recording with them. Goodman got into jazz at the suggestion of John Hammond along with other musicians, and his true big break came in 1934 when he put together his band. Benny’s band booked a spot on the radio show ‘Let’s Dance’ and this is probably the achievement that Goodman is most successful for. The radio had become a household item during the 1930s, so the Goodman band was able to get huge amounts of exposure. During his time on the radio show, Benny made one of the smartest decisions of his entire career: he hired Fletcher Henderson to help teach and make arrangements for his band. Fletcher’s arrangement were hot and the style of the pieces came to be known as swing. This is how Goodman got the nickname ‘King of Swing’. Goodman is also credited for having the racially integrated jazz band, his quartet which formed in 1936. Q: The Count Basie Orchestra was known as the “swingin’est band in the land” and the most iconic orchestra in jazz history. Name the four members of the rhythm section and describe characteristics of KC Jazz. Name two other famous horn players/vocalists who made the ensemble unforgettable A: The Count Basie Orchestra has an All American rhythm section that greatly contribute to their success. The members of the rhythm section include: Count Basie himself on piano, Freddie Green on the guitar, Walter Page on the bass, and Jo Jones on the drums. There are five main characteristics of Kansas City

jazz. The first characteristic is that it is blues-based. This is because Kansas City is a blues region. The second characteristic of Kansas City jazz is that it includes a great deal of call-and-response music. The third characteristics is that this form of jazz makes use of a lot of riffs. A riff is a short, repeated, two or three note rhythmic figure. The fourth characteristic is the shuffle rhythm. The fifth, and final, characteristic of Kansas City jazz is the use of the saxophone. Two other figures who have helped make this ensemble unforgettable are Billie Holiday and Lester Young. Holiday served as a singer for the band in the 1930s and her unique voice and style brought much popularity to the group. Lester Young was a famous saxophonist and his playing helped to give the band its unique sound....