Ensemble Music: Jazz and Blues

Jazz and blues are important genres in the history of music and have been influential in shaping many modern styles of music.
Jazz began in New Orleans around the beginning of the twentieth century, while blues originated from African American communities in the Deep South of the United States.
These genres are characterised by improvisation, complex chords, and expressive, soulful melodies.

Jazz music is typically a combination of ragtime, blues, swing and Dixieland with each style adding distinct characteristics to the overall sound.
A key feature of jazz is syncopation - the emphasis of offbeat notes.
Improvisation is a vital element in jazz, where musicians often improvise solos.
Call and response is another significant feature in jazz, where one musician plays a phrase and the others respond.
Swing rhythm, where the timing of notes is changed to provide a swinging feel, is unique to jazz.

The blues emerged from African spirituals and work songs, featuring emotional expression through lyrics and music.
Blues often has a 12-bar structure, and usually uses the I, IV and V chords.
Call and response is a common technique in blues, both in the vocals and in the instrumental sections.
The blues scale features flatted third and seventh notes, which gives the music its distinct ‘blue’ or sorrowful sound.

Instruments typically used in jazz and blues include saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, double bass, and drums.
In a jazz or blues band, each instrument has a specific role. The rhythm section (often piano, double bass, and drums) typically provides the groundwork, the horns provide melodic and harmonic interest, and a vocalist or lead instrumentalist often takes the role of the soloist.
The use of mute in brass instruments is typical in jazz for creating varied timbres and effects in the music.

Remember the distinctive characteristics of jazz and blues, this understanding will help in the identification of these styles in listening tasks.
Be aware of the importance of improvisation in both genres and the use of different scales.
Know the significance of the 12-bar blues pattern and the common chords used in that structure.
Familiarise yourself with common jazz and blues instrumentation, including the role of each instrument in an ensemble.