Well my summer isn’t starting off so well, but I don’t really want to get into the whole situation. It does mean though that I’ll have to be a bit creative for a while since I love this blog and want you to like it and return over and over again
Earlier I mentioned one of my favorites, Randy Weston. So with a bit of digging around, here’s a very short slice of bio about him compliments of Wikipedia.org:
Randy Weston has had a considerable career in jazz as a pianist, composer, and bandleader. He emerged in the mid-1950s, being voted New Star Pianist in Down Beat magazine’s International Critics’ Poll of 1955, the year after his recording debut as a leader, with the album Cole Porter In a Modern Mood. Several notable albums followed, including Little Niles near the end of that decade. His piano style owes much to Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk (he has paid direct tribute to both), but it is highly distinctive in its qualities: percussive, highly rhythmic, capable of producing a wide variety of moods.
And nothing rounds out info quite like a music video! I even found a flash movie for your enjoyment
And here’s the video movie, called Randy Weston Spirit! The Power of Music (in flash)
School just let out this past Friday (the 13th!) - I’m a teacher - and so now it’s my goal to immerse myself in really developing this blog for all things “jazz!”
In the meantime, I did find this great article about the jazz piano style that I hope you’ll enjoy
Begin Article:
When people think of piano music, they tend to think of classic pieces. Jazz piano is a style that is obviously unique, but also technically and soulfully superb.
The story of the jazz piano begins with a man named Jelly Roll Morton, a town called New Orleans, and a type of music called ragtime. Joseph Ferdinand La Menthe (Jelly Roll Morton) was known throughout New Orleans as a musician that could play just about any type of music. Jelly Roll enjoyed entertaining crowds with his ragtime, jazz, and blues combinations, and he often played to a roaring crowd throughout New Orlean’s Redlight District.
The song “Jelly Roll Blues” was the first jazz compilation every published (1915), and this catchy tune really put both Jelly Roll and the jazz piano on the musical map. There is no debating the fact that Morton was the original father of jazz piano, and he is entirely responsible for the jazz piano tunes that we know and love today. If you have heard this great musician play, you may be interested to know that a fantastic recording of his is currently at the Library of Congress. This recording was the last one that Morton ever did, and it is one of the best recordings in history.
When the 1920s rolled around, jazz music took a whole different turn, and the streets of Chicago and New York City were vibrating with the sound of a rolling piano. During this time, New York musicians were tapping the keys to a style called “Harlem Stride,” and many attribute this type of music to James P. Johnson (1891-1955). The story of jazz piano really started to crank up when Harlem grabbed a hold of the instrument, and though many have tried to duplicate this sound, jazz music has not been the same since.
If you enjoy listening to modern jazz, take the time to discover Jelly Roll and Johnson - you’ll be pleased that you did. Whether you want to play the piano, or whether you simply love to hear those sweet chords chime, those that were true piano pioneers are still the best the world has every heard.
There can be no history of the jazz piano without the mention of New Orleans, Harlem, Chicago, Jelly Roll Morton, and James P. Johnson - the men, the music, and the piano all combine throughout time to create a sound unlike any other. Stop for moment, listen to those old recordings, and then ask yourself whether or not you can hear that good old piano truly roll.
Bob Griffin here with a bit of background as I continue to get my ducks in a row. I have great plans for this blog - you’ll want to stay tuned I promise you - and in the meantime, please enjoy this expert from an article by Carolyn Polinsky entitled “The Development of Jazz in New Orleans.”
Jazz is known as being one of the only styles of music created in America, though it is a mixture West African and Western music traditions. Jazz’s began in New Orleans, around the 1900’s, but its roots can be traced back hundreds of years earlier when slaves who were brought to America developed spirituals and blues in order to communicate with one another and express sadness, desires and religious beliefs. The music was passed along orally with each new generation making their own unique changes to the songs, which were often of a call and response form and unaccompanied by musical instruments.
Rhythms and melodies from the black community were combined with European compositions leading to the development of Ragtime music around 1895. “Ragging” a song meant dragging out certain notes and livening up music by rearranging notes. Ragtime and Jazz are similar but Ragtime music is predominantly sole piano music while Jazz music is played in ensembles.
Though jazz is closely associated with blues and ragtime, one of the most important elements of jazz music is that it is improvisational music—well-known notes and lines are a starting point for musicians to develop unique songs around. Early jazz musicians often could not read music but they thrilled audiences by bringing emotion, excitement and the unexpected to their pieces. While ragtime music was popular in restaurants, clubs or hotels, Jazz was mobile, versatile music played at funerals, parades, weddings, and at festivals.
The 1920’s were known as the Jazz Age as New Orleans jazz was brought to nightclubs in Northern cities such as Chicago and New York. It was more upscale than the music of New Orleans, and New Orleans Jazz distinguished itself as being a more folksy and spontaneous form of Jazz. Throughout the 20th century, many variations of Jazz music were popular including Dixieland, bebop, Big Band, swing, cool jazz, soul jazz and Latin jazz.
All forms of jazz music and the types of music that inspired it or have preceded it are celebrated during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The event began in 1970 as means of showcasing the musical heritage, arts, crafts and cuisine unique of New Orleans. The first Jazz Festival had a lineup that included Duke Ellington and Fats Domino and only about 350 attendees.
Quickly the Festival’s popularity grew and it now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, world-renowned singers and the top talent of New Orleans and Louisiana.
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I will be back with further developments soon! Keep on keep on coming back
