Jazz standard - what is it?

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Jazz, like the blues and other forms of music influenced by Negro culture, perceive the question of what is original and what is not in a peculiar way. For example, in this environment it is not considered shameful to perform works that have already been played many times by others and have been heard for many years, and sometimes decades.

Music that knows its history

In other genres of music, such borrowing of songs sometimes seems unacceptable, because, unlike jazz, it is believed that a performer or a group of musicians must have their own unique repertoire, thanks to which this group will be recognizable and loved by the people.

This is how things are, for example, in rock or pop music. But everything related to Negro culture deserves separate consideration. There are completely different rules here. In this culture, traditions that have developed over several generations and their continuity are very strong.

Musiciansare proud that their work has not only become popular, but has been appreciated by thousands or even millions of listeners around the world. No, they also want to show that their music has a rich pedigree. Jazzmen seem to tell the listener that they are students of the great Muddy Waters, and their music has deep roots that go back to the works of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker.

Therefore, such instrumentalists and singers do not disdain the performance of those compositions on which they grew up and which they consider their teaching aids in the world of music.

How to recognize the standard?

Works that have stood the test of time and are no longer performed by the first generation of jazz musicians are called standards. This definition means that this particular composition can be called a classic of the genre.

Another name for jazz standards is "evergreen", that is, "evergreen", "immortal", "incorruptible".

How to recognize if a given composition is standards or not? The answer to this question is subjective. Each musician can name a couple of compositions that he considers an example of true jazz art. But there are also objective indicators in this regard. For example, there are various ratings that are published by some jazz and just music magazines, which are called, for example, like this: "The 100 Best Jazz Standards of All Time".

You can also judge belongingpiece of music to this class by estimating the number of performances. If a composition has been replayed dozens and hundreds of times, and if a jazz song has been re-recorded within 30-40 years after the first release on the disc, then it can be safely considered a standard.

Interaction of cultures

The content of this category and the attitude of musicians towards it has changed over time, and in each era it was different. So, in the thirties and forties of the last century, only works that were written mainly by composers from the jazz environment were called standards. For example, an indisputable example of such a composition that has survived its era and is modern and today is the aria from the opera "Porgy and Bess" by George Gershwin. Although this composer was not a representative of the black race, his music was accepted immediately and unconditionally even by jazz luminaries, black musicians.

Later, in the forties and fifties, many jazz songs and instrumental compositions began to appear, which were based not only on Negro culture, but also on melodies and rhythms characteristic of Latin American countries or the east. Among such compositions are, for example, "Caravan" by Duke Ellington or "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck.

Jazz today

In the 1960s, jazz musicians stepped far beyond their genre, mainly under the influence of the Liverpool Four Beatles. The songs of the famous Englishmen began to be repeatedly performed by jazzmen, including suchknown as Ray Charles. He performed Lennon and McCartney songs like "Yesterday", "Eleanor Rigby" and many others, making them jazz standards for vocalists.

And therefore, we can say that compared to the era of the origin of the genre, today this category has expanded significantly. And now the songs of such world-famous performers as Norah Jones, George Benson, Bob James or Chick Corea can be called modern jazz standards.