John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Learn the basics of jazz music and how the art form works. Along with his band—Kimberly Thompson on drums; Casey Benjamin on saxophone, keytar, and vocoder; and Vicente Archer on bass—Jason Moran shows you how jazz is more like skateboarding and football than you would think, as well as plays original pieces and classic jazz standards.
Jazz is truly an American musical form—and many people consider it one of America’s best contributions to the world of music. Jazz first emerged about 100 years ago in the American south, most distinctly in New Orleans, Louisiana. This seaport city served as home to people of African, French, English, Caribbean, and other backgrounds. It became a melting pot for music from these many traditions. African American musicians fused elements of ragtime, blues, classical, and big brass band sounds to create this distinct new type of music.
Modern Twist
In video #6 called “Vamping” in the carousel above, watch and listen as the musicians play a new version of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Can you identify some of the instruments that saxophonist Casey Benjamin uses? The thing that is strapped around his neck is called a “keytar,” an instrument invented in the 1970s. And the reason his voice sounds like a robot is because he is singing through what’s called a “vocoder.” It’s a piece of electronic equipment used to give the human voice synthetic qualities. Musicians like Jason and Casey use modern instruments to create new and different ways of interpreting these classic songs.
Listen Up!
Jason describes jazz as a “sense of freedom.” He, and other jazz artists, use a technique called improvisation (or improv, for short). Improv means creating music or songs spontaneously, and it’s a technique that requires great musical skill and creativity. First listen to how Jason describes improvisation in the videos called “Skateboarding” and “Improvisation.” In the performance videos, listen closely and see if you can hear when Jason or the band improvs around the piece of music.
Where else could you see improvisation happening in art? Movies, TV, pop music, and even visual art use elements of improv to create.
In Conversation: Jason Moran
From the archives of Kennedy Center Education, a conversation and performance with Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. (Recorded as part of the “Explore the Arts” series in 2012 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.)
Jazz standards refer to popular musical compositions that are widely known and performed; so much so that they have become a standard part of the jazz music repertoire, also known as the “Great American Songbook.” While there is no official list of jazz standards, most of these classic songs were created between the 1920s and ’60s for Broadway musicals and films. Since then, each standard has been performed and recorded countless times by a variety of artists. Jason and the band play classic standards “Summertime” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’” with a modern twist.
Jason Moran & The Bandwagon (Performance/Demonstration)
Award-winning pianist, composer, and Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran is known for challenging “the same old thing” in jazz and confronting contemporary audiences’ notions about the classic jazz trio. In this high-energy performance and demonstration program with his group the Bandwagon (Nasheet Waits on drums, Tarus Mateen on bass), Moran explores the genres of jazz, gospel, blues, and Hip Hop, and features jazz students in performance with the trio (recorded in 2007 at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA).
After the first jazz recordings were made in 1917, jazz spread across the nation. It evolved over the decades, helped along by influential musicians. Among them, trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1920s) introduced improvised solos; Duke Ellington (1920s) popularized big band jazz; Benny Goodman and Count Basie (1930s and ’40s) started people dancing to the upbeat sounds of swing; Charlie Parker (1940s) broke ground with a faster style called bebop; Miles Davis (1950s) influenced jazz first with his softer, complex “cool” style, and then later in the 1960s with fusion jazz; and John Coltrane (1960s) helped pioneer jazz using sounds derived from half-steps called modal jazz.
Since then, artists like Jason Moran have continued to explore and expand the musical genre.
Here are some terms you should know:
fusion – the blending of jazz with other musical styles
improvisation – making up music in the moment, either by performing completely original music or by modifying or changing music that already exists
soloing – when a musician performs alone
syncopation – emphasizing a normally weak note in an unexpected place in a musical rhythm
Jason’s official website. Learn more about the Artistic Advisor to Jazz’s background and listen to more of his work.
A comprehensive list of jazz standards. Find out the history and origination behind these classics.
This site features content about the art form, from history and journalism to a jazz encyclopedia.
Producer
Kenny Neal
Updated
January 8, 2020
Foot thumping rhythms, crooning voices, soulful melodies – jazz is a music with a history as rich as its sound. Follow the great migration that lead African Americans to Harlem, meet jazz icons such as Bessie Smith and Charlie Parker, and stop by the Cotton Club and Apollo Theater on a journey through the past of this American art form.
The roots of blues can be found in slave songs, spirituals, and field hollers of the American South; its sound can be heard in early rock ’n’ roll, and in today’s alternative and Hip Hop landscapes. Journey with us to learn about the influences and impact the blues has had on musical cultures.
You’re in the studio and at the mixing console with Motown historian Harry Weinger and Questlove of The Roots as they unpack classic tracks including Marvin Gaye’s 1971 chart-topper “What’s Going On” and The Supremes' 1966 hit “You Can't Hurry Love.”
National Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor Ben Folds invites you to the NSO Music Library to explore some of his favorite pieces of concert music
Eric Friedman
Director, Digital Learning
Kenny Neal
Manager, Digital Education Resources
Tiffany A. Bryant
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement
JoDee Scissors
Content Specialist, Digital Learning
Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
