We get a taste of scat singing in the early part of this tune -- not easy to do, but a variation some jazz fans like -- "Scat singing definition, singing in which the singer substitutes improvised nonsense syllables for the words of a song, and tries to sound and phrase like a musical instrument..." per dictionary definition.
Oh, I know what scat is, and I enjoy it in the old rock music, but I'm just no fan of jazz or swing. However, PBS had a several part documentary about the history of jazz that I thoroughly enjoyed because the people were so interesting, and because jazz is, after, all a big part of the history of 20th century America.
That's interesting, because I didn't recall hearing scat in rock, but I'm not as familiar with rock. A little scat goes a long way with me -- would rather hear the actual instrument or lyrics. Yes, Ken Burns did do a PBS jazz documentary that covered a lot of jazz, I think heavily influenced by an excellent jazz musician, Wynton Marsallis who had his own agenda. Burns has said he wasn't that familiar with jazz and only immersed himself in it for about a year as he prepared for his special. Some jazz professionals thought the focus excluded quite a few jazz musicians that were very influential, an opinion I share. I'm always intrigued wondering why and how it is that each of us find some types of music more appealing than others.
I think I was wrong because I considered doo-wop to be scat since it contained nonsense vocals, but since scat involves improvisation, then doo-wop isn't scat.
"Some jazz professionals thought the focus excluded quite a few jazz musicians that were very influential, an opinion I share."
Since I know so little about jazz, I had no idea that this was a common opinion--I just know that I enjoyed the series. When I hear a piece of jazz that I enjoy, it's invariably New Orleans jazz, but I don't care much for that either. I listen to NPR for hours most days, and I've noticed that the "music" they play during their breaks almost invariably qualifies in my mind as jazz, the assumption apparently that only jazz fans listen to NPR.
I don't know how common it is that the Burns jazz series is considered lacking as I described, I just know there are a number of jazz artists, others, who have the opinion I share -- we may be in the minority of numbers as I do appreciate the point Marsalis wants. Not everybody interpreted Louie Armstrong's contribution as is portrayed in Burns series either. New Orleans jazz is typically Dixieland and a little of that goes a long way with me. I enjoyed Pete Fountain, also Al Hirt whose bands played some variations I liked. There are many other jazz artists whose music through the fifties to the present I enjoy. I selected older tunes for sharing this holiday season as more readily available on YouTube for embedding. Music genres today cross and mix with each other, some which can be enjoyable. I don't like all jazz tunes, types, artists, any more than other genres whether classical, semi-classical, rock, selected folk, etc., a few country. Some music unique to and coming from other countries I enjoy. The fact jazz is an original American art form that came to be expressing a universal musical language embraced all over the world may be one of the reasons NPR airs this music -- and, perhaps, the number of listeners it garners. Am glad we have such a variety of music.
I tried it, but I'm no swing lover, so I didn't get far. I love the old easy listening, though, and a lot of the old Big Band music.
ReplyDeleteWe get a taste of scat singing in the early part of this tune -- not easy to do, but a variation some jazz fans like -- "Scat singing definition, singing in which the singer substitutes improvised nonsense syllables for the words of a song, and tries to sound and phrase like a musical instrument..." per dictionary definition.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what scat is, and I enjoy it in the old rock music, but I'm just no fan of jazz or swing. However, PBS had a several part documentary about the history of jazz that I thoroughly enjoyed because the people were so interesting, and because jazz is, after, all a big part of the history of 20th century America.
DeleteThat's interesting, because I didn't recall hearing scat in rock, but I'm not as familiar with rock. A little scat goes a long way with me -- would rather hear the actual instrument or lyrics. Yes, Ken Burns did do a PBS jazz documentary that covered a lot of jazz, I think heavily influenced by an excellent jazz musician, Wynton Marsallis who had his own agenda. Burns has said he wasn't that familiar with jazz and only immersed himself in it for about a year as he prepared for his special. Some jazz professionals thought the focus excluded quite a few jazz musicians that were very influential, an opinion I share. I'm always intrigued wondering why and how it is that each of us find some types of music more appealing than others.
Delete"I didn't recall hearing scat in rock"
DeleteI think I was wrong because I considered doo-wop to be scat since it contained nonsense vocals, but since scat involves improvisation, then doo-wop isn't scat.
"Some jazz professionals thought the focus excluded quite a few jazz musicians that were very influential, an opinion I share."
Since I know so little about jazz, I had no idea that this was a common opinion--I just know that I enjoyed the series. When I hear a piece of jazz that I enjoy, it's invariably New Orleans jazz, but I don't care much for that either. I listen to NPR for hours most days, and I've noticed that the "music" they play during their breaks almost invariably qualifies in my mind as jazz, the assumption apparently that only jazz fans listen to NPR.
I don't know how common it is that the Burns jazz series is considered lacking as I described, I just know there are a number of jazz artists, others, who have the opinion I share -- we may be in the minority of numbers as I do appreciate the point Marsalis wants. Not everybody interpreted Louie Armstrong's contribution as is portrayed in Burns series either. New Orleans jazz is typically Dixieland and a little of that goes a long way with me. I enjoyed Pete Fountain, also Al Hirt whose bands played some variations I liked. There are many other jazz artists whose music through the fifties to the present I enjoy. I selected older tunes for sharing this holiday season as more readily available on YouTube for embedding. Music genres today cross and mix with each other, some which can be enjoyable. I don't like all jazz tunes, types, artists, any more than other genres whether classical, semi-classical, rock, selected folk, etc., a few country. Some music unique to and coming from other countries I enjoy. The fact jazz is an original American art form that came to be expressing a universal musical language embraced all over the world may be one of the reasons NPR airs this music -- and, perhaps, the number of listeners it garners. Am glad we have such a variety of music.
DeleteI expected a different kind of music but this was a pleasant listening experience nevertheless. I had never heard of this band or the singers before.
ReplyDelete