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Jazz

2007-06-22T19:50:36Z

Bienville: added hyperlink to New Orleans

'''Jazz''' is an American style of music that reflects Americans' roots in Africa and Europe and which originated in [[New Orleans]] during the early years of the 20th century. The first jazz recording was made in 1917 by the [[Original Dixieland Jazz Band]], who drew heavily on African-American influences, as well as the marching bands that were popular at the time. It combines African American music, ragtime, and the blues. Jazz is typified by complex collective musical [[improvisation]].

==Early Jazz==
Up until the mid-to-late 20s, jazz was a [[polyphonous]] music - typically, in a band such as [[King Oliver]]'s, the [[cornet]] would hold the main melody, whilst the [[clarinet]] would improvise [[obligati]] above and the [[trombone]] would add a tenor line below. Gradually, a more solo-oriented style emerged, typified by the [[Hot Five]] recordings of [[Louis Armstrong]], where instruments would take turns to solo.

At this time, black and white bands were comprehensively segregated, with the influence of the ODJB hanging heavy over the white bands.

Towards the end of the 1920, the big band sound started to emerge in two places, New York and [[Kansas City]]. In New York, the [[Broadway]] influence led to the development of sophisticated orchestras such as those of [[Fletcher Henderson]] or [[Duke Ellington]], whilst in the Southwest, an earthier, bluesier style was developed by such leaders as [[Bennie Moten]] and [[Jesse Stone]]

==Swing==
The early 1930s were something of a lean time for jazz commercially, although fine recordings were being produced by [[Harlem]] bandleaders such as Ellington and [[Cab Calloway]]. By around 1935 the Swing style was being popularised by white bandleaders such as [[Benny Goodman]], (although black bandleaders such as [[Count Basie]], [[Jimmie Lunceford]] and [[Chick Webb]] had developed it) and by the end of the decade effectively became the sound of Western pop music.

==Bebop==
In reaction against the perceived commercialism of Swing, and its appropriation by white musicians, a group of young, dedicated musicians sought to create a style deliberately intended to alienate the casual listener. With its complex harmonies and irregular melodies, the Bebop style was treated with suspicion by older musicians.

==After Bebop==
During the 1950s the small group came to dominate mainstream jazz, assuming the form that survives to this day - a rhythm section of piano (playing sparse left hand), double bass and drums, with a front line generally consisting of 'horns' (ie, trumpets and/or saxophones).

Various movements emerged in the 1950s.

Hard Bop (epitomised by [[Horace Silver]] and [[Art Blakey]] brought a 'funky', bluesy feel to the music, in reaction to the complexities of Bebop.

Modal Jazz (pioneered by theorist [[George Russell]] and trumpeter [[Miles Davis]]) was also a contrast to Bebop, but sought to give the soloists ample space for expression by eliminating frequent chord changes.

==Fusion==
As rock became the dominant force in popular music in the 1960s, some jazz musicians decided to adapt to it, with varying degrees of success. Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters are two seminal fusion albums, although the genre itself remains controversial.

==Today==
Courses in jazz are offered at many major schools, and the number and standard of jazz musicians now is extremely high. Many high schools in the United States today also have jazz bands. A far remove from its New Orleans underclass roots, jazz is a thoroughly mainstream and respected art form.

Types of jazz include:
*[[Bebop]]
*[[Swing]]
*[[Latin Jazz]]
*[[Free Jazz]]

Some jazz musicians include:
*[[Charlie Parker]]
*[[Miles Davis]]
*[[Louis Armstrong]]
*[[Chet Baker]]
*[[Clifford Brown]]
*[[Sonny Rollins]]
*[[Duke Ellington]]
*[[Count Basie]]
*[[Dizzy Gillespie]]
*[[Maynard Ferguson]]
[[category:music]]

Louisiana

2007-06-21T12:17:38Z

Bienville: created link to New Orleans article

[[Image:Louisiana_State_Flag.gif|thumb|right|The state flag of Louisiana.]]

'''Louisiana''' is located in the Southern region of the [[United States]] and on April 30th, 1812 became the eighteenth state to enter into the union. Louisiana was named after the French king [[Louis XIV]]. The current governor of Louisiana is Kathleen Blanco, a [[Democrat]].

The capital of the state is [[Baton Rouge]], and its largest city is [[New Orleans]].

[[Category:US state]]

New Orleans

2007-06-19T20:13:30Z

Bienville: Subst "August 2005" for "recently". Added passage from ASCE report, details of devastation.

'''New Orleans''' is the largest city in [[Louisiana]]. Originally part of the [[France|French]] territories in America, it retains a great deal of French heritage.

Perhaps best known as the city that gave birth to [[Jazz]] and of the location of Mardi Gras, it was also in the news in August 2005 when [[Hurricane Katrina]] caused numerous failures in its levee defence system that caused widespread devastation.

According to the report from the American Society of Civil Engineers, "THE NEW ORLEANS HURRICANE PROTECTION SYSTEM: What Went Wrong and Why, A Report by the American Society of Civil Engineers Hurricane Katrina External Review Panel": <blockquote>
As of August 2, 2006, 1,118 people were confirmed dead in Louisiana as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Another 135 people are still missing and
presumed dead. Thousands of homes were destroyed. Direct damage to residential and non-residential property is estimated at $21 billion, damage to public infrastructure another $6.7 billion. Nearly half the region’s population has not yet returned after evacuating. Nearly 124 thousand jobs were lost, and the region’s economy was crippled.<ref>http://www.asce.org/files/pdf/ERPreport.pdf</ref>
</blockquote>

[[Category:US Towns and Cities]]

New Orleans

2007-06-19T14:02:02Z

Bienville: subst. "numerous failures" for "a breach".