The History Of Jazz

The Beginnings of Jazz

100

Jazz is often thought of as being founded on the musical traditions of...

West Africa (rhythm, “feel”, blues) and Europe (harmonic chords, variety of instruments).

200

Name the gathering place where slaves would come together to play music.

Congo Square

300

The roots of jazz are primarily found in what type of band?

Marching bands

400

Name 3 of the main musical characteristics of Jazz:

Distinctive rhythms, harmonic complexity, and improvisation

500

What Louisiana Territory law outlined the treatment of slaves that barred slave owners from making the slaves work on Sundays or Catholic holidays? (Hint: this resulted in  a day of rest during the week, and many near New Orleans used that time to gather at Congo Square)

Le Code Noir

Jazz Genres

100

This is a musical style that had its peak from the 1890s to 1910s. Its classified by its syncopated, or "ragged" rhythm. Sometimes referred to as “jig piano” or “piano thumping"

Ragtime

200

This type of music drew from earlier African American styles, such as work songs, field hollers, spirituals, minstrelsy, as well as from European derived forms.

Blues

300

A style of jazz that developed in the United States during the late 1920s and early '30s where it became popular. The name derived from its emphasis on the off-beat, or nominally weaker beat and usually featured soloists who would improvise on the melody over the arrangement.

Swing

400

A style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions/changes and numerous changes of key

Bebop

500

A style of jazz that emerged in the United States during the late 1940s that created an understated or subdued feeling. Tone colors tended toward pastels, vibratos were slow or nonexistent, and drummers played softer and less interactively.

Cool jazz

Name this Jazz Tune

100

Name this Big Band tune

Sing, Sing, Sing

200

Name this Cool jazz tune:

Boplicity

300

Name this Dizzy Gillespie tune:

Manteca

400

Name this Charlie Parker tune:

Ko-Ko

500

Name this Ragtime tune:

The Entertainer

Jazz Artists

100

Was known to be the first ever vocal interpreter of jazz and popular songs with his "scat singing".

Louis Armstrong

200

Became known as the "King of Swing" and headlined the first ever Jazz concert at Carnegie Hall.

Benny Goodman

300

This famous jazz artist was an African-American bandleader, and he was even named the “first man of jazz,” cementing his place in jazz history.

Buddy Bolden

400

This American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer, was one of the first important soloists in jazz. He was also the first jazz musician ever to be praised by a distinguished classicist. 

Sidney Bechet

500

Widely regarded as the greatest scat singer in the history of jazz

Ella Fitzgerald

MISC

100

Located in the woodwind family, this instrument is one of the primary instruments of jazz played by famous musicians Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Sidney Bechet. 

Saxophone

200

The jazz term for intense practicing.

Woodshedding

300

This jazz artist was named the most important Jazz composer of all time with over 2000 compositions.

Duke Ellington

400

On Monday nights this famous club had jam sessions where they offered free food to any musician who showed up to play, and where many major artists became recognized.

Minton's Playhouse

500

This sub-genre of jazz incorporating Latin rhythms and percussion was created by Dizzy Gillespie.

Afro-Cuban