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stride piano player who started head arrangements based on riffs but the tunes were improvised
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billie had a unique timbre of voice and sense of rhythm
lester played his sax with such a smooth legato style
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Fletcher Henderson was an amazing swing band composer that in his later years sold all his music to Benny Goodman.
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The Duke picked the right players with the right style and then let them do there thing. He was innovative with his compositions as he played with tone and unusual instrumentation.
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Louis Armstrong played his trumpet with such great phrasing and tone. He was a master at the mute, invented scat singing, and had a cool, unique voice.
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some more stride piano, getting the swing into the rhythm
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I just finished a six week intensive look at the history of jazz. My ears are still buzzing with excitement about an amazing musical movement that started in the United States. I’ve spent a lot of time living outside of the States and seeking inspiration from other countries almost to the point of rejecting any American Music but now I have been reminded of what a rich musical history the United States has. I plan on paying homage to many of these amazing jazzers over the next few months. So first I want to acknowledge Fats Waller “a father of stride piano” and extremely entertaining entertainer. Stride piano heavily influenced the first jazz.
