Jazz slang |
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Mellotronjazz
Forum Groupie Joined: 06 Sep 2018 Location: england Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Posted: 11 Sep 2018 at 5:29am |
What do you know about jazz words/slang used and created by the big artist of jazz.
I've been looking for another word they used to refer to musicians other than cats. i know that Cab Calloway brought a book or did a speech on the jazz lingo. but i still cant find another terms other than cats or alligator. i was just wondering if anyone knew of anything that could help me and if you do, do you know the meaning behind them. thanks |
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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Some other terms used over the years:
Long Hairs - a term for classical musicians long ago because they tended to have long hair. The term was then applied to jazz that was classically influenced, or avant-garde as in 'long hair music'. Moldy figs - a term used long ago for musicians who were resistant to new things in jazz. Hep cats - jazz musicians and fans.
Edited by js - 11 Sep 2018 at 7:54am |
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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I remembered some more:
Clams - wrong notes played during a solo. Blow - play or solo Blow through the changes - taking a solo over the chord changes of a song Chops - someone's musical skills. Licorice stick - clarinet
Edited by js - 11 Sep 2018 at 5:28pm |
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Mellotronjazz
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that's great thank you, i hadn't heard of any of those second lot you sent so that very useful information. I really like chops haha it flows so well!
do you know if jazz musicians today still use these terms? |
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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^ Clams, blow, chops, those are all still very common, the other terms belong to another era though.
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Mellotronjazz
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well that's good to know. thank you for your help
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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Take a ride - play a solo
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Mellotronjazz
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that's an interesting one. i would have thought something like 'take a ride' would have been to do with drugs. But i like learning new things thanks.
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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By the way, some threads got moved around, let me now if you can't find anything.
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Mellotronjazz
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i will do thanks! still trying to fully understand and navigate this website :') but i'm getting there!
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Mellotronjazz
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Also what would your definition of ragtime be?
Besides the early piano genre which i know what an early genre of jazz (which is what i used to think it was only referred to) i've now found it used to describe early dixieland and also types of tap dance (from the film musical Oklahoma!) In terms of it as dixieland where does the difference in the two come or is there one at all or is this just another term used both having the same meaning? |
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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Ragtime comes before jazz. Early jazz is sort of ragtime mixed with blues. Dixieland is a form of jazz that comes along later.
Have you checked our site's genre sections. We have sections for ragtime and dixieland where you can hear samples and read a brief definition. You can also go to a source like allmusic and read in depth definitions. It would take a lot of typing to answer your question in depth right now.
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Mellotronjazz
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i will check it out now ive been looking for a reliable site or source of information as every site i go on says something different to the last one so at least with this i will know. thanks :)
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js
Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35062 |
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The info on our site should be accurate, allmusic is usually real good too.
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Shrdlu
Forum Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2014 Location: Azerbazian Status: Offline Points: 36 |
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If you are talking about jazz slang, you must consider Slim Gaillard and Lester Young. Slim made up an insider vocabulary called Vout A-Rooney. A small dictionary of it was published in the 1940s. Quick example: On "Slim's Jam", a Gaillard classic from 1945 with Bird and Diz, Slim mentions a "reety vooty", which is a burrito. Prez hid behind a lot of his own insider terms. He called cops Bob Crosbys. Few people today know that he introduced the word "cool", and "bread" (pay) was one of his.
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