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Facts about jazz music?

Q. I am very interested in jazz music, and I cannot seem to find any musical facts about it. By musical I am referring to the musical not the historical aspect. May someone please provide me with insight?
I am also very interested in hearing about the musically common and uncommon of the genre.
I am mostly interested in jazz fusion, like Weather Report or Miles Davis

A. Jazz music has two forms the improvisation on existing songs often popular tunes, movie music or songs and Broadway show tunes but really any type of music can be used for improvisational jazz. Then the stand form is to play the head or the melody then each musician takes a lead or solo and at the end the head is played again. Jazz musicians like songs with up to seven chords whereas most rock and blues is a 3 chord progression. The other form is for the jazz musician to compose his own music and one of the greatest at this was Duke Ellington who used his band as sort of a vehicle for composition. He would right songs or suites and his arranger would arrange it for the band. HIs best arranger was Billy Strayhorn who collaborated with him for 30 years. The big band jazz players played from charts whereas some of the smaller combos would just work out their arrangements in practice sessions. The early jazz from New Orleans sounds like what is called Dixie land where people would often play together instead of just taking solos. After the Big Band era Bebop changed the music with new harmonies created by such giants as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. The music was played at a frantic pace. The jazz players began to introduce jarring sounds such as high screeching trumpets or honks and squeaks in the saxophone with more modern players like John Coltrane and inventive harmonies on the piano with players like Thelonious Monk. The most far out was Sun Ra who acted like he was from another planet and played a very free form of music. Cecil Taylor in the seventies introduced the percussion piano style where he hammered the keys. Roland Kirk played 3 saxophones simultaneously in the 70s. Then there was jazz fusion where rock and jazz were melded. The best of the fusion bands was the Cannonball Adderley Quintet with his brother Nat Adderley on trumpet. On the West Coast there was the cool sound with such talents as Art Pepper on alto and on the East Coast Gerry Mulligan on Baritone sax. There were also players with a more Classical sound like the Modern Jazz Quartet and Oscar Peterson and Dave Brubeck keyboard players. One of the really talented composers in the 70s was Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Then there was the Latin Jazz influence with Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz: THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA using the Bossa Nova form.

Original Question

I am 20. Is it too late to become great at piano?
Q. Specifically, jazz piano. I love jazz. I have a very good ear, developed from mostly learning guitar by ear. Throughout most of the 10 years I played guitar, it was rock and contemporary music, but I am really starting to love and understand jazz. I can read music, although I'm kind of slow since guitar doesn't really encourage reading unless it's classical, which I never really pursued. I just learned bass clef because I bought a keyboard last week. I am going to get lessons at the Conservatory of Music in my area (Portland Conservatory of Music). What do you think? I figure by the time I'm 30 I could have something going if I really dedicated myself to the instrument.

A. Guitar music notes are kinda same as piano. Since you said you have a very good ear, can play an instrument (guitar), read music then you don't need to become great at piano. Your already great if you know the piano chords! If your a fast learner then that would be better. Here's a site (piano chords): http://www.8notes.com/piano_chord_chart/

Hope it helps..

Original Question

How do I get better at Jazz Piano?
Q. I play alto in my school's Jazz Band, and I wanted to replace the senior piano player at my school. I've played classical piano on and off since I was 6, but never was to serious with it. My teacher is clueless about jazz, but i have previous chord knowledge from improving on sax. What could I do to help improve my transition into the jazz piano world, reading more complicated jazz rhythms, and comping chords?

A. PRACTICE! is the short answer. As with anything musical, and especially improvisatory and spontaneous music like jazz, developing to the point of sounding competent will take time and dedication and perseverance.
Transcription and listening is important. That's something you should be doing already for the saxophone. Pay attention to pianists on your favorite records, particularly how they comp behind others, since that will be your biggest job in a large jazz ensemble. Transcribe comping rhythms that are attractive to you as well as ones you hear often; even if you don't transcribe the exact voicing, you can still practice using the same rhythms over the changes to standards.
Practice comping in time with a metronome. If you can consistently and accurately play on a steady pulse, you can decidedly play around it. Set the metronome slower and slower while increasing the beats; for example, start with 120 bpm and play one chord every two metronome beats, then decrease it to around 85 and play on every beat, then set it around 50 bpm and treat each pulse as a full bar, playing four even notes between beats. Practice playing in this way to get your time rock solid.
If you are able to get together and play with the rest of the rhythm section from the band, I'd recommend doing so. Get together and play through standards. Work together on building a communication while playing behind (supporting) a horn soloist. Aebersold play alongs are also good for practicing comping "with a band" at home.
Another vital thing for jazz pianists is effective chord voicings. Check out Dan Haerle's book on voicings and work through his exercises. Phil DeGreg also has a really nice progressive (step-by-step) book that's great for getting good-sounding voicings under your fingers. I've studied both.
The only way to get better at reading rhythms is to do it. Sight-read through a hymnal, old songbook, whatever. If you can find piano charts for big band that only have rhythmic notation with chord symbols, those are great for practicing reading rhythm and chord progressions. Start slow and methodical; remember you are striving for accuracy, not speed. Eventually, you'll recognize rhythms from having read them so many times before, and it will come easier to you.
Above all, technique is king. If you don't know how to touch the instrument and can't get around it, all the internal theory and knowledge and tasty licks won't do you much good on the bandstand. Classical lessons aren't necessary, but they challenged me in ways that I wasn't challenged in jazz lessons. Consider taking lessons regularly (either classical or jazz or both, if you have the time).
Good luck!

Original Question




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Title : Facts about jazz music?
Description : Q. I am very interested in jazz music, and I cannot seem to find any musical facts about it. By musical I am referring to the musical not t...

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