Nunnery English 102 August 1, 2000 The stylistic, rhythmic and melodic relationships between blues and jazz Many people have the ability to play an instrument whether it is by ear or actually reading music. Really studying music involves learning music theory and musical form. To understand music you must first know how the song is structured based on chords and rhythmic passages. Blues originated in Missippissi around the nineteenth century. Blues or "12-bar blues", as it is called, has a standard chord progression. The song never changes, but allows one to improvise. A soloist could play a solo using a blues scale consisting of seven notes and never stop. (Mitchell) For those who didn't know, Jazz originated in New Orleans. Jazz is the most significant and highly developed music by African Americans. Jazz has many different features such as rhythmic qualities like swing, blue or flatted notes, improvising, and techniques that differentiate the musicians. Swing is a style of Jazz that reminds me of a walking horse. Blues or flatted notes are notes that are lowered a half step. Instead of hearing major chords, the chords are actually minor sounding sad. Improvising is a soloist playing a solo off the top of his head not rehearsed at all. Techniques used by trumpets are flutter tonguing, growling shakes, and different. The names associated with the birth of jazz are Buddy Bolden and Jellyroll Morton. Different forms of jazz are work songs, field hollers, Negro spirituals, gospel songs, ragtime, and blues. (Morrison 48) Alexander 2 Jazz started about 1910. Jazz made it's first appearance on records in 1917 by the original Dixieland Jazz Band. The same year other mucians cut records such as New Orleanians Sidney Bechet and Jellyroll Morton, and the blues singer Bessie Smith a native of Memphis Tennessee.(Morrison 49) The first Big Jazz Band came about 1923. It was called King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band.
