Jazz Quiz Questions & Answers
Jazz Music
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Think you know everything about jazz music? Test your knowledge with our comprehensive overview of jazz music quiz! From the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the development of bebop, modal jazz, and free jazz, this quiz covers all the different styles and genres that have emerged over time. Learn...
Think you know everything about jazz music? Test your knowledge with our comprehensive overview of jazz music quiz! From the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the development of bebop, modal jazz, and free jazz, this quiz covers all the different styles and genres that have emerged over time. Learn about the key players who have made significant contributions to jazz, and explore the cultural and historical context that has shaped this unique form of art. With questions that cover everything from rhythm and harmony to improvisation and musical
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1. What is the origin of jazz music?
- It originated in New Orleans in the 19th and 20th centuries with roots in blues and ragtime.
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2. What is the defining element of jazz music?
- Improvisation
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3. What are swing and blue notes?
- Characteristics of jazz music
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4. What is bebop?
- A style of jazz music characterized by complex melodies and chord progressions
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5. What is modal jazz?
- A style of jazz that takes the mode or musical scale as the basis of musical structure and improvisation
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6. What is the significance of women and Jewish Americans in jazz history?
- They have made significant contributions to jazz music throughout its history, although their contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued.
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7. What is the main characteristic of hard bop?
- Incorporation of influences from blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel
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8. What is the significance of New Orleans in jazz history?
- New Orleans had a profound effect on the creation of early jazz and was mostly performed in African-American and mulatto communities due to segregation laws.
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9. What is the significance of the prohibition era in jazz history?
- It resulted in illicit speakeasies which became lively venues of the 'Jazz Age'.
Jazz Music
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Think you know everything about jazz music? Test your knowledge with our comprehensive overview of jazz music quiz! From the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the development of bebop, modal jazz, and free jazz, this quiz covers all the different styles and genres that have emerged over time. Learn...
Think you know everything about jazz music? Test your knowledge with our comprehensive overview of jazz music quiz! From the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the development of bebop, modal jazz, and free jazz, this quiz covers all the different styles and genres that have emerged over time. Learn about the key players who have made significant contributions to jazz, and explore the cultural and historical context that has shaped this unique form of art. With questions that cover everything from rhythm and harmony to improvisation and musical
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1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of jazz music?
- Simple chords
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2. What is the origin of the word 'jazz'?
- It comes from a slang term meaning 'pep, energy'
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3. Which of the following musical genres did NOT influence the development of jazz?
- Hip-hop
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4. What is the significance of the habanera rhythm in African-American music?
- It reinforced the use of tresillo-based rhythms
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5. Which musician is credited with developing an innovative musical idiom for his orchestra, which he called American Music?
- Duke Ellington
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6. Which style of jazz shifted the emphasis from harmony to melody?
- Modal jazz
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7. Which genre of jazz introduced clave, an African timeline or key pattern, into jazz?
- Afro-Cuban jazz
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8. Which style of jazz was described as 'funky'?
- Hard bop
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9. Which musician's early work was a major contributor to the development of free jazz?
- Ornette Coleman
Swingin' with Jazz
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Test your knowledge of jazz standards with our fun and informative quiz! From the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the most recorded jazz standard of all time, "Caravan," this quiz covers a range of topics related to the beloved genre. Whether you're a jazz aficionado or just starting to explore th...
Test your knowledge of jazz standards with our fun and informative quiz! From the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the most recorded jazz standard of all time, "Caravan," this quiz covers a range of topics related to the beloved genre. Whether you're a jazz aficionado or just starting to explore the world of jazz music, this quiz will challenge and entertain you. So put on your thinking cap and get ready to swing with our jazz standards quiz!
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1. What are jazz standards?
- Compositions performed by jazz musicians and listeners
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2. Which musical traditions contributed to the origins of jazz?
- Brass band music, blues, ragtime, and spirituals
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3. What is the most recorded standard composed by a jazz musician?
- Caravan
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4. Which musical genres are jazz standards not limited to?
- Jazz composers, Broadway show tunes, Hollywood musicals, and Tin Pan Alley
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5. What is the most popular 1930s standard?
- Body and Soul
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6. Which movement fused jazz with other musical styles, most famously funk and rock?
- Jazz fusion movement
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7. Which musicians often used 1930s standards as part of their repertoire?
- Bebop musicians
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8. Which quintet recorded a series of highly acclaimed albums in the mid-to-late 1960s?
- Davis's 'second great quintet'
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9. Which standards repertoire has some overlap with blues and pop standards?
- Jazz standards repertoire
Test Your Knowledge
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Think you know all about Bebop jazz? Test your knowledge with our quiz! From its origins in the 1940s to its influence on modern music, this quiz will cover everything from the key players to the legacy of this iconic genre. Impress your friends with your knowledge of complex harmonies, syncopation,...
Think you know all about Bebop jazz? Test your knowledge with our quiz! From its origins in the 1940s to its influence on modern music, this quiz will cover everything from the key players to the legacy of this iconic genre. Impress your friends with your knowledge of complex harmonies, syncopation, and improvisation, and discover the sociological movement that was also an intellectual subculture. Take the quiz and see if you're a true Bebop expert!
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1. What is bebop?
- A subgenre of jazz music
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2. What features characterize bebop?
- Fast tempos, complex chord progressions, and improvisation
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3. What was the role of rhythm sections in bebop?
- Expanded their role
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4. Which instruments were typically part of classic bebop groups?
- Saxophone, trumpet, piano, guitar, double bass, and drums
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5. What was the typical structure of a bebop composition?
- Melody with accompaniment, improvisation, return to melody
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6. Who were some of the most influential bebop artists?
- Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, James Moody, Buddy DeFranco, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Christian, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, and Art Blakey
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7. What was the influence of bebop on jazz styles that followed?
- It influenced the development of progressive jazz, cool jazz, and hard bop styles
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8. What was the sociological impact of bebop?
- Its intellectual subculture confronted the racial divide by lampooning it
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9. What was the influence of bebop on hip-hop?
- Bebop samples, especially bass lines, ride cymbal swing clips, and horn and piano riffs are found throughout the hip-hop compendium
Swing Through Time
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Do you know your swing from your bebop? Test your knowledge with our quiz on the history and evolution of swing music. From the origins of swing in the 1920s to its revival in the 1990s, this quiz covers the major players, styles, and innovations that shaped this popular form of jazz. Whether you're...
Do you know your swing from your bebop? Test your knowledge with our quiz on the history and evolution of swing music. From the origins of swing in the 1920s to its revival in the 1990s, this quiz covers the major players, styles, and innovations that shaped this popular form of jazz. Whether you're a die-hard swing fan or just getting into the genre, this quiz will challenge and entertain you. So put on your dancing shoes and let's swing!
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1. What is swing music?
- A style of jazz that emphasizes the off-beat and features soloists who improvise on the melody over the arrangement
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2. Who were some of the jazz musicians of the swing era?
- Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Django Reinhardt
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3. What is the Dixieland revival?
- A self-conscious re-creation of New Orleans jazz in reaction against the orchestrated style of big band swing
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4. What is swing dancing?
- A style of partner dance that originated in the late 1920s as the Lindy Hop
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5. What is gypsy swing?
- An outgrowth of the jazz violin swing of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, and was heard in the music of guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli
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6. What is electro swing?
- A modern development that consists of fusing swing with hip hop and house techniques
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7. What is the Swing Revival?
- A revival of swing music that occurred during the 1990s and 2000s led by Royal Crown Revue, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Lavay Smith, and Brian Setzer
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8. What is the difference between swing music and big band jazz?
- Swing music is a style of jazz that emerged in the 1920s and emphasizes the off-beat and features soloists who improvise on the melody over the arrangement, while big band jazz is a type of jazz that emphasizes complex arrangements and features a large horn section
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9. What is the connection between swing music and swing dances?
- Swing music is connected with a revival of swing dances, such as the Lindy hop
Big Bands Through the Ages
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Test your knowledge of the swinging sounds of jazz with our Big Bands quiz! From the origins of the ensemble to its peak in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, this quiz covers the history and legacy of big bands. Learn about famous bandleaders like Duke Ellington and Count Basie, the role of big ban...
Test your knowledge of the swinging sounds of jazz with our Big Bands quiz! From the origins of the ensemble to its peak in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, this quiz covers the history and legacy of big bands. Learn about famous bandleaders like Duke Ellington and Count Basie, the role of big bands in the Civil Rights Movement, and the impact of the genre on American popular music. Whether you're a jazz aficionado or just a curious learner, this
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1. What is the minimum number of musicians required for a big band?
- Ten
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2. What is the purpose of big bands in jazz music?
- To play written compositions and arrangements
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3. Which era did big bands dominate jazz music?
- The 1940s
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4. What are the four sections of a big band?
- Saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section of guitar, piano, double bass, and drums.
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5. What is a 'chart' in big band music?
- A notation of all or most of the score of a given number
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6. Who were the major 'black' bands of the 1930s apart from Ellington's?
- Jimmie Lunceford, Chick Webb, and Count Basie
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7. Who were the principal fans of big bands in the late 1930s and early 1940s?
- White teenagers and young adults
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8. What was the impact of big bands during World War II?
- They uplifted morale and many musicians served in the military and toured with USO troupes at the front
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9. What is the lasting influence of big band music on American popular music?
- Many contemporary artists draw inspiration from the genre
Modal Jazz Mastery
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
How well do you know the sub-genre of jazz known as modal jazz? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the musical modes and chord progressions used in this unique and influential style of jazz. From George Russell to its present-day impact, this quiz will have you grooving to the sounds of modal...
How well do you know the sub-genre of jazz known as modal jazz? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the musical modes and chord progressions used in this unique and influential style of jazz. From George Russell to its present-day impact, this quiz will have you grooving to the sounds of modal jazz.
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1. What is modal jazz?
- Jazz that makes use of musical modes and modulates among them to accompany the chords
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2. Who crystallized modal jazz as a theory in his 1953 book Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization?
- George Russell
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3. Which artist was directly inspired by George Russell and popularized modal jazz with his 1959 album Kind of Blue?
- Miles Davis
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4. Which of the following musicians did not perform modal jazz?
- Dizzy Gillespie
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5. What is the Dorian mode?
- The natural minor scale with a raised sixth
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6. Which of the following compositions is not an example of modal jazz?
- 'My Favorite Things' by Richard Rodgers
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7. Which musician acknowledged the crucial role played by Bill Evans in his transition from hard bop to modal playing?
- Miles Davis
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8. Which of the following albums is not recognized as an example of modal jazz?
- Giant Steps by John Coltrane
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9. Which of the following musicians noted that the 1953 composition 'Glass Enclosure' by pianist Bud Powell was one of the earliest jazz compositions to make use of Lydian chords?
- Wayne Shorter
How well do you know free jazz?
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Test your knowledge of the experimental genre of free jazz with this quiz! From its origins in the 1950s and 60s to its influence on jazz and world music today, this quiz will challenge your understanding of the genre's history, key players, and musical characteristics. Whether you're a seasoned jaz...
Test your knowledge of the experimental genre of free jazz with this quiz! From its origins in the 1950s and 60s to its influence on jazz and world music today, this quiz will challenge your understanding of the genre's history, key players, and musical characteristics. Whether you're a seasoned jazz fan or just curious about this avant-garde style, this quiz is sure to offer a fun and informative challenge. So, if you think you know your Ornette Coleman from your Sun Ra
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1. What is free jazz?
- A subgenre of jazz that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s characterized by its rejection of traditional musical structures and improvisation.
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2. What is the origin of the term 'free jazz'?
- It was drawn from Ornette Coleman's 1960 recording 'Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation'.
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3. What were some of the jazz conventions that free jazz aimed to break down?
- Regular tempos, tones, and chord changes.
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4. What was the role of improvisation in free jazz?
- It was correspondingly increased.
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5. What inspired free jazz musicians?
- The music of John Cage, Musica Elettronica Viva, and the Fluxus movement.
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6. Who were some essential composers and performers during the beginning period of free jazz?
- Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler.
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7. Where did the setting for avant-garde jazz shift to in the 1970s?
- New York City.
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8. Who were some of the well-known early European free jazz performers?
- Saxophonists Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, trombonist Conny Bauer, guitarist Derek Bailey, pianists François Tusques, Fred Van Hove, Misha Mengelberg, drummer Han Bennink, saxophonist and bass clarinetist Willem Breuker.
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9. What is world-influenced free jazz?
- American musicians integrated elements of the music of Africa, India, and the Middle East for world-influenced free jazz.
Smooth Jazz Quiz
9 multiple choice quiz questions with answers
Test your knowledge of commercially oriented crossover jazz with our Smooth Jazz Quiz! From its emergence in the 1980s to its dominance in the mid-1990s, this genre has captured the hearts of many with its easy listening style. Can you name the key artists, albums, and songs that defined the smooth...
Test your knowledge of commercially oriented crossover jazz with our Smooth Jazz Quiz! From its emergence in the 1980s to its dominance in the mid-1990s, this genre has captured the hearts of many with its easy listening style. Can you name the key artists, albums, and songs that defined the smooth jazz era? Take our quiz and find out!
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1. What is smooth jazz?
- A genre of commercially oriented crossover jazz and easy listening music
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2. What was smooth jazz initially a combination of?
- Jazz with easy-listening pop music and lightweight R&B
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3. What was smooth jazz known as in the mid-1970s in the United States?
- Smooth radio
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4. Who were some of the notable smooth jazz artists in the 1980s?
- Anita Baker, Sade, Al Jarreau, Grover Washington Jr. and Kenny G
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5. What did critics complain about regarding Kenny G's music?
- The 'bland' sound
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6. What did music reviewer George Graham argue about the 'smooth jazz' sound?
- It has none of the fire and creativity that marked the best of the fusion scene during its heyday in the 1970s
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7. What did Digby Fairweather denounce about the change to a smooth jazz format on defunct radio station 102.2 Jazz FM?
- The owners GMG Radio were responsible for the 'attempted rape and (fortunately abortive) re-definition of the music'
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8. Which song was one of the most popular smooth jazz songs, released in 1981?
- Just the Two of Us
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9. Which instrumental composition by flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione was released in 1978?
- Feels So Good