Straight, No Chaser

An intro to that thing we call jazz

There's an expression proffered by practitioners of Rastafari, a Jamaican form of Christianity, that goes, "Who feels it, knows it." It can be found in much of the religion's literature and in many reggae songs.

It means that while you can't always rationally understand something, you can know of it through feeling or intuition.

That's one way you can get to jazz. Given the complexities of the music's history and modes of expression, it's tough to put its definition into clear, concise words.

Nevertheless, it does not completely defy description so let's take a shot at trying to figure it out, if for no other reason than to enhance your enjoyment of it.

Here's my attempt at a primer on America's classical music, jazz:

Origins

Jazz was created by, but isn't exclusive to, African Americans living in the southern United States in the late nineteenth century.

Areas prominent in its derivation include the South Atlantic coast (Charleston and Savannah), the Mississippi Delta (New Orleans and Memphis) and the Deep South (Mobile and Birmingham).

Musicology

Jazz is music usually played in the 4/4 time signature featuring quarter notes with a rhythmic emphasis placed on the second and fourth beats, what we call syncopation. Over the years, the beats have been further subdivided by innovators, increasing the complexity of the syncopated rhythmic variations.

Jazz is blues based. It can be offered in ballad form. It is sometimes marinated in Latin music.

The most distinctive features of jazz are improvisation and swing. To improvise is to compose in real time while playing basic melodies, harmonies and rhythms. Swing is an implied rhythmic flow that accents the strict beats of a time signature. It can be described as elegance under the duress of time. Swing is what makes the listener tap his toes, nod her head or clap his hands.

Styles

The word "jazz" did not come into wide use until early in the twentieth century with all sorts of theories as to who used it first. Some credit journalists, others musicians. The structural form of jazz existed before the term so its early styles were at play before the so-called Jazz Age of the '20s. Many genres evolved.

--The first recognized style was traditional jazz, what we now associate with the popular music of early twentieth century New Orleans, although it was played all over the South. Until recently, the popular term was Dixieland. Typical instrumentation included bass drum, snare drum, banjo, tuba, trombone and trumpet. It employs a steady 4/4 beat while each player improvises at the same time.

Historical example: The Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Local example: New South Jazzmen.

--Then came swing. Starting with Duke Ellington in the '30s, this style of jazz is often played in 2/4 time at a quicker tempo than 4/4 by big bands (12-17 pieces) and it employs a propulsive pace that acts to create a feel that rocks along. For a long time, this was America's popular music - before rock 'n roll - and was made for dancing.

Historical example: The Count Basie Orchestra.

Local example: The Charleston Jazz Orchestra

--Bebop emerged in the '40s with smaller ensembles playing frenetically with intricate polyrhythms, convoluted melodies and harmonies with a staccato approach by the horns. The popular configuration for bebop is a rhythm section, piano, bass and drums (sometimes guitar), with horns such as trombone, trumpet and saxophone, out front. This style ushered in jazz' moving from the dance hall to the small nightclub and concert hall.

Historical example: The Miles Davis Quintet

Local example: The Quentin Baxter Ensemble

--Cool jazz came on the scene in the '50s Miles Davis and artists from the West Coast such as Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan slowed the pace and employed modal structures in jazz.

Historical example: The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Local example: The Rudy Waltz

--Hard bop was the signature jazz music of the '50s, recorded mostly by the legendary Blue Note Records. It put some heat under cool jazz but didn't return to the lightning licks of bebop.

Historical example: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Local example: Oscar Rivers Trio

--Progressive jazz took hold in the late '50s as represented by saxophone giant John Coltrane. It is based in bop and filled with flights of exploration inside traditional song forms. It appealed to the intellect as well as the soul.

Historical example: The John Coltrane Quartet

Local example: Emanon

--Free jazz is jazz' most experimental form to date. Ushered in from the late '50s to the early '60s and led by Ornette Coleman, it involves players improvising completely independently of each other for a sometimes cacophonous sound.

Historical example: The Mingus Big Band

Local example: The New Music Collective

--Fusion style was led by Miles Davis' experimental work in the '60s which flowered in the '70s with groups made up of players who cut their musical teeth while working with him. This form introduced electronica to jazz and used rhythm and blues techniques to supply its swing.

Historical example: Weather Report

Local example: Pulse Trio

--Neoclassical jazz came to be in the late '80s as a kind of answer to fusion. It returned jazz to its bop traditions and stresses composition and arrangement over exotic instrumentation and free form. Its approach is straight ahead.

Historical example: The Wynton Marsalis Septet

Local example: Robert Lewis/Frank Duvall

--Latin jazz originated in the late '30s with Afro Cuban music marrying jazz. This style is upbeat, highly syncopated and is defined by traditional Latin rhythms at the bottom of jazz melodics and harmonics.

Historical example: Machito and His Afro Cubans

Local example: Havanason

There are innumerable subdivisions of these styles, way too many to mention here. Those I have included represent the general diversity of the unity of jazz. It's about all you need to appreciate our great American music form.

Check them out, especially live, and enjoy.

All the styles can be heard live in the Lowcountry. For a calendar, go to www.jazzaratistsofcharleston.org. Click on the EVENTS button, then hit its first button, JAZZ AROUND TOWN, for listings.

Jack McCray, author of "Charleston Jazz," can be reached at jackjmccray@aol.com.