Handout for my jazz talk in New York City, as part of Taiwan Women (a movement group) Winter 2002 Camp. I talked about jazz history, my approach to the genre, and musical, gender, political, cultural aspects of jazz.

This is the handout for a jazz talk I gave in the winter of 2002, in New York City, invited by Taiwan Women (a movement group). The other speaker, Bibi, an expert in New York City music scene, also gave a tour to various music venues that night.

I talked about jazz history, my approach to the genre, and musical, gender, political, cultural aspects of jazz, as part of Taiwan Women's event agenda at that time.

This a talk was in year 2002, so many of my views in this handout were, well, 2002.

(The slides were bilingual, and used a lot of Taiwanese cultural references. I try to convey them in my translation.)

Jazz 'Round the Midnight
Speakers: Tsan-Kuang Lee, Bibi

Jazz 'Round the Midnight

  • I. What is Jazz?
  • II. Many Faces of Jazz
  • III、Jam Session

I. What is Jazz?

  • Internal definition
    • Elements: Instruments, Form, "Flavor"
    • Features: Improvisation, Equality, Allusion
  • External definition
    • Performer/Audience Groups/Identity
    • Music Politics: Blues, Groups, Gender

Internal definition – Element: Instrument

Instruments: Ensemble, Marching Band, Electronic Age

  • Brass
  • Jazz Drum Set
  • Acoustic vs. Electric
    • guitar/bass, keyboard, drums
  • Jazz Organ
    • "A Child Is Born", Thad Jones (Rhoda Scott), sample score

Internal definition – Element: Form

  • The 3-Part Form in Time
    • Drama, ABA, Sonata Form, Symphony Form
    • Head, Choruses, Head
  • Scopes: Piece, Phrase, Harmony
  • Chord Changes

Internal definition – Element: Flavor

  • Scales (Modes)
    • Blues, Diminished, Augmented, Modal
  • Harmony
    • "Lush Life", Billy Strayhorn, (Nancy Wilson)
    • "Misty", Erroll Garner, sample score
  • Phrasing
    • "Well You Needn't", Thelonious Monk, sample score
  • Rhythm: syncopation, swing 8th, straight 8th
    • Ragtime
      • "Nothin'", Luckey Roberts & Willie "The Lion" Smith
    • Swing
    • Latin
      • "Spain", Chick Corea, sample score 1, sample score 2

Internal definition - Feature: Improvisation

  • Improvisation vs. ad lib style
  • Classical performers only play what's written?
    • Figured Bass
    • "Autumn (2nd mvt)", Vivaldi
  • Who needs rehearsal?
    • Different Expressive Dimension

Internal definition - Feature: Equality

The Equality Game (note: This is a line from a well-known Taiwanese pop song)

  • Take turns in solo
  • The Age of bass register and rhythmic instruments
    • bass solo, Charlie Mingus
    • drums solo, Art Blakey

Internal definition - Feature: Allusion

Standards, Classics

  • Repertoire
  • Allusion
    • "Take the A Train", Strayhorn/Ellington, (Ella Fitzgerald)
    • "Lush Life", Billy Strayhorn, (Nancy Wilson)
  • Parody?
    • "A Chick from Corea", Steve Bailey & Victor Wooten
  • Vocalese
    • Eddie Jefferson
      • "So What", Miles Davis
      • "Now’s the Time", Charlie Parker

External definition – Identity

Performer/Audience Groups/Identity

  • Classical "Performer", Jazz "Cats", Rock Guitar "Player" (note: the wording of these terms bear very different connoations in the Chinese language)
  • Linguistic/Racial Identity
    • Jargons: cats, long-hair, swing, straight, blow, turn-around, bridge, comp, horn, jam, lick, riff, run, sideman, walk, trade 8, trade 4

External definition – Politics: Blues

Jazz vs. Blues

  • Finance Service advertisement: Ellis Marsalis
  • Blues源流 (History of Blues)
    • "Delta Blues", Robert Johnson
    • "C Jam Blues", Duke Ellington, (Oscar Peterson)
  • Form of Blues
    • Lyric: theme, content, form
    • Music: scale, harmony, mode
    • Sample score: C Jam Blues

External definition – Politics: Groups

  • "American"/"Black" Jazz?
  • Jazz Department in Lincoln Center, Julliard, Curtis
  • Europe, Asia, Africa, South/North America
    • Jazz Exile, Fusion, African, Latin
    • "La Danse du Bonheur", John McLaughlin/Shakti
      • "Modern" Jazz: alienation
      • Collector, "traditional jazz", copyright
    • "The Girl from Ipanema",Getz/Gilberto
      • Brazilian Culture Renaissance

External definition – Politics:Gender

  • Vocal/Ballad(e)
    • Female singer, Female pianist
    • Jazz for Sirs? (note: jazz and sirs are synonyms in Chinese)
      • Billie Tipton Saxophone Quartet
      • Jazzman vs. Diva
        • Instruments "for ladies": Concert for eyes
        • Women-unfriendly business
  • Ella Fitzgerald
    • Early girly sound
      • "A Tisket, a Tasket"
      • "Cow-cow Boogie"
    • Mature Sexy/"Magnetic" sound
      • "How High the Moon"
      • Magnetic vs. Sexy
    • Scat
      • "C Jam Blues", Duke Ellington, (Ella Fitzgerald)

II. Many Faces of Jazz

  • "Standards"
  • Bloosm
  • "Modern"

Many Faces of Jazz - "Standards"

  • Ragtime
    • Scott Joplin
  • Blues
  • Big Band Swing: danceable, golden age
    • "In the Mood", Glenn Miller
  • Bebop
    • Thelonious Monk
  • Cool
    • "Freddie Freeloader", Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
    • Hard-bop
      • "Heychico", Charisma, Lee Morgan

Many Faces of Jazz - Bloosm

  • Latin
    • Antonio Carlos Jobim
  • Fusion, Acid, Funk
    • Cassiopeia Jazz Quartet
    • Chick Corea
    • Herbie Hancock
    • Lucky Thompson Quartet
  • Smooth / New Age
    • Kenny G
    • George Winston
  • Rock/Classical/Ethno Influence
    • Miles Davis
    • Modern Jazz Quartet
    • "African" percussion

Many Faces of Jazz - "Modern"

  • Avant-Garde
    • "Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul", Charles Mingus
    • "I Fall in Love Too Easily", Chet Baker
    • "Part II C- Live in Koln", Keith Jarrett
    • "Waltz for Debby", Bill Evans
    • "Japan", Pharoah Sanders
  • John Coltrane Pre-/Post- Coltrane Jazz (1967)
    • "My Favorite Things"
    • Original- '61
    • Post- '66 Live in Japan
  • Radical Jewish Culture
    • "Tahah", John Zorn (Masada)

III、Jam Session

  • Rhythm section
    • Piano
    • Bass
    • Drums
  • Sheet music
    • Chord charts
    • Fake books