Jazz

Jazz

A style of music characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm. It emerged at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions.

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Jazz

timbre

Music; Jazz

Tone quality, characteristic instrumental sound. Not especially a Jazz term, but note that timbre is one of the basic dimensions of music along with rhythm, melody and harmony. Students sometimes ...

b section

Music; Jazz

The contrasting middle section of a tune, especially the 'B' section of an AABA song form. Traditionally, the bridge goes into a different key, often a remote key. Thelonious Monk once remarked that ...

tenor

Music; Jazz

The voice above the bass, often that played by the thumb of the left hand. Not a Jazz term.

dot time

Music; Jazz

A cross-rhythm based on dotted quarter notes, extending through a passage.

crush

Music; Jazz

On the piano, a half-step played simultaneously.

substitution

Music; Jazz

A chord put in the place of a different chord. A substitution can be made throughout a tune, or just ad lib at a particular moment. Usually the operative idea is that the root of the chord is ...