Lesson For This Week: “Groovin’ to Jazz
Activity:
Check out some great audio recordings this week, provided by The National Museum of American History. First, read the caption to the piece of audio, then have fun listening to these great tunes!
WE BE DOINIT BY QUINCY JONES WITH TAKE SIX, BOBBY MCFERRIN, ELLA FITZGERALD, SARAH VAUGHAN, AND AL JARREAU
What happens when a bunch of great jazz singers get together? You might call it an acappella party. Acappella means singing with no instruments. The singers are making all the music in this recording. You can hear sounds like drums and percussion and bass along with singing. Listen for the scat (singing “nonsense” words) solos by Bobby McFerrin, Ella Fitzgerald, Al Jarreau, and Sarah Vaughan.
FUL OF KEYS BY FATS WALLER
There were lots of great jazz musicians who could play fast. Stride piano player Fats Waller was one of the best. Stride piano was a style that meant the left hand of the piano player would stride up and down the keyboard: listen for a “boom-chuck” sound in the left hand. This tune, called Handful of Keys, was just that: it seemed like he was playing big handfuls of keys. To get an idea of how amazing he was, try to see if you can play the stride piano beat in your left hand with Fats. Once you get that, see if you can keep that going while moving your fingers in your right hand as fast as he does in the recording.
SUMMERTIME BY MILES DAVIS
Imagine a really hot day. So hot you can’t stand to play in the sun, so you find yourself a spot under a shady tree and a popsicle to eat. What is the perfect music to go with your popsicle? How about a tune played by the coolest jazz cat of all, Miles Davis? Listen to his recording from the opera Porgy and Bess of the song Summertime. Close your eyes and imagine yourself under the tree with your popsicle grooving to the cool sounds of Miles.
APRIL IN PARIS BY COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
Jazz musicians liked to name their favorite musicians after royalty. There was “Duke” Ellington, “Lady” Day (singer Billie Holiday), the “King of Swing” (Benny Goodman), and “Count” Basie. The Count Basie band was famous for being one of the most swinging bands of all time. April in Paris was one of his theme songs. Can you hear what instruments play the part that sounds like the words “April in Paris”? Listen for the funny ending that Count Basie became famous for. People just couldn’t get enough of that song, and it was his way of giving the audience just a little bit extra of the song.
Featured Video of The Week:
It may be hard to believe, but jazz was often featured in old time movies. Sun Valley Serenade is the first of the only two movies featuring The Glenn Miller Orchestra (the other is 1942’s Orchestra Wives). Besides “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, other Glenn Miller tunes in the film are “Moonlight Serenade”, “It Happened in Sun Valley”, “I Know Why (and So Do You)”, and “In the Mood”.
Closing Activity:
For this week, take some time and search on YouTube for any big band recording. This can be a “classic” or “new” big band tune. Listen to it from start to finish, and write down what the music made you feel. If it’s a ballad, did the song make you sad? Relax you? Put you in a great mood? If it’s a fast tune, did it make you want to dance?
It’s Time to Color!
Print this out, and have some fun coloring!
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