JAZZ
What is Jazz?
Style from New Orleans known for improvisation and syncopation.
What is Pop?
Short for "popular," this genre has catchy melodies and mass commercial appeal.
What is Folk Music?
Music passed down orally, often telling stories or cultural narratives.
What are Bongos?
Small hand drums played with fingers, essential in Cuban music.
What is the Oud?
Pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument central to classical Arabic and Turkish music.
Who is Louis Armstrong?
"Satchmo," the trumpet player who pioneered early Jazz and scat singing.
Who is Michael Jackson?
The "King of Pop" who released the best-selling album Thriller.
Who is Bob Dylan?
1960s singer-songwriter who became the voice of protest with songs like "Blowin' in the Wind."
What is Salsa?
Fast-paced dance style from Cuba, characterized by a complex syncopated rhythm.
What is the Darbuka (or Dumbek)?
A common goblet-shaped frame drum used across the region, often played with the fingers.
What is Bebop?
Fast, complex 1940s style featuring small groups and artists like Charlie Parker.
What is a Music Video?
The short film format essential for promoting pop singles since the 1980s.
What is the Banjo?
A five-stringed instrument associated with American folk and bluegrass.
Who is Celia Cruz?
The "Queen of Salsa," a highly influential Cuban-American singer known for her powerful voice and stage presence.
What is Tarab?
Highly ornamented, improvised vocal style emphasizing deep emotional expression and audience connection.
What is Modal Jazz?
The style of jazz that emerged in the 1950s that used simplified harmonies based on scales rather than complex chord progressions.
What is K-Pop?
Highly produced, electronic pop music originating from South Korea that has gained massive global traction.
What is Bluegrass?
Subgenre blending traditional folk with gospel and blues, characterized by fast tempos and virtuosic acoustic playing.
What is Bossa Nova?
Smooth, sophisticated Brazilian genre blending samba with American jazz, heard in "The Girl from Ipanema."
What is Maqam?
The system of melodic modes in Arabic music, which dictates specific scales and emotional character.
What is Syncopation?
The specific rhythmic device where the melody and accompaniment play against the basic beat, common in early jazz and ragtime.
What is Auto-Tune?
Electronic process used to correct vocal pitch in modern pop production, often used for stylistic effect.
What is a Protest Song?
A song used to support civil rights or anti-war movements during the 1960s revival.
What is Clave?
The rhythmic pattern of three against two or two against three, foundational to Afro-Cuban genres like Mambo and Son.k
What are Microtones?
Intervals smaller than a half-step, crucial for achieving the characteristic sound and emotional nuance of the Maqam system.