X f jazz singer 1927 watch online. The greatest jazz performers: ranking, achievements and interesting facts
Today is a special day for those whose playlists always include songs by Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald or John Coltrane. Every year on April 30 the world celebrates International Jazz Day. On this occasion, we decided to remind you of the people (and even introduce some of them) who are today on the list of modern jazz stars.
George Benson
The smiling master of voice and guitar George Benson, whose work harmoniously merges R"n"B, soft rock and jazz, began his career in jazz as a 21-year-old youth. Today he is already 70 years old, and he still performs! At one time, Benson blew up the music charts, he was compared to Stevie Wonder, and was awarded a Grammy several times.
In the near future it can be heard in France (Paris) - July 3, Germany (Munich) - July 15 or Italy (Rome) - July 22.
Bob James
Pianist Bob James— famous representative and one of the founders of such a musical direction as smooth-jazz (smooth-jazz - translated into Russian as “soft jazz”). What this man plays is extremely professional, melodic and harmonious. It’s not just Bob James himself who makes his music - the master is helped by his band called the Bob James Trio, consisting of Billy Kilson (drums), David McMurray (saxophone) and Samuel Burgess (bass).
To listen to Bob James live, you will have to strain a little more than in the case of George Benson - the former will travel exclusively around the USA until the end of the year and will briefly visit Canada.
Chick Corea
Even those who are not jazz fans know the piano genius Chick Corea. American by birth and Italian by origin, this musician has many Grammy awards and a huge number of world-famous compositions. And, despite the fact that Chick Corea is already 71 years old, he still continues to perform in different countries with concerts.
Until June of this year, the composer will delight Americans with his music, and then he will go to Japan, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. Chick will perform in Holland on July 13, in Germany the next day, on July 18 and 19 he will perform in France, on July 20 he plays in Spain, and then heads to the States.
Norah Jones
The list of modern jazz stars is not full of men alone - there are also representatives of the fair sex who have perfectly realized themselves in this musical direction. For example, 34-year-old jazz pianist and singer Norah Jones, who performs her own songs. Her star lit up in 2002 with the album Come Away with Me, which won five Grammys and sold 20 million copies.
The singer does not plan to give concerts in the near future, so we invite you to remember Nora’s favorite compositions by listening to her last album or by watching recordings of her live concerts.
Nino Katamadze
We decided to end the article with Georgian jazz singer and composer Nino Katamadze. The owner is absolutely special voice, she writes surprisingly deep, serious songs that penetrate to the very depths of the soul.
To hear her live, you won’t have to travel far - on May 25 she performs in the capital of Kazakhstan, and on June 15 she sings at the tenth anniversary festival “Usadba Jazz” in Moscow.
Congratulations to jazz lovers for their “ professional holiday" And for those who are not yet a fan of this musical direction, we advise you: listen to jazz, perhaps it will inspire you to new discoveries.
Jazz performers invented a special musical language, which was based on improvisation, complex rhythmic figures (swing) and unique harmonic patterns.
Jazz originated in late XIX- the beginning of the 20th century in the United States of America and represented a unique social phenomenon, namely, the fusion of African and American cultures. Further development and stratification of jazz into various styles and sub-styles due to the fact that jazz performers and composers continually continued to complicate their music, search for new sounds and master new harmonies and rhythms.
Thus, a huge jazz heritage has accumulated, in which the following main schools and styles can be distinguished: New Orleans (traditional) jazz, bebop, hard bop, swing, cool jazz, progressive jazz, free jazz, modal jazz, fusion, etc. d. This article contains ten outstanding jazz performers, after reading which you will get the most full picture era of free people and energetic music.
Miles Davis
Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton (USA). Known as an iconic American trumpeter whose music had a profound influence on the 20th century jazz and music scene as a whole. He experimented a lot and boldly with styles, and perhaps that is why Davis is at the origins of such styles as cool jazz, fusion and modal jazz. Miles began his musical career as a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet, but later managed to find and develop his own musical sound. Miles Davis's most important and seminal albums include Birth of the Cool (1949), Kind of Blue (1959), Bitches Brew (1969), and In a Silent Way (1969). Main feature Miles Davis was that he was constantly in creative search and showed the world new ideas, and that is why the history of modern jazz music owes so much to his exceptional talent.
Louis Armstrong (Louis Armstrong)
Louis Armstrong, the man whose name comes to mind for most people when they hear the word “jazz,” was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans (USA). Armstrong had a dazzling talent on the trumpet and did much to develop and popularize jazz music throughout the world. In addition, he also captivated the audience with his hoarse bass vocals. The path that Armstrong had to go from a tramp to the title of King of Jazz was thorny. And it began in a colony for black teenagers, where Louis ended up for an innocent prank - shooting a pistol at New Year's Eve. By the way, he stole a pistol from a policeman, a client of his mother, who was a representative of the oldest profession in the world. Thanks to this, not too much favorable confluence circumstances, Louis Armstrong received his first musical experience in the camp brass band. There he mastered the cornet, tambourine and alto horn. In a word, Armstrong went from marching in the colonies and then occasional performances in clubs to a musician of world significance, whose talent and contribution to jazz is difficult to overestimate. The influence of his landmark albums Ella and Louis (1956), Porgy and Bess (1957), and American Freedom (1961) can still be heard in the playing of contemporary artists of various styles.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellinton was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington. Pianist, orchestra leader, arranger and composer, whose music became a real innovation in the world of jazz. His works were played on all radio stations, and his recordings are rightfully included in the “gold fund of jazz.” Ellinton was recognized throughout the world, received many awards, wrote a huge number of brilliant works, which includes the “Caravan” standard, which has bypassed the entire Earth. His most famous releases include Ellington At Newport (1956), Ellington Uptown (1953), Far East Suite (1967) and Masterpieces By Ellington (1951).
Herbie Hancock (Herbie Hancock)
Herbie Hancock was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago (USA). Hancock is known as a pianist and composer, as well as the winner of 14 Grammy awards, which he received for his work in the jazz field. His music is interesting because it combines elements of rock, funk and soul, along with free jazz. Also in his compositions one can find elements of modern classical music and blues motifs. In general, almost every sophisticated listener will be able to find something for themselves in Hancock’s music. If we talk about innovative creative solutions, Herbie Hancock is considered one of the first jazz performers to combine synthesizer and funk in the same way, the musician is at the origins of the newest jazz style - post-bebop. Despite the specificity of the music of some stages of Herbie’s work, most of his songs are melodic compositions that are loved by the general public.
Among his albums, the following can be highlighted: “Head Hunters” (1971), “Future Shock” (1983), “Maiden Voyage” (1966) and “Takin' Off” (1962).
John Coltrane (John Coltrane)
John Coltrane, an outstanding jazz innovator and virtuoso, was born on September 23, 1926. Coltrane was a talented saxophonist and composer, band leader and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Coltrane is rightfully considered a significant figure in the history of jazz, who inspired and influenced modern performers, as well as the school of improvisation as a whole. Until 1955, John Coltrane remained relatively unknown until he joined Miles Davis' band. A few years later, Coltrane left the quintet and began to work closely on his own creativity. During these years, he recorded albums that formed the most important part of the jazz heritage.
These are Giant Steps (1959), Coltrane Jazz (1960) and A Love Supreme (1965), records that have become icons of jazz improvisation.
Charlie Parker (Charlie Parker)
Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City (USA). His love for music awoke in him quite early: he began to master the saxophone at the age of 11. In the 1930s, Parker began to master the principles of improvisation and developed some techniques in his technique that preceded bebop. Later he became one of the founders of this style (along with Dizzy Gillespie) and, in general, had a very strong influence to jazz music. However, while still a teenager, the musician became addicted to morphine, and later the problem of heroin addiction arose between Parker and music. Unfortunately, even after treatment in the clinic and recovery, Charlie Parker could not work and write as actively new music. Ultimately, heroin derailed his life and career and caused his death.
The most significant albums for jazz by Charlie Parker are “Bird and Diz” (1952), “Birth of the Bebop: Bird on Tenor” (1943), and “Charlie Parker with strings” (1950).
Thelonious Monk Quartet
Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount (USA). He is best known as a jazz composer and pianist, as well as one of the founders of bebop. His original “ragged” style of playing incorporated various styles - from avant-garde to primitivism. Such experiments made the sound of his music not entirely characteristic of jazz, which, however, did not prevent many of his works from becoming classics of this style of music. Being quite an unusual person, who since childhood did everything possible just not to be “normal” and like everyone else, Monk became famous not only for his musical decisions, but also for his extremely complex character. His name is associated with many anecdotal stories about how he was late for his own concerts, and once completely refused to play in a Detroit club because his wife did not show up for the performance. And so Monk sat on a chair with his hands folded until his wife was finally brought into the hall - in slippers and a robe. Before the eyes of her husband, the poor woman was taken to urgently on a plane, as long as the concert takes place.
Some of Monk's most notable albums include Monk's Dream (1963), Monk (1954), Straight No Chaser (1967), and Misterioso (1959).
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday, a famous American jazz vocalist, was born on April 7, 1917 in Philadelphia. Like many jazz musicians, Holiday began her music career in nightclubs. Over time, she was lucky enough to meet producer Benny Goodman, who organized her first recordings in the studio. Fame came to the singer after participating in the big bands of such jazz masters as Count Basie and Artie Shaw (1937-1938). Lady Day (as her fans called her) had a unique performance style, thanks to which she seemed to reinvent a fresh and unique sound for the most simple compositions. She was especially good at romantic, slow songs (such as “Don’t Explain” and “Lover Man”). Billie Holiday's career was bright and brilliant, but it did not last long, because after thirty years she became addicted to drink and drugs, which negatively affected her health. The angelic voice lost its former strength and flexibility, and Holiday was rapidly losing the favor of the public.
Billie Holiday enriched the art of jazz with such outstanding albums as Lady Sings the Blues (1956), Body and Soul (1957), and Lady in Satin (1958).
Bill Evans
Bill Evans, legendary American jazz pianist and composer, was born on August 16, 1929 in New Jersey, USA. Evans is one of the most influential jazz performers of the 20th century. His musical works so sophisticated and unusual that few pianists are able to inherit and borrow his ideas. He could masterfully swing and improvise like no one else, at the same time, melody and simplicity were far from alien to him - his interpretations of famous ballads gained popularity even among non-jazz audiences. Evans was trained as an academic pianist, and after serving in the army he began appearing in public with various little-known musicians as a jazz performer. Success came to him in 1958, when Evans began playing in the Miles Davis sextet, along with Cannonball Auderly and John Coltrane. Evans is considered the creator of the chamber genre of the jazz trio, which is characterized by a leading improvising piano, as well as solo drums and double bass. His musical style contributed various colors into jazz music - from inventive graceful improvisations to lyrically colored tones.
To the nai best albums Evans' credits include his one-man solo recording "Alone" (1968), "Waltz for Debby" (1961), "New Jazz Conceptions" (1956) and "Explorations" (1961).
Dizzy Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie)
Dizzy Gillespie was born on October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, USA. Dizzy has many merits in the history of the development of jazz music: he is known as a trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and orchestra leader. Gillespie also founded improvisational jazz with Charlie Parker. Like many jazz musicians, Gillespie started out performing in clubs. Then he moved to live in New York and successfully joined the local orchestra. He was known for his original, if not buffoonish, behavior, which successfully turned the people who worked with him against him. From the first orchestra, in which the very talented but peculiar trumpeter Dizz went on tour in England and France, he was almost kicked out. The musicians of his second orchestra also did not react entirely cordially to Gillespie’s ridicule of their playing. In addition, few people understood his musical experiments—some called his music “Chinese.” Collaboration with the second orchestra ended in a fight between Cab Calloway (his leader) and Dizzy during one of the concerts, after which Gillespie was miserably kicked out of the band. After Gillespie creates his own band, in which he and other musicians work to diversify the traditional jazz language. Thus, the style known as bebop was born, the style of which Dizzy actively worked on.
The best albums of the brilliant trumpeter include “Sonny Side Up” (1957), “Afro” (1954), “Birk’s Works” (1957), “World Statesman” (1956) and “Dizzy and Strings” (1954).
For decades, the music of freedom performed by dizzying jazz virtuosos has been a huge part of music scene and just human life. The names of the musicians that you can see above are immortalized in the memory of many generations and, most likely, the same number of generations will inspire and amaze with their skill. Perhaps the secret is that the inventors of trumpets, saxophones, double basses, pianos and drums knew that some things could not be done on these instruments, but forgot to tell jazz musicians about it.
_________________________________
A new musical direction, called jazz, arose at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries as a result of the merger of European musical culture from African. He is characterized by improvisation, expressiveness and a special type of rhythm.
At the very beginning of the twentieth century, new musical ensembles, called . They included wind instruments (trumpet, trombone clarinet), double bass, piano and percussion instruments.
Famous jazz players, thanks to their talent for improvisation and ability to subtly feel music, gave impetus to the formation of many musical styles. Jazz has become the primary source of many modern genres.
So, whose performance of jazz compositions made the listener's heart skip a beat in ecstasy?
Louis Armstrong
For many music connoisseurs, his name is associated with jazz. The musician's dazzling talent captivated him from the first minutes of his performance. Merging into one with musical instrument– with a trumpet – he plunged his listeners into euphoria. Louis Armstrong went through a difficult journey from a nimble boy from a poor family to the famous King of Jazz.
Duke Ellington
Unstoppable creative person. A composer whose music played with the modulations of many styles and experiments. The talented pianist, arranger, composer, and orchestra leader never tired of surprising with his innovation and originality.
His unique works were tested with great enthusiasm by the most famous orchestras of the time. It was Duke who came up with the idea of using the human voice as an instrument. More than a thousand of his works, called by connoisseurs the “golden fund of jazz,” were recorded on 620 discs!
Ella Fitzgerald
The “First Lady of Jazz” had a unique voice with a wide range of three octaves. Honorary awards It's hard to count talented American women. Ella's 90 albums were distributed around the world in incredible numbers. It is hard to imagine! Over 50 years of creativity, about 40 million albums performed by her have been sold. Masterfully mastering the talent of improvisation, she easily worked in duets with other famous jazz performers.
Ray Charles
One of the most famous musicians, called "a true jazz genius." 70 music albums sold around the world in numerous editions. He has 13 Grammy awards to his name. His compositions have been recorded by the Library of Congress. The popular magazine Rolling Stone ranked Ray Charles number 10 on its “Immortal List” of 100 great artists of all time.
Miles Davis
American trumpeter who has been compared to the artist Picasso. His music was highly influential in shaping the music of the 20th century. Davis represents the versatility of styles in jazz, the breadth of interests and accessibility for audiences of all ages.
Frank Sinatra
The famous jazz player came from a poor family, was short in stature and did not differ in any way in appearance. But he captivated the audience with his velvety baritone. The talented vocalist starred in musicals and dramatic films. Recipient of many awards and special awards. Won an Oscar for The House I Live In
Billie Holiday
A whole era in the development of jazz. Songs performed American singer acquired individuality and radiance, played with tints of freshness and novelty. The life and work of “Lady Day” was short, but bright and unique.
Famous jazz musicians enriched musical art sensual and spiritual rhythms, expressiveness and freedom of improvisation.
A few days ago my friends and I tried to remember as much as possible more people which, in our opinion, changed the course of history. Well, if we expand this topic, we can highlight 10 key aspects in different areas human activities that influenced the life, worldview, or simply the taste of all humanity. Today I would like to highlight10 jazz standards, which, in my opinion, are the basispopular jazz music. Jazz standards- These are jazz melodies or themes that were once written by someone and are so memorable that all jazz musicians and almost all people know them. Quite good musicians, as Wikipedia writes, for example, knows a couple of hundred of them, which, by the way, I very much doubt.
Most likely, many people know the collections I have collected. jazz compositions, but each standard has its own history, which not everyone knows.
So number one:
1. Autumnleaves
Originally, in 1945, it was a French song" Les Feuilles mortes" (literally "Dead Leaves") with music Joseph Kosma and the poet's poems Jacques Prevert). Yves Montand (with Irene Joachim) introduced "Les Feuilles mortes" in 1946 in the film Les Portes-de-la-Nuit. In 1947 American composerJohnny Mercer wrote English text this song and Joe Stafford was one of the first to perform new version compositions. Autumn leaves became a jazz and pop standard in both languages, as well as in an instrumental version.
The video below features an improvisational version of this theme by one of the best jazz improvisers and composers (and one of my favorites) of our time Keith Jarrett. Notice how he funny howls and dances during his solo. His playing has a special charm and is immediately distinguishable and identifiable by ear thanks to the microphone support of his peculiar “moo”.
2. Let it snow!Let it snow!Let it snow!
The song is also known as "Let It Snow". Authorship belongs to the lyricist Sammy Cahn and the composer Julie Styne in 1945. Interestingly, it was written in July 1945 in Hollywood during one of the hottest days of the summer.
What’s even more interesting is that, I think, almost everyone on our blue ball plowing the Universe knows it, even those who have lived in the desert all their lives. Personally, I always sing this song when snowing or rain ( Let it rain! You can still Let it fog!)
3. I've got you under my skin
Not everyone knows this composition, which has been covered by all jazz vocalists, if not on stage, then certainly in the shower. Copyright belongs to Cole Porter and it was written in 1936. In the presented video (as well as in the previous one) it is performed by my favorite musician Jamie CullamCulllum). After this song there will be a small bonus - another song performed by Jamie - High and Dry (Radiohead). This is one of my favorite songs.
4. Fly me to the moon
And this theme is one of those to which it is most convenient to swing, even for me, a person far from swinging. Wrote a masterpiece Bart Howard in 1954.
5. Take five
If a musician wants to test his musical flair on a non-standard rhythm, Takefive - this is the best jazz composition to experiment with. The 5-quarter time signature clearly shows that the song deserves attention. By the way, there are a lot of songs that begin as a famous standard, but I came up with it “the first time” Paul Desmond, and was first presented by the quartet of the great Dave Brubeck Quartet in album "Time Out" in 1959
6. The entertainer
Well, everyone knows that. The composition was written by the founder of the ragtime style. Scott Joplin more than 110 years ago (in 1902). Is a ragtime classic. This jazz composition regained its international fame during « Ragtime Revival" in the 1970s, when it was used as theme song for the movie" "The Sting", which won an Oscar.
7. Singingintherain
"Singing in the Rain" - song with verses Arthur Freed and music Nacio Herb Brown, written in 1929, gained fame after the film of the same name. After watching the video I always start to rejoice!
8. Summertime
When people talk about jazz, then they often mean exactly “ Summertime" Work written George Gershwin in 1935 for the opera "Porgy and Bess". Authors of the text: DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin(brother of George). Saying what is the basis for writing an aria Gershwin took a Ukrainian lullaby "Oh go sleep around the corner", which he heard in New York performed by the Ukrainian National Choir under the direction of Alexandra Koshitsa. We're bringing the heat there too!
9. Feelinggood
"Feeling Good" (also known as " Feelin' Good") is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley And Leslie Bricusse in 1965. Since then, the composition has been recorded by many artists, including the outstanding Nina Simone.
10. HelloDolly
Well, where would we be without Armstrong! But what’s interesting is the author of the music and lyrics famous song, Not Armstrong- the man who set foot on Mars first, - and Jerry Herman (Jerry Herman). The song was very popular in 1964, when it was played on the radio as often as it is played today Lady Gaga. But it is our beloved one Louis Armstrong made it what we know it today.
Soon I will prepare 25 of the best jazz compositions, including jazz standards in the original and their modern adaptations.
Jazz performers invented a special musical language, which was based on improvisation, complex rhythmic figures (swing) and unique harmonic patterns.
Jazz arose in the late 19th and early 20th years in the United States of America and represented a unique social phenomenon, namely, a fusion of African and American cultures. The further development and stratification of jazz into various styles and sub-styles is due to the fact that jazz performers and composers continuously continued to complicate their music, look for new sounds and master new harmonies and rhythms.
Thus, a huge jazz heritage has accumulated, in which the following main schools and styles can be distinguished: New Orleans (traditional) jazz, bebop, hard bop, swing, cool jazz, progressive jazz, free jazz, modal jazz, fusion, etc. d. This article contains ten outstanding jazz performers, after reading which you will get the most complete picture of the era of free people and energetic music.
Miles Davis
Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton (USA). Known as an iconic American trumpeter whose music had a profound influence on the 20th century jazz and music scene as a whole. He experimented a lot and boldly with styles, and perhaps that is why Davis is at the origins of such styles as cool jazz, fusion and modal jazz. Miles began his musical career as a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet, but later managed to find and develop his own musical sound. Miles Davis's most important and seminal albums include Birth of the Cool (1949), Kind of Blue (1959), Bitches Brew (1969), and In a Silent Way (1969). The main characteristic of Miles Davis was that he was constantly in creative search and showed the world new ideas, and that is why the history of modern jazz music owes so much to his exceptional talent.
Louis Armstrong (Louis Armstrong)
Louis Armstrong, the man whose name comes to mind for most people when they hear the word “jazz,” was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans (USA). Armstrong had a dazzling talent on the trumpet and did much to develop and popularize jazz music throughout the world. In addition, he also captivated the audience with his hoarse bass vocals. The path that Armstrong had to go from a tramp to the title of King of Jazz was thorny. And it began in a colony for black teenagers, where Louis ended up for an innocent prank - shooting a pistol on New Year's Eve. By the way, he stole a pistol from a policeman, a client of his mother, who was a representative of the oldest profession in the world. Thanks to this not very favorable set of circumstances, Louis Armstrong received his first musical experience in a camp brass band. There he mastered the cornet, tambourine and alto horn. In a word, Armstrong went from marching in the colonies and then occasional performances in clubs to a musician of world significance, whose talent and contribution to jazz is difficult to overestimate. The influence of his landmark albums Ella and Louis (1956), Porgy and Bess (1957), and American Freedom (1961) can still be heard in the playing of contemporary artists of various styles.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellinton was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington. Pianist, orchestra leader, arranger and composer, whose music became a real innovation in the world of jazz. His works were played on all radio stations, and his recordings are rightfully included in the “gold fund of jazz.” Ellinton was recognized throughout the world, received numerous awards, and wrote a huge number of brilliant works, including the standard “Caravan”, which went around the globe. His most famous releases include Ellington At Newport (1956), Ellington Uptown (1953), Far East Suite (1967) and Masterpieces By Ellington (1951).
Herbie Hancock (Herbie Hancock)
Herbie Hancock was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago (USA). Hancock is known as a pianist and composer, as well as the winner of 14 Grammy awards, which he received for his work in the jazz field. His music is interesting because it combines elements of rock, funk and soul, along with free jazz. You can also find elements of modern classical music and blues motifs in his compositions. In general, almost every sophisticated listener will be able to find something for themselves in Hancock’s music. If we talk about innovative creative solutions, Herbie Hancock is considered one of the first jazz performers to combine synthesizer and funk in the same way, the musician is at the origins of the newest jazz style - post-bebop. Despite the specificity of the music of some stages of Herbie's work, most of his songs are melodic compositions that are loved by the general public.
Among his albums, the following can be highlighted: “Head Hunters” (1971), “Future Shock” (1983), “Maiden Voyage” (1966) and “Takin' Off” (1962).
John Coltrane (John Coltrane)
John Coltrane, an outstanding jazz innovator and virtuoso, was born on September 23, 1926. Coltrane was a talented saxophonist and composer, band leader and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Coltrane is rightfully considered a significant figure in the history of jazz, who inspired and influenced modern performers, as well as the school of improvisation as a whole. Until 1955, John Coltrane remained relatively unknown until he joined Miles Davis' band. A few years later, Coltrane left the quintet and began to work closely on his own work. During these years, he recorded albums that formed the most important part of the jazz heritage.
These are Giant Steps (1959), Coltrane Jazz (1960) and A Love Supreme (1965), records that have become icons of jazz improvisation.
Charlie Parker (Charlie Parker)
Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City (USA). His love for music awoke in him quite early: he began to master the saxophone at the age of 11. In the 1930s, Parker began to master the principles of improvisation and developed some techniques in his technique that preceded bebop. He later became one of the founders of this style (along with Dizzy Gillespie) and, in general, had a very strong influence on jazz music. However, while still a teenager, the musician became addicted to morphine, and later the problem of heroin addiction arose between Parker and music. Unfortunately, even after treatment at the clinic and recovery, Charlie Parker could not work as actively and write new music. Ultimately, heroin derailed his life and career and caused his death.
The most significant albums for jazz by Charlie Parker are “Bird and Diz” (1952), “Birth of the Bebop: Bird on Tenor” (1943), and “Charlie Parker with strings” (1950).
Thelonious Monk Quartet
Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount (USA). He is best known as a jazz composer and pianist, as well as one of the founders of bebop. His original “ragged” style of playing incorporated various styles - from avant-garde to primitivism. Such experiments made the sound of his music not entirely characteristic of jazz, which, however, did not prevent many of his works from becoming classics of this style of music. Being a very unusual person who, since childhood, did everything possible just not to be “normal” and like everyone else, Monk became famous not only for his musical decisions, but also for his extremely complex character. His name is associated with many anecdotal stories about how he was late for his own concerts, and once completely refused to play in a Detroit club because his wife did not show up for the performance. And so Monk sat on a chair with his hands folded until his wife was finally brought into the hall - in slippers and a robe. In front of her husband's eyes, the poor woman was urgently transported by plane, just so that the concert would take place.
Some of Monk's most notable albums include Monk's Dream (1963), Monk (1954), Straight No Chaser (1967), and Misterioso (1959).
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday, a famous American jazz vocalist, was born on April 7, 1917 in Philadelphia. Like many jazz musicians, Holiday began her musical career in nightclubs. Over time, she was lucky enough to meet producer Benny Goodman, who organized her first recordings in the studio. Fame came to the singer after participating in the big bands of such jazz masters as Count Basie and Artie Shaw (1937-1938). Lady Day (as her fans called her) had a unique performance style, thanks to which she seemed to reinvent a fresh and unique sound for the simplest compositions. She was especially good at romantic, slow songs (such as “Don’t Explain” and “Lover Man”). Billie Holiday's career was bright and brilliant, but it did not last long, because after thirty years she became addicted to drink and drugs, which negatively affected her health. The angelic voice lost its former strength and flexibility, and Holiday was rapidly losing the favor of the public.
Billie Holiday enriched the art of jazz with such outstanding albums as Lady Sings the Blues (1956), Body and Soul (1957), and Lady in Satin (1958).
Bill Evans
Bill Evans, legendary American jazz pianist and composer, was born on August 16, 1929 in New Jersey, USA. Evans is one of the most influential jazz performers of the 20th century. His musical works are so sophisticated and unusual that few pianists are able to inherit and borrow his ideas. He could masterfully swing and improvise like no one else, at the same time, melody and simplicity were far from alien to him - his interpretations of famous ballads gained popularity even among non-jazz audiences. Evans was trained as an academic pianist, and after serving in the army he began appearing in public with various little-known musicians as a jazz performer. Success came to him in 1958, when Evans began playing in the Miles Davis sextet, along with Cannonball Auderly and John Coltrane. Evans is considered the creator of the chamber genre of the jazz trio, which is characterized by a leading improvising piano, as well as solo drums and double bass. His musical style brought a variety of colors to jazz music - from inventive graceful improvisations to lyrically colored tones.
Evans' best albums include his solo recording "Alone" (1968), made in man-orchestra mode, "Waltz for Debby" (1961), "New Jazz Conceptions" (1956) and "Explorations" (1961).
Dizzy Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie)
Dizzy Gillespie was born on October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, USA. Dizzy has many merits in the history of the development of jazz music: he is known as a trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and orchestra leader. Gillespie also founded improvisational jazz with Charlie Parker. Like many jazz musicians, Gillespie started out performing in clubs. Then he moved to live in New York and successfully joined the local orchestra. He was known for his original, if not buffoonish, behavior, which successfully turned the people who worked with him against him. From the first orchestra, in which the very talented but peculiar trumpeter Dizz went on tour in England and France, he was almost kicked out. The musicians of his second orchestra also did not react entirely cordially to Gillespie’s ridicule of their playing. In addition, few people understood his musical experiments - some called his music “Chinese”. Collaboration with the second orchestra ended in a fight between Cab Calloway (his leader) and Dizzy during one of the concerts, after which Gillespie was miserably kicked out of the band. After Gillespie creates his own band, in which he and other musicians work to diversify the traditional jazz language. Thus, the style known as bebop was born, the style of which Dizzy actively worked on.
The best albums of the brilliant trumpeter include “Sonny Side Up” (1957), “Afro” (1954), “Birk’s Works” (1957), “World Statesman” (1956) and “Dizzy and Strings” (1954).
For many decades, the music of freedom performed by breathtaking jazz virtuosos has been a huge part of the music scene and simply human life. The names of the musicians that you can see above are immortalized in the memory of many generations and, most likely, the same number of generations will inspire and amaze with their skill. Perhaps the secret is that the inventors of trumpets, saxophones, double basses, pianos and drums knew that some things could not be done on these instruments, but forgot to tell jazz musicians about it.
