Learn more about the differences between the two music genres, jazz and rock & roll!

2. The History Of Jazz
• originated in the late 1800s -> today.
• most likely originated in New Orleans- city’s
own musical traditions of band music for black
funeral processions and street parades.
• other influences: Black Americans music,
African rhythms, American band traditions
and instruments, and European harmonies
and forms.

3. Artistic Characteristics
• performed: solo, by a small group of musicians
(combo), or by a big band.
• combo has two sections: a solo front line of
melody instruments, and a back line of
accompanying instruments called a rhythm
sections
• rhythm section: maintains a steady beat,
decorates the rhythm with syncopated patterns,
and provides structure to support solos.

4. Musical Characteristics
• Improvisation- the ability to create new music
spontaneously -> gives a fresh feeling at each
performance. Jazz musicians: you must be able to
play the role of a soloist, performer, reproducer
of others’ ideas, and a composer.
• Syncopation- the uneven beats in jazz music. Jazz
musicians take apart even, regular patterns and
break them up, making them uneven. They also
put accents in unexpected places.

5. Instruments
- main brass instruments: trumpet, cornet, and
slide trombone.
- other brass instruments: French horn, valve
trombone, baritone horn, flugelhorn, and electric
trumpets.
- main reed instruments: clarinet and saxophone.
- Flute- also considered a reed instrument
- Drums of various types are played in jazz. The
drum set evolved until one drummer could play
more than one percussion instrument at a time.

6. Instruments
- Piano -solo instrument/ensemble instrument in the rhythm
section.
- Other keyboard instruments: electric organs, electric piano,
and synthesizers controlled by a keyboard.
- guitar- plays chords and melodies, and is mainly used in the
rhythm section. In the early days, banjos were also used.
- Bass- plays the roots of the harmonies, and musicians
normally pluck a string bass.
- Western instrument and Non- Western instruments-
mainly vibraphone and the violin.

7. Important Composers
• Dizzy Gillespie- trumpet player, composer, and
bandleader.
• Coleman Hawkins- considered the first great tenor
saxophone in the history of jazz.
• Thelonious Monk- jazz composer, pianist, and
bandleader.
• Sidney Bechet- jazz clarinetist and saxophone player.
• Fats Waller- popular jazz pianist.
• Louis Armstrong- most popular jazz artist in history. He
was a trumpeter and singer.

8. • Duke Ellington- one of
the leading figures of
jazz. He was an
outstanding composer
and pianist.
• He started out as a
member of the
“Washingtonians,” and
later took over the band.
• Ellington also composed
longer works, film
scores, and sacred music.
• Some of his most famous
songs are, “Mood
Indigo,” “Solitude,” and
“Creole Rhapsody.”

9. Take the A Train
• His composition with Billy
Strayhorn, “Take the A Train,”
became the band’s theme song.
• There is syncopation, a rhythm
section, and a solo line. It is also
performed by a big band.
• This song is upbeat and
celebratory. It is similar to black
street parade music.
• Ellington was inspired by
ragtime performers, and
enjoyed playing the piano.

10. Rock ‘n Roll Music
• Rock music is the leading type of popular music in many parts of the
world
• Rock music exploded on the music scene and became popular in
the United States during the mid-1950’s.
• During its early history, it was called rock ‘n’ roll because it made its
listeners want to get up and dance (also spelled “rock and roll”).
• Much early rock was a rebellious style of music that particularly
attracted young people who wanted an alternative to the musical
tastes of the adult and classical world.
• The first creators of rock music were pioneers who turned away
from the music at that time, hoping to seek a new sound
• By the mid-1960’s, rock music dominated the music industry, and it
still remains one of the most important categories of popular
music.

11. Back…to the History of Rock ‘n Roll
• In the beginning, rock n’ roll music was mainly the blend of :
(1) country & western music,
(2) blues
• By the late 1940’s, a fast-paced blues style with an aggressive, driving beat
emerged through recordings released by independent American record
companies-aimed primarily at a black audience
• Two rhythm and blues standards that helped shape rock ‘n’ roll:
• Roy Brown recorded “Good Rockin’ Tonight” (1947)
• Wynonie Harris recorded “All She Wants to Do Is Rock” (1949)
– Big Joe Turner introduced the song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (1954), which became a standard
among rock music performers.
• Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed is often credited with introducing the term rock
‘n’ roll as part of his radio show in the early 1950’s:
• He used it to describe the high-energy rhythm and blues he played during his performances.
• The term soon became the name for the new music.
• It was a great controversy:
– loud volume
– rebellious or sexually suggestive lyrics and performing style
– It was claimed to be corrupting young people

12. Musical Characteristics
• There was a variety of rock ‘n roll music:
– Rockabilly: a blend of rhythm&blues and country
– Doo-wop: an African American vocal style
• 1950’s and 1960’s songs were about dances. They created
and perpetuated such dances:
– the Dog
– the Funky Chicken
– the Limbo Rock
– the Stroll
– and the Walk
• Many white singers would “cover” (perform their own
versions of) black artists rock ‘n roll music…costing them
profit and money

13. Artistic Characteristics
• Psychedelic rock: (acid rock) it attempted to re-create the mind-altering effects of LSD and other
drugs through music.
– Performances featured light shows and effects like the deliberate use of feedback.
• Feedback is the sound distortion created when a microphone picks up sound from an
amplifier and sends it back through that amplifier.
• Garage rock: it emphasized crude or raw compositions with an unfinished and improvised
sound rather than the polished sound of studio recordings
– The name is symbolic of the sounds heard when bands practice in their garage
• Progressive rock: (art rock) it was an attempt to combine rock with elements of classical music,
jazz, and other forms of music
• Punk rock: it was simpler, faster, louder, and more energetic than mainstream rock. It
developed primarily in two cities: New York City and London.
– The punk rockers brought an angry, rebellious attitude, unseen since the early days of rock
‘n roll.
– The punk bands were emotional and some of them deliberately tried to offend audiences
with their use of profanity and their rejection of mainstream values and lifestyles
• Alternative rock: it was harsher and more experimental than mainstream rock
– It was aimed toward teenage and young-adult listeners
• Glam rock: rock music performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes,
makeup and hairstyles, especially glitter
• Rock music had a very strong and emotional heavy metal sound, which made it extremely
recognizable and well-liked

14. Musical Instruments
• Electric guitar
• String bass OR later bass guitar
• Drums
• Optional piano and saxophone(s)
– If they were used, they were normally the lead
instruments alongside guitars
• Vocals

15. Rock ‘n Roll composers
• Famous American Rock ‘n Roll artists:
– Elvis Presley
– Little Richard
– Buddy Holly
• Britain invasion-The Beatles arrived in the U.S. from England, bringing a rebirth to rock
‘n roll, simply called “rock.” It launched the visits of dozens of British rock ‘n roll bands
that became known as the “British invasion.” They dominated the American charts of
best-selling records.
– The Beatles: A quartet consisting of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul
McCartney, and Ringo Starr.
– The Rolling Stones: The quintet was led by singer Mick Jagger who formed a
songwriting partnership with guitarist Keith Richards formed a songwriting
partnership
• Their aggressive, rebellious style them to rank among the most enduring rock
groups
• The band, still led by Jagger and Richards, continued to perform into the
2000’s

16. Elvis Presley
• He had a stillborn twin
• Born in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, on
January 8, 1935
• In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with the
legendary Sun Records label in Memphis
• He starred in 33 successful films and often performed
record-breaking, live concert performances on tour
and in Las Vegas.
• Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more
than any other artist.
• Among his many awards:
– 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the
National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
– The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award which
he received at age 36
– Named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men
of the Nation for 1970 by the United States
Jaycees
• Without any of the special privileges, his celebrity
status might have afforded him, he honorably served
his country in the U.S. Army.
• Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August
16, 1977

17. Jailhouse Rock & Blue Suede Shoes
• Two of Elvis’s most famous compositions was “Jailhouse
Rock” and “Blue Suede Shoes”
• Jailhouse Rock was a type of rockabilly
– It had guitars, drums, saxophones, and that type of
steel/country beat and rhythm
– The vocals are not sweet like classical music. Instead, they
are fierce, as if bursting with emotion
– The dances and choreography were matched to the
beats&rhythm of the song.
• Blue Suede Shoes was a rock ‘n roll standard at that
time
– It incorporated elements of blues, country, and pop music
– It was considered one of the first rockabilly records
– Like many songs in that time period and genre, this was a
notable cover done by Elvis Presley

18. Rock ‘n Roll Today
• Today, rock music takes many forms
• Rock is so dominant that it
can be defined as whatever
music is played on popular radio
stations
• Some stations play soft rock, which
is rock music that is slow and quiet
• Others concentrate on older rock of
the 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s,
often called classic rock

19. Bibliography
• "Rock and Roll." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 07 May 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll>.
• McKeen, William. "Rock music." World Book Advanced. World
Book, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011.
• Tirro, Frank. "Jazz." World Book Advanced. World Book,
2011. Web. 8 May 2011.
• "Jazz." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 May 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz>.