Jazz Style Essay

The interpretation of jazz style is crucial to the element of rhythmic groove in any jazz ensemble performance. Today, many written arrangements for both large and small jazz ensembles are well marked with articulations and expression markings. However, in some cases there is nothing to guide the instructor or student. This book addresses some of the articulation and style situations that are commonly found in jazz music. These situations can be generalized into a set of guidelines that can be used to guide decisions regarding the treatment of notes and rhythms in the swing and Latin styles of the jazz idiom. Armed with this set of general guidelines, it will be easier to sound more stylistically accurate and authentic. Keep in mind that both instrumentalists and vocalists can apply all of these articulation guidelines and exercises. The ultimate goal of this book is to
Much of today's printed jazz music in the swing style is based on performance practices established in the big band and bebop eras of the 1930's and 40's. In the swing styles of jazz what you see on the page is an approximation of the actual sounds when the music is performed. In Latin jazz styles, a long history of the close relationship between music and dance has guided the development of performance practices and stylistic nuances in this genre. It should be noted that jazz from its inception has always been a performer and arranger’s music rather than a composer's music. Thus, interpretations of style have varied from individual to individual and band to band throughout the course of the history of the music. This makes generalizations about stylistic performance even more challenging. Despite that challenge, there are a number of standard articulations and ways to interpret certain rhythm patterns that have been practiced by all of the great jazz performers and