MUS 122 Midterm Review: Chapters 1-3

Blues and Jazz Pioneers

• Bessie Smith: Renowned classic and vaudeville blues singer, influential in the development of the genre.
• Ma’ Rainey: Known as the 'Mother of the Blues,' a classic blues singer who helped shape the genre.
• Robert Johnson: Iconic country blues singer and guitarist, celebrated for his profound impact on the blues.
• Frank and Irene Castle: White couple who sanitized popular dances for white audiences, facilitating the mainstream spread of ragtime.
• James Reese Europe: Black bandleader and composer, collaborated with the Castles to popularize Black music.
• Buddy Bolden: First significant jazz musician, a cornetist without any recordings to document his contributions.
• Scott Joplin: The most famous ragtime composer, pivotal in the genre's establishment.
• Joe ‘King’ Oliver: Influential cornetist and bandleader who mentored Louis Armstrong, known for mute techniques.
• Freddie Keppard: Cornet player who refused to record first jazz music due to fears of idea theft.
• Nick LaRocca: Cornetist from the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, controversially claimed to have invented jazz.
• Jelly Roll Morton: An early ragtime and jazz pianist recognized for his role in notating arrangements in jazz.
• Paul Whiteman: Described as the 'King of Jazz,' merged jazz with symphonic forms; hired Fletcher Henderson as an arranger.
• Original Dixieland Jazz Band: First jazz band to record an album in 1917, comprised solely of white musicians.
• James P. Johnson: Recognized as the father of stride piano, known for compositions like 'Carolina Shout'.
• Sidney Bechet: A pioneering soprano saxophonist and clarinetist, key figure in New Orleans jazz.
• W.C. Handy: Often called the 'Father of the Blues,' known for 'St. Louis Blues', and was inspired by the blues heard at a railway station.

Genres and Styles

• Country Blues: Defined by a solo male performer, loose form with three-line stanzas recounting personal narratives.
• Classic/Vaudeville Blues: Female vocalists supported by small bands, followed a strict 12-bar form, featured in theaters.
• Scat Singing: Vocal technique characterized by improvisation using nonsensical syllables.
• Syncopation: Rhythmic structure that emphasizes off-beats, often creating a tension against the primary meter.
• Collective Improvisation: Multiple musicians improvising together to create a unique sound.
• New Orleans Style Jazz: Emphasized polyphony and collective improvisation, emerging in the early 1900s.

Influential Figures and Development

• Great Migration: Movement of African Americans from the South to the North, promoting jazz's popularity nationwide.
• Prohibition Era: Resulted in increased demand for live music in speakeasies, affecting jazz's evolution.
• Stride Piano: Developed from ragtime, featuring alternating bass notes and syncopated melodies.
• Tin Pan Alley: Collection of composers in NYC shaping popular music in the early 1900s.

Swing Era and Evolution

• Louis Armstrong: Multifaceted talent known for vocals and cornet; pivotal in establishing the blues as jazz's harmonic base and shifting focus to individual solos.
• Hot Five and Hot Seven: Armstrong-led ensembles that revolutionized jazz with a focus on solo performance rather than group improvisation.
• Swing (1935-1945): Dominant popular music genre characterized by big bands, high-energy rhythms, and improvisational freedom.
• Lindy Hop: Dance style created in the swing era, encouraging individual expression through improvisation.
• Chick Webb: Notable drummer and bandleader at the Savoy Ballroom, playing a crucial role in the swing era.
• Head Arrangement: Informal big band arrangements learned by ear, allowing for improvisation and audience engagement.

Key Collaborations and Contributions

• Benny Goodman: Clarinetist and swing bandleader known for leading the first integrated jazz band tours.
• Teddy Wilson: Pianist in Goodman's Trio, recognized as the first Black musician in an integrated group.
• John Hammond: Jazz patron who significantly supported various musicians and ensembles throughout the genre’s development.
• Other notable bandleaders: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, and Cab Calloway, each contributing uniquely to the evolution of jazz.