Jazz Slang
Jazz Definitions
1920s & 30s Life
Music Phrases
Modern Jazz
100
A contest between two ensembles to determine who plays the best.
What is a battle of the bands
100
one of the earliest jazz styles, originated in New Orleans
What is Dixieland?
100
a dance contest in which the winners received a cake.
What is a cake walk?
100
Creating a new melody while performing. Spontaneous composition
What is improvisation?
100
a performance of multiple jazz groups, usually in an outdoor setting
What is a jazz festival?
200
A game of one-upmanship where performers attempt to outdo each other.
What is a cutting contest
200
a jazz style in which performers improvise melody, harmony, etc. without restrictions
What is Free Jazz?
200
this type of nightclub employed many jazz musicians during the Prohibition
What is a speakeasy?
200
a musical conversation. one musician or section will play a short melodic idea and is answered by another musician or section.
What is call and response?
200
in music, lifting a small portion of a recording to be modified and used in another recording
What is sampling?
300
slang for a performing job
What is a gig
300
a style of jazz that uses unusual rhythmns, dissonance, and lots of improv
What is Bebop?
300
decrease in business activity for an extended period of time
What is a depression?
300
musician who writes the parts to be played by an ensemble
What is an arranger?
300
a style of music with a strong beat plus vocal chanting
What is rap music?
400
slang for a session of improvisation
What is a jam
400
A style of jazz with uneven eighth notes and syncopation. Great for dancing!
What is Swing Jazz?
400
a gathering in one's home for which an admission fee is charged in order to raise money to pay the rent or bills.
What is a rent party?
400
a short fragment of melody, usually repeated many times
What is a riff?
400
music set to a rap beat, usually good for dancing
What is hip hop music?
500
slang for performing with a group
What is a sit in
500
a style of music that blends jazz with rock & roll
What is Fusion Jazz?
500
Policies proposed by President Roosevelt as a means of improving economic & social conditions during the 1930s
What is a New Deal?
500
performance technique in which musicians take turns playing 4 measures. Often the drummer plays on alternating 'fours'
What is trading fours?
500
a US government broadcasting service, used to give listeners in foreign countries an idea about American life, culture, music & ideals
What is Voice of America?
M
e
n
u