intro: all recognised and established styles of music or genre have a name or label attached to them. Each has its own history in respect of the cultural/economic/political/social conditions that may have encouraged its development; each has its own perhaps distinct characteristics, its own exponents that play in the style and each has a catalogue of recordings that illustrate the style and its progress through time. In essence, each style is like a language that must be learned in order to be played authentically. It is often the case that the written form only takes us so far with this learning process; and that ultimately we must listen to recordings to see and hear how things are done in the style.
Swing is a style with its own history and anyone that wishes to indulge in Swing style should learn the language by all means possible. In brief, Swing was built on the back of an earlier form of Jazz (a la New Orleans) circa the early 20th century – the Swing feeling. The Swing era is regarded as being the 30’s to 1945; after which it was replaced by other styles. But during this period, it was the popular mainstream music of America and was principally aimed at social dancing: that was its purpose. There is plenty of information out there which will give you a more comprehensive background.
Right now, the aim of this workshop is to look at the language of Swing and its characteristics; so that when we play it, it sounds authentic – just the same as speaking a foreign language authentically so that even the natives are fooled.
- One o Clock Jump – Count Basie: an introduction
- Horn Articulations: Jazz Syllables
- The role of guitar: The Freddie Green template
- Essential rhythm chords for big band guitar
- Four to the Bar Rhythm Guitar