Blues and Beyond MUH 2116 Evolution of Jazz Errol Rackipov
The Origin The Roots Not from Africa; developed in America by American slaves and their descendants Field hollers (cries) Ballads, from European traditions for songs that tell stories Unaccompanied solo singing; later guitar and banjo added By 1910, standardized elements of the blues By 1930, big influence on jazz music Musicians imitate the sound of the blues singer
The Origin Singing in unison, no determined chords, no specific form After the Civil War, the Blues began to take on a specific form: 12 bar blues (the most popular) African based chants and early Christian hymns and work songs resulted into Spirituals Bending notes - musicians trying to imitate the singers Characteristic topics for the blues lyrics: love, sexuality, jealousy, travel, urban live, freedom Blues artists could create songs on the spot Blues first appeared after the Civil War as black musicians traveled widely and developed a new music that celebrated their freedom
The Origin The blues was one of the building blocks of jazz, with chord structures and phrasing sharing a common lineage in the musical culture of Afro-America, but it has a rich history in its own right.
Styles of Blues Country Blues (Rural) (late 1800-1930) Characteristics Solo male singer with guitar, harmonica accompaniment Personal pessimistic expression Regional styles-mississippi delta, Texas, East Coast Important Performers Blind Lemon Jefferson Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter) Robert Johnson Contemporary Performers Muddy Waters - influenced hundreds of musicians Beatles, Ray Charles B.B. King
Styles of Blues - Classic (City) Blues (from 1920 to 1930) Characteristics First urban style Female singers Piano, organ, combo accompaniment (jazz musicians) popular appeal Start of race records (by and for black Americans) Race records were born when recording companies realized there was money to be made marketing music by black artists to black consumers. Important Performers Big Bill Broonzy- major influence on the Chicago scene and instrumental blues
Styles of Blues - Classic (City) Blues (from 1920 to 1930) Important performers Ma Rainey - The Mother of the Blues - popularized the blues in America. She opened the road for other women to sing. Bassie Smith - The Empress of the Blues - the greatest blues singer of all time. Set up the standard for other blues singers. Her first single surpassed any of the other recordings of blues. W.C.Handy - The Father of the Blues - publisher, bandmaster, cornetist, composer, wrote St Louis Blues - the first formal blues composition. Mammie Smith - Creazy Blues formula for classic blues - credited with taking the blues into the popular music.
Styles of Blues - Urban Blues Kansas City (post WWII) Characteristics From Southwest territory swing bands Accompanied by jazz musicians Robust, exuberant delivery, swing feel Important Performers Joe Turner Joe Williams Jimmy Rushing
Styles of Blues - Urban Blues Rhythm & Blues (R & B) Characteristics Numerous regional styles Electric guitars, drums, organ, harmonica, horn section Relax vocal delivery Slow tempos Beginning of rock & roll and soul Important Performers Louis Jordan - The Father of R&B - Caledonia Roy Milton Buddy Guy B.B. King - The King of the Blues
Styles of Blues - Urban Blues Rhythm & Blues (R & B) Important Soul & Motown Performers Little Richard Ray Charles Marvin Gaye Important White Performers Elvis Presley Bill Haley Buddy Holly Jerry Lee Lewis
Blues Legacy Blues recordings sold well, the lyrics told personal stories and national catastrophe, triumphs and shared miseries of the times Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald the greatest jazz singers Elvis Presley - That s all right mama originally recorded by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, and Big Mama Thornton George Buddy Guy student of T-bone Walker brilliant guitarist Chicago sound Joe Williams One of the greatest all around singers Sara Vaughn, Aretha Franklin Woodstock Janis Joplin rendition of Ball in chain, tune performed by Big Mama Thornton, was a sensation Rolling Stones, Beatles, Michael Jackson
Jazz and Blues Blues and Jazz - branches of the same tree Many blues singers hired jazz musicians Most swing bands featured blues singers Blues provided the roots for Rock & Roll and R&B Jazz became more complicated, less popular