Words for the wekk

2 years ago

Jazzmen’s jargon

Jazz was a furtive thing in the early thirties, heard only in a handful of nightclubs and speakeasies. Almost the only time the dedicated jazz fan could hear his favorite music was when he was fortunate enough to be allowed to sit in on an after-hours jam session where the musicians made their kind of music for their own mutual enjoyment. Things have certainly changed, but one thing has changed little, the argot spoken by the musicians themselves. Like all secret languages, the talk of the working musician exits chiefly because he wants a way to communicate with his fellow musicians without the general public (squares, to musicians) knowing what is going on.

Any instrument may be labeled the ax – though the term is usually reserved for one or another of the horns. A bash, gig, hame or bake is an engagement where the musician works. But a ball to a jazz musician is never a formal dance; it’s an occasion for exuberant enjoyment, a real good time. Ball is also used a verb: “I’m going to ball tonight.” A benny is a pawnbroker and a bill is a hundred dollars. Money, generally speaking is bread, and for the most part, bread come from the bossman,who may be booking agent, bandleader of music contractor.

A cat is dragged by a dull, boring experience, but a stimulating, enjoyable occurrence will gas him – sometimes to the extent that he will flip. When low in funds, the musician may speak up for a taste – meaning an advance upon the bread to come. If the taste is big enough, he might treat himself to a new set of threads – a suit.

Comments (11)

Annie Deighnaugh
2 years ago
colleenoz
2 years ago
I’ve always heard a guitar descibed as an “ax”.
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Rusty
2 years ago
Interesting! A number of those terms are used quite often in normal conversations amongst friends. I had no idea they stemmed from musicians.

Rusty
stacey_mb
2 years ago
I enjoyed these descriptions, Jim. Now maybe someone can tell me how to appreciate jazz - I like most music but try as I might, I have never learned to find enjoyment in jazz.
whistle_b
2 years ago
I also, don't care for jazz. I was told many years ago by a person who fancied himself an expert in all areas, that if you don't like jazz, you don't understand it! Well, maybe so! LOL
Elmer J Fudd
2 years ago
Jazz jargon has a commonality with music jargon, hobby jargon, occupational jargon, and all other sorts of lingo. People pursuing like endeavors develop their own buzz words, shorthand, common ways to describe things, not necessarily to exclude others but also not necessarily immediately comprehensible to them either. The link above to the intentionally satirical/comedic jive segment in Airplane seems a bit offensive to me. Jazz musicians aren't necessarily African Americans nor vice versa. .
don_socal
2 years ago
Turn on you cc to see what is being sung (as long as the cc can keep up) and you will get the feel and interaction of he whole group. Jazz is a closer union of the performers than just reading music to add your part. It is born out of the desire to create and communicate in a unified setting.
nickel_kg
2 years ago
All that jargon reminds me of Maynard G. Krebbs, the beatnik character in a 1950's sitcom. I'm no expert, but there are all sorts and types of "jazz", just as there are all sorts and types of "rock." Some I like quite a lot, some I don't. Generally I like music with a melody. Discordant jazz I don't care for, nor do I like rap that depends almost entirely on rhythm -- it's not my thing.

Maybe sometime the FNM theme can be "Jazz."
Elmer J Fudd
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Improvisation is an essential element of jazz, as are elements of different ethnic music styles and traditions. As is common in many other music types, including rock & roll.

Improvisation is an essential element of instrument solos in rock and other music types too. Listen to different recordings of the same song performed by any of the dozens/hundreds of great guitarists. You won't hear the same thing twice.
Uptown Gal
2 years ago
The very best jazz artists of the past didn't (and/or couldn't) read much, if any music) That would have given them way too many boundaries anyway. The only way they could "teach" anyone,

was to just play it for them, and I'm guessing that most were baffled if someone said,

"what are the notes of that song you are playing?" I love jazz, but don't agree with , "if you

don't like it, you don't understand it"...IMHO..if you don't like it, so be it. However, if

you don't like music in general...I am so sorry for you. It gives me life.
Elmer J Fudd
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
The inability to read music notation on paper (you know, the treble or bass clef and notes on the 5 lines) is not an essential element, and is arguably unrelated, to understanding music theory. What lies beneath the surface of music you hear, any music, is music theory.

Most jazz musicians are masters of music theory. What may sound like notes that are going all over the place and sometimes sound dissonant have underpinnings of sophisticated and often unconventional theory elements strung together. Even more "conventional" improvizational jazz relies heavily on exotic chords and the relationships between them, which is part of what theory is about. Without those underpinnings, other musicians playing along would be unable to support what a soloist is doing.

Many great and innovative musicians are and were unable to read music notation and never referred to it. Instead, they play by ear and/or sometimes with written notes unrelated to standard musical notation (like guitar "tabs", as an example).. Again with reference to rock music, a group that by far was the most innovative in its time with unusual and never before done chord usage and melody and chord progressions was the Beatles. None of them could read music but they learned and became proficient in understanding enough music theory and modes to get them where they wanted to go. .

Words for the wekk

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Annie Deighnaugh

colleenoz

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