Everything Jazz

While I was browsing the internet for jazz artists, I came across an artist named Karen Benjey. This is the first time I heard about her. I really have no idea who she was but I got curious and listened to some of her songs online.

She has a beautiful voice but I can’t just ignore the accompaniment used in her songs. Even from the start, I knew that jazz music has a different edge. It’s really very distinct and Karen Benjey has proven it more. If you are interested to listen to her sample music, you can visit cdbaby.com or allaboutjazz.com for other jazz artists.

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Ironic as it may seem but the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word jazz is a saxophone. This instrument has been very popular when jazz music began.

I’m not really familiar with this music and the only artist that I can think of when I hear such music is Kenny G. Little did I know that there are other artists such as Louis Armstrong, Peter Brotzmann and The King and Carter Jazzing Orchestra. I believe jazz music has a distinct sound that even a person who is not a music lover could easily relate to it.

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Renowned artists became recognized by Jazz music. From the 19th Century, they worked hard to revolutionize and develop the Jazz melody. Jazz fusions like Cool Jazz, European Jazz Soul Jazz and Jazz-Rock have their prominent artists such as:

1. Oscar Peterson – a Canadian jazz pianist
2. Ella Fitzgerald – a jazz vocalist
3. Louis Armstrong – an American jazz trumpeter
4. Maxwell “Max” Roach – a jazz innovator
5. Miles Davis – a jazz composer

These artists paved the way among other musicians that’s why Jazz is very popular all-over the world. As a whole, Jazz made great contributions not only to Music but also to all the people.

Jazz poetry is a poetry wherein it expresses a jazzy rhythm and style. Some of the jazz poets are Ezra Pound and T.S. Elliot, but then they’ve given up during early 1920’s. Come 1990, there were also new jazz artists who showed a very great talent in Jazz. Some of these are Aldo Romano and Andrew Hill who have received a Jazzpar prize.

If there’s a national museum, there is also an exclusive museum for Jazz. It is the American Jazz Museum located in USA. There, they exhibit histories not only Jazz but also American Music.

There is also an association exclusive for Jazz – International Association for Jazz Education. This is a non-profit institute for those talented individuals regarding Jazz. How great isn’t it?

Back during the army days in World War II, big bands were the ‘in’ thing in jazz, and toured all over American bases during the war, entertaining soldiers there.

A particular name that was famous during this time was Glenn Miller, who, during 1939 to 1942, was one of the best-selling swing jazz recording artists along with his band, the Glenn Miller Band. Oldies may remember the bands hits like “In the Mood”, “Moonlight Serenade”, “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “Tuxedo Junction”, “Little Brown Jug”, and “Pennsylvania 6-5000″.

It is unfortunate though, that a tragedy befell Miller when he was on his way from the United Kingdom to Paris to perform for the troops that had liberated the city in 1944. He boarded a a single-engined UC-64 Norseman plane with the USAAF serial number 44-70285, on December 15, 1944, and was never seen again, along with the plane. The mystery remains unloved to this day.

I’m back, she says and she plans to release a new album next march. With a new image and attitude to match, she has turned into a sizzlin’ jazz lady ready to take on the world again. With no major album for four years, her twins and the long break has rejuvenated her passion and says she’s ready for a comeback. One of the most recognized modern icons of jazz, she has been touring the world with concert after concert. Don’t get it wrong, she says this time round it’ll be sexier and hotter for the parenting thing with twins has made her more a woman than ever. Promotional shots of the artist have begun to spring up though the wait is long, her fans are just thrilled to have her back. She is scheduled to produce Barbra Streisand this coming January so keep an eye out.

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Miriam Makeba is a South African jazz singer who took the worlds attention with her powerful yet sultry voice, is dead. She died shortly after her concert in Italy. She was 76. She suffered a heart attack after the performance which was rather short. The concert was for an anti organized crime awareness. Mama Afrika, as what she is fondly called, is grieved by the whole nation of South Africa. It is interesting to recall that 30 years ago, she was banned from her own country under the apartheid. Mama Afrika helped raise awareness of the struggle of South Africa from oppression and colonialism through her songs. She is also known as The Empress of the African Song. Farewell to you my fellow musician..

Jazz lovers out there know that there are a lot of different styles of jazz music: soul jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, Dixieland, latin jazz among others. These differing styles, and the fact that jazz by its very description is so difficult to define and open to improvisation makes for some pretty strong sentiments among the jazz lovers community. While he may have his critics, one thing that nobody can argue is that Kenny G. has brought jazz music to the consciousness of a lot of listeners.

With his saxophone and his smooth style of jazz that lends itself to easy listening, Kenny G. has sold more than 75 million albums. And now, his latest album for 2008, Rhythm and Romance, has just been nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards. One for Best Instrumental Album (Category 27) and one for Best Engineered Album(Category 46). The awards will be held on Thursday November 13 at the Toyota Center in Houston Texas. It will air live on the Univision Television Network 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.

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In jazz, the expert performer will translate a tune in very individual ways, certainly not playing the same composition precisely the same way twice. Depending upon the performer’s frame of mind and personal experience, interactions with fellow musicians, or even members of the audience, a jazz musician/performer may alter melodies, harmonies or time signature at will. European classical music has been said to be a composer’s medium. Jazz, however, is often characterized as the product of freethinking creativity, interaction and collaboration, placing equal value on the contributions of composer and performer, skilfully weighing the respective claims of the composer and the improviser.

How does one be glad about true blue jazz music? Some might say that musical comprehension is relative to every person. And yes, it is. Try to be open to every kind of music, and not just the mainstream ones. Listen to the song’s lyrics. No singer writes a song that’s so obscure, nobody can relate to it. Even the strangest ones hold something that a listener can see herself mirrored into against. Open yourself to new experiences, and who knows, the music world is your playground.

I never thought that jazz music can be really addictive. I was never a fan of such music because all my life I�ve only adored pop music. But after listening to Katie Eagleson�s sample music, I fell in love with it right away. Her voice was really mellow and her diction is really clear. You can actually feel as if she�s singing the songs to you personally. I especially like her rendition of �How Do You Keep the Music Playing.� She has put a different edge to the song. I really love it. I guess I must start searching for jazz artists and listening to their music from now on.

Image source: cdbaby.com