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A World of Soloists & Rhythm in Transition

(Chapters 9 & 10)

GIANTS OF SWING

RISING ABOVE THE PACK •  Fame and fortune for the stars of Swing

•  Led to greater technical skill

•  Lots of flash and showmanship

•  Solos were typically short

•  8 to 16 bars, usually a few sections [ex. AA, or BA])

•  To be noticed, you had to be bold and showy

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LESTER YOUNG •  (1909 – 1959)

•  “Prez”, “Pork-pie”

•  Horizontal style •  Smooth, melodic, often simple lines

•  Delicate, “dry” sound

•  Invented much of the slang in jazz

•  Friendship with Billie Holiday

•  Huge influence on future saxophonists

BILLIE HOLIDAY •  (1915 – 1959)

•  “Lady Day”

•  Raised in poverty, prostitution

•  Discovered by John Hammond •  Led to work with Basie, Shaw & Goodman

•  Close musical kinship with Lester Young

•  Emotionally powerful singer

•  Conversational style

•  Fluid, cool & speech-like

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COLEMAN HAWKINS •  (1904 – 1969)

•  Sophisticated, intellectual tenor player

•  Vertical style •  Arpeggiated, dense & detailed

•  The roots of Bebop

•  Use of Chord Substitution •  New, more sophisticated chords

•  Surprise hit with “Body & Soul”

ELLA FITZGERALD •  (1918 – 1996)

•  “First Lady of Swing”

•  Raised poor & homeless

•  1938: Hired by Chick Webb’s Big Band •  National fame with novelty songs

•  “A Tisket a Tasket”, “Lady Be Good”

•  1939: Bandleader after Webb’s death

•  Flawless vocal skill •  Huge range & virtuosic scat

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GUITAR GIANTS •  DJANGO REINHARDT (1910 – 1953)

•  Gypsy guitarist

•  Odd, two-finger style developed from injury

•  The jazz giant of Europe in the 30’s

•  CHARLIE CHRISTIAN (1916 – 1942)

•  Brief but seismic career

•  1st significant electric guitarist

•  One of Goodman’s signature soloists

RHYTHM MEN •  JIMMY BLANTON (1918 – 1942)

•  Ellington’s bassist in the late 30s

•  Nimble, sophisticated take on bass lines

•  ‘CHICK’ WEBB (1909 – 1939)

•  Iconic dwarfed drummer and bandleader

•  Power and competitive fury brought other drummers to their knees

•  GENE KRUPA (1909 – 1973)

•  Dynamic drummer for Goodman

•  A “Matinee Idol”…a celebrity with teens