Jazz

Jazz

A style of music characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm. It emerged at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions.

Industry: Music

Add a new term

Contributors in Jazz

Become a Contributors

Jazz

Root

Music; Jazz

The fundamental pitch on which a chord is based, from which the chord takes its name, and to which the other tones of the chord are referred to intervallically the third, seventh, and so on, ...

Polytonality

Music; Jazz

The use of two different keys simultaneously. Despite much loose talk, true polytonality is rare. Upper structures (q. V. ) and outside playing do not usually qualify because there is always a strong ...

Close voicing

Music; Jazz

One in which the chord tones are bunched together, generally within an octave range.

Altered scale

Music; Jazz

The dominant 7th scale with a lowered 9th, raised 9th, raised 11th, no fifth, and lowered 13th, along with the usual root, 3rd and 7th. So-called because every possible alteration has been made.

Medium

Music; Jazz

One of the standard Jazz tempos, neither 'up' nor 'ballad'.

Trading 4s (or 8s, 2s)

Music; Jazz

A form of discontinuous drum solo in which 4 measure sections are alternately played solo by the drummer, and by the band with another soloist (who goes first). The latter can be one particular ...

Half-diminished

Music; Jazz

The chord with a minor third, a lowered (diminished) fifth, and a minor seventh. Formally called 'minor 7 flat 5'. This chord probably evolved from the IV minor 6th chord, which was common in the ...