The features and forms of

jazz song

Form • Like African music, jazz form is cyclic, each cycle being

defined rhythmically and harmonically. Each cycle is called a chorus.

Type of song form:AABA, this type of song has an opening section (A), a bridge (B) before transitioning to the final A section. This song form is used in a variety of music genres including pop, gospel and jazz.

The classic AABA song form can be illustrated as such:A: 8 barsA: 8 barsB: 8 barsA: 8 bars

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“Longer” by Dan Fogelberg

• Longer than there've been fishes in the oceanHigher than any bird ever flewLonger than there've been stars up in the heavensI've been in love with you.

Stronger than any mountain cathedralTruer than any tree ever grewDeeper than any forest primevalI am in love with you.

I'll bring fire in the winters

• A-A-B-A-B-A• The second bridge may either be lyrically the

same or different than the first bridge, at times it can also be an instrumental part.

• The last A section may also be a repeat of an earlier verse or an entirely new verse that gives the song a sense of completion.

• AABABA song form: “Longer”• First A: Longer than there’ve been fishes in the

ocean• Second A: Stronger than any mountain

cathedral.• B Section: I’ll bring fires in the winters• Third A: Through the years as the fire starts to

mellow.• B Section: Instrumental• Final A: Longer than there’ve been fishes in the

ocean (repeats the first A section)

Blues form • Poetic form: three-line asymmetric stanza (AAB) with each line

consisting of two vocal measures (call) followed by two instrumental measures (response), to make a twelve measure chorus.

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Blues form also have an emotional impact on the tune which it can be played in different rhythmic grooves and tempos.

The example of fast blues are “ It’s All Right, Baby” and “Big Joe” by Turner and Pete Johnson).

An example of modern jazz blues is “Now’s the Time” (by Charlie Parker).

• Well, I got a gal, she lives up on the hillWell, I got a gal, she lives up on the hillWell, this woman's tryin' to quit me, Lord, but I love her still

• She's got eyes like diamonds, they shine like Klondike goldShe's got eyes like diamonds, they shine like Klondike goldEvery time she loves me, she sends my mellow soul

• Well, you're so beautiful, you've got to die somedayWell, you're so beautiful, you've got to die somedayAll I want's a little loving, just before you pass away

• Pretty baby, I'm goin' away and leave you by yourselfPretty baby, I'm goin' away and leave you by yourselfYou've mistreated me, now you can mistreat somebody else.

"Roll 'Em Pete" was written by Johnson, Pete K. H. / Turner, Joe.

• Verse I-------

Come reminisce with me and think about the Bird.

Remember everything he did and all the things you heard.

Now, don't it just amaze ya, get ya down inside...

To think of how he had to live and then the way he died.

Life was so unkind, 'cause now would have been his time....now was his time.

Verse II-------

I never thought he'd be so awfully close to me.

Until I heard his message and it helped to set me free.

It made me want to linger, want to hang around.

For a better understanding of his different kind of sound.

Back in '42, Bird came to New York and he blew, my but he blew...

“Now’s the Time” by Charlie Parker

Syncopation 3

• Syncopation : to feel syncopation say “ one-and two-and three-and four-and” clapping on each number.

• Then say it again and clap on the “and”. Do you notice how the beats feel different?

Improvisation 4

• When the chord pattern and other essential points are written down in advance which the players improvise, this is called a head arrangement.

Breaks are improvised solo improvisations. Every instrumentalist gets a turn at playing a break.

Eg: Check out the drums in particular in Dave Brubeck’s Take Five (MIDI)

Jazz instruments

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• Piano, drums, clarinet, trumpet and double bass are the standard instruments in a Jazz combo.

• The bass is plucked instead of bowed, the cymbals are tickled with brushes and the trumpet is blown very hard.

• Jazz performers also very achieve distinctive sound by bending the pitch into a note, sliding from one pitch to another, letting the pitch fall off at its release.

• They also use different types of vibrato which they add an ornamental ending over a long note at the end of a piece.

Clarinet

Double bass Piano

Drum

Trumpet

Texture

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i) Refers to the way melody and harmony are balanced.

ii) There are three types of textureiii) The homophonic texture: usually melody and

harmony are in separate layers. Sometimes in a single layer: block harmony occurs when two or more instruments play the same phrase with the same rhythm but with different pitches filling out the harmony often in the context of solo.

Texture

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iv) Monophonic texture: rare in jazz but found in early jazz “breaks”, where a musician plays while the rest of the band is silent (usually two bars) or can be used to begin or end a piece.

v) Polyphonic texture: two or more simultaneous melodies of equal interest, heard in New Orleans jazz.

Eg: big bands, avant-garde jazz