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.

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Jazz

Blowing changes

Music; Jazz

The chords of a tune, particularly those intended specifically for improvising which may vary somewhat from the changes of the head. Sometimes written on a separate page.

Contrapuntal elaboration of static harmony (CESH)

Music; Jazz

A foolish term used in some Jazz textbooks. The use of moving inner voices to give propulsion to a chord that lasts for a while.

Stop time

Music; Jazz

A rhythm where certain beats aren't played, e.g. 1 2 3 (rest) 1 2 3 (rest).

Lydian

Music; Jazz

A major scale or chord with a raised 4th; the mode of the major scale built on 4. Regarded as the most fundamental Jazz scale by influential theorist George Russell.

Hep

Music; Jazz

Keenly aware of or knowledgeable about life's developments, especially in the arts. "Hipness is what it is. But sometimes hipness is what it ain't. . . "

Introduction

Music; Jazz

A composed section at the beginning of a tune, heard only once.

Pattern

Music; Jazz

A pre-planned melodic figure, repeated at different pitch levels. Something played automatically by the fingers without much thought. Reliance on patterns is the hallmark of a weak player.