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They were the first to play jazz
Jazz music world gave a meeting of two cultures - European and African. On an international wave in the early 20s of the twentieth century, the musical movement burst into the Land of the Soviets. We remember the performers who were the first to play jazz in the USSR.
Valentin Parnakh with his son Alexander. Photo: jazz.ru
Valentin Parnakh. Photo: mkrf.ru
“Valentin Parnach’s first eccentric jazz band orchestra in the RSFSR” debuted on stage in October 1922. It was not just a premiere, but a premiere of a new musical direction. The collective, revolutionary for the music of that time, was brought together by a poet, musician and choreographer who lived in Europe for six years. Parnach heard jazz in a Parisian cafe in 1921 and was shocked by this innovative musical movement. He returned to Soviet Union with a set of instruments for a jazz band. We only rehearsed for a month.
On the day of the premiere on the stage of the Central College theatrical arts- the current GITIS - the future writer and screenwriter Evgeniy Gabrilovich, actor and artist Alexander Kostomolotsky, Mechislav Kaprovich and Sergei Tizengeizen gathered. Gabrilovich was sitting at the piano: he played well by ear. Kostomolotsky played drums, Kaprovich played saxophone, Tiesengeisen played double bass and foot drum. The double bass players still beat the rhythm with their feet, the musicians decided.
At the first concerts, Valentin Parnakh told the audience about the musical direction and that jazz is a combination of traditions from different continents and cultures into one “international fusion.” The practical part of the lecture was received with enthusiasm. Including Vsevolod Meyerhold, who was not slow in inviting Parnakh to assemble a jazz band for his performance. Popular foxtrots and shimmy were performed in the performances “The Generous Cuckold” and “D.E.” Energetic music came in handy even at the May Day demonstration in 1923. “For the first time, a jazz band participated in state celebrations, which has never happened in the West before!”- the Soviet press trumpeted.
Alexander Tsfasman: jazz as a profession
Alexander Tsfasman. Photo: orangesong.ru
Alexander Tsfasman. Photo: muzperekrestok.ru
The works of Franz Liszt, Heinrich Neuhaus and Dmitry Shostakovich coexisted harmoniously with jazz melodies in the work of Alexander Tsfasman. While still a student at the Moscow Conservatory, from which the musician later graduated with a gold medal, he created the first professional jazz group in Moscow - “AMA-jazz”. The orchestra's first performance took place in 1927 at the Artistic Club. The team immediately received an invitation from one of the most fashionable venues at that time - the Hermitage Garden. In the same year, jazz first appeared on Soviet radio. And it was performed by Tsfasman’s musicians.
“The tired sun tenderly said goodbye to the sea” sounded in 1937 from a record recorded by Alexander Tsfasman’s ensemble under the name “Moscow Guys”.
For the first time in the Union, the famous tango by the Polish composer Jerzy Petersbursky “Last Sunday” to the words of the poet Joseph Alwek was heard in a jazz arrangement. The first to sing about the tender farewell of the sun and sea was the soloist of the Tsfasman jazz ensemble Pavel Mikhailov. WITH light hand Among musicians, another recording from the same disc - about an unsuccessful date - became an all-time hit. “So that means tomorrow, in the same place, at the same hour.”, - sang after jazz ensemble the whole country.
“Those who have ever listened to A. Tsfasman play will forever remember the art of this virtuoso pianist. His dazzling pianism, combining expression and grace, had a magical effect on the listener.”
Alexander Medvedev, musicologist
Although Alexander Tsfasman was involved in a jazz ensemble, he did not abandon his solo program and performed as a pianist and composer. Together with Dmitry Shostakovich, Tsfasman worked on the music for the epic film “Meeting on the Elbe”, and then, at the request of the composer, performed his music for the film “The Unforgettable 1919”. He also became the author of jazz music that sounded in famous performance“Under the rustle of your eyelashes” by the puppet theater of Sergei Obraztsov.
Leopold Teplitsky. Classics with a jazz twist
Leopold Teplitsky. Photo: history.kantele.ru
Leopold Teplitsky conducted symphony orchestras at silent film shows in the St. Petersburg Hermitage and Lux cinemas while still studying at the conservatory. In 1926, the People's Commissariat sent the young musician to Philadelphia to perform at International exhibition. In America, Teplitsky heard symphonic jazz - the music of this direction was performed by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.
When Leopold Teplitsky returned to the USSR, he organized the “First Concert Jazz Band” from professional musicians. The classics - the music of Giuseppe Verdi and Charles Gounod - were heard in a jazz arrangement. A jazz band played and works by contemporary American authors - George Gershwin, Irving Berlin. This is how Leopold Teplitsky found himself at the forefront of professional Leningrad jazz in the 1930s. Leonid Utesov called him “the first Russian musician to show jazz playing.”
The jazzmen's first performance took place in 1927. The concert was preceded by a lecture “The Jazz Band and the Music of the Future” by musicologist and composer Joseph Schillinger. Of particular interest to the public was the music, unusual for those years, and the soloist - the pop and jazz singer from Mexico Coretti Arle-Titz. The success of the team did not last long: in 1930, Leopold Teplitsky was arrested and convicted of espionage. He was released two years later, but Teplitsky did not stay in Leningrad - he moved to Petrozavodsk.
Since 1933, the musician worked as the chief conductor of the Karelian Symphony Orchestra, but did not leave jazz - he played with academic orchestra and a jazz program. Teplitsky also performed with his new group in Leningrad - as part of the Decade of Karelian Art. In 1936, with the participation of the musician, new team"Kantele", for which Teplitsky wrote "Karelian Prelude". The ensemble became the winner of the First All-Union Radio Festival folk art in 1936. Leopold Teplitsky remained to live in Petrozavodsk. The “Stars and Us” jazz music festival is dedicated to the memory of the famous jazzman.
Leonid Utesov. "Song Jazz"
Leonid Utesov. Photo: music-fantasy.ru
Leonid Utesov. Photo: mp3stunes.com
A high-profile premiere at the turn of the 1930s was “Thea Jazz” by Leonid Utesov. Fashionable musical direction from the light hand of the famous variety artist, who dropped out of commercial school for the sake of music, acquired the scale of a theatrical performance. Utesov became interested in jazz during a trip to Paris, where the Ted Lewis Orchestra amazed the Soviet musician with its “theatricalization” in best traditions music hall
These impressions were embodied in the creation of “Thea Jazz”. Utesov turned to the virtuoso trumpet player, academic musician Yakov Skomorovsky, who also found the idea of a jazz orchestra interesting. Gathering musicians from Leningrad theaters, Tea Jazz performed on the stage of the Leningrad Maly Opera Theater in 1929. This was the first composition of the group, which did not work for long and soon moved to the Leningrad Radio in the “Concert Jazz Orchestra”.
Utesov recruited a new cast of “Thea-jazz” - the musicians staged entire performances. One of them - “Music Store” - later formed the basis famous film, the first Soviet musical comedy. Painting by Grigory Alexandrov “Jolly Guys” with Lyubov Orlova in leading role was released in 1934. She became popular not only at home, but also abroad. got inspired jazz music in 1933, when he heard Duke Ellington's "Dear Old South." Impressed, Lundström wrote out the arrangement, assembled a band, and sat down at the piano himself. Two years later, the musician conquered Shanghai, where he lived at that moment. So I decided further fate: Abroad, Lundström studied simultaneously at a polytechnic institute and a music college. His orchestra played jazz classics and music Soviet composers in jazz arrangement. The press called Lundström “the king of jazz of the Far East.”
In 1947, the musicians decided to move to the Soviet Union - to in full force, with families. Everyone settled in Kazan and studied at the Conservatory here. However, a year later, a resolution of the CPSU Central Committee was issued, condemning “formalism in music.” The team returned to their homeland to become state-owned jazz band Tatar ASSR, but the musicians were distributed in opera house and cinema orchestras. Together they performed only at rare one-off concerts.
“Deep penetration into the character of jazz performance, into its classical traditions, on the one hand, and the desire to contribute to this genre, using national folklore, through the creation and performance of original jazz works and arrangements, on the other - this is the orchestra’s credo.”
Oleg Lundstrem
Only the thaw brought jazz back to the stage. In the year of its 60th anniversary, Oleg Lundstrem's orchestra entered the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest continuously existing orchestra in the world. jazz orchestra. The musician also had a chance to meet the author of that same “Dear Old South” when Duke Ellington came to Moscow in the 1970s. Oleg Lundstrem kept the record all his life, which gave him a love for jazz.
How the musical direction of jazz was formed in the USA in late XIX- the beginning of the twentieth century, representing a synthesis of cultures: African and European. Since then it has evolved greatly and has become the impetus for the development of many other musical styles. At the beginning of the last century, jazz bands gained popularity, musical ensembles, which featured wind and percussion instruments, as well as piano and double bass. The brightest jazz performers were forever inscribed in the history of music.
Cult jazzmen
Perhaps the most famous jazzman in the world is Louis Armstrong. This name is known not only to fans of this musical style, for a wide audience it is so closely associated with jazz that it has become its personification. Armstrong is a representative of traditional New Orleans jazz, thanks to him this style developed and became popular in the world, and his influence on the music of the last century can hardly be overestimated. He is also called the "Jazz Maestro" or "King of Jazz". Louis Armstrong's main instrument was the trumpet, but he was also an excellent vocalist and jazz band leader.
And Frank Sinatra was legendary jazz vocalist with an incredible voice timbre. In addition, he was also an excellent actor and showman, a standard of musical taste and style. For my musical career he received 9 of the highest music awards - a Grammy, and also won an Oscar for his acting skills.
The most famous jazz performers
Ray Charles - a real genius jazz, awarded America's main music award as many as 17 times! He is ranked 10th out of 100 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the greatest artists. In addition to jazz, Charles also performed compositions in the genres of soul and blues. This great artist went blind as a child, but this did not stop him from achieving worldwide fame and making a huge contribution to the history of the music industry.
Miles Davis, the most talented jazz trumpeter, gave rise to new varieties of this musical style, such as fusion, cool jazz and modal jazz. He was never limited to one direction - traditional jazz, this made his music multifaceted and unusual. He was the one who can be said to have founded modern jazz. Performers of this style today are often its followers.
Great women
The best jazz performers are not necessarily men. Ella Fitzgerald - greatest singer with a unique voice with a three-octave range. This magnificent vocalist was a master of voice improvisation and received many awards during her long career, including 13 Grammys. 50 years of the singer’s work is a whole era in music, during which this jazz diva released more than 90 albums.
Billie Holiday had a much shorter career, but no less colorful. Her singing style was unique, and therefore the legendary vocalist is considered the founder of jazz vocals. Unfortunately, the singer's unhealthy lifestyle led to her death at the age of 44, and in 1987 she was awarded a Grammy posthumously. These great singers are far from the only women- jazz performers. But they are definitely one of the brightest.
Other artists
There are undoubtedly others famous performers jazz of yesteryear. Sarah Vaughan - " greatest voice 20th century,” her voice was truly unique, mannered and refined, and over the years it became deeper and deeper. Throughout her career, the singer honed her skills. And Dizzy Gillespie was a virtuoso trumpet player, vocalist, composer and arranger. Dizzy founded modern improvisational jazz (bebop) with Charlie Parker, an amazing saxophonist who became so through hard practice and 15 hours of music lessons.
Living and popular jazzmen
Diversity and fusion of styles is what modern jazz is all about. Performers often do not limit themselves to one direction, combining jazz with soul, blues, rock or pop music. Today the most famous are: George Benson, a master of voice and guitar for about 50 years, Grammy winner; Bob James is a smooth jazz pianist, one of the founders of this style and the creator of the band called the Bob James Trio, which features saxophone, drums and bass performed by David McMurray, Billy Kilson and Samuel Burgess. Another piano genius and the composer is Chick Corea. A multiple Grammy winner and a very talented musician, in addition to keyboards, he also plays the percussion instruments. Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz performer with a rare voice with a range of 6 octaves, known for her joint performances with many jazz stars. Georgian Nino Katamadze is one of the most famous jazz singers of our time, she is also a composer of her own songs. He has a surprisingly deep, special voice. She has her own jazz band called Insight, with which she records and performs. The ensemble consists of guitar, bass guitar and drums, performed by Gocha Kacheishvili, Uchi Gugunava and David Abuladze, sound engineer - Gia Chelidze.
Young generation
Modern popular artists jazz are often young talents, among whom girls especially stand out. A real breakthrough was the talented Norah Jones, author and performer of her own songs, singer and pianist. Thanks to the range and timbre of her voice, many compare her to Billie Holiday. During her 10-year career, she managed to release 10 albums, as well as earn a Grammy and many other prestigious awards. Another young jazz singer is multi-instrumentalist Esperanza Spalding, the first jazz artist to win a Grammy for Best new artist of the Year" in 2011, also won in other nominations in this music award. Plays many instruments and speaks several languages.
Above are the brightest and most outstanding jazz performers. And although there are a lot of excellent musicians in this direction, it is enough to listen to the best to get a basic understanding of such a concept as jazz.
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 composer Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics for this song, and Joe Stafford was one of the first to perform a new version of the composition. 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 it's 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 CullamCullum). 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 the 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.
I’ll prepare the best 25 soon jazz compositions, including jazz standards in the original and their modern adaptations.
Oscar Peterson, pianist
Ray Brown, double bassist
Dave Brubeck, pianist
Erroll Garner, pianist
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet player
Charlie Parker, saxophonist
Chick Corea ( Chick Corea), pianist
Niels Pedersen, double bassist
Clark Terry, trumpet player
Art Tatum, pianist
Herbie Hancock, pianist
In order for a star to appear in jazz, a group of like-minded people is needed to make it happen. Each star should be surrounded by the same stars, a team with whom you speak the same language. I know this from myself. This is also true in classical music: when I play with an orchestra, the conductor is very important. If there are such virtuosos as Temirkanov, Gergiev, Fedoseev, Jansons, Maazel, Abbado at the controls, then there is contact and you speak the same language with the person... And at this moment you can improvise (more precisely, if we are talking about classical music, then this is more of an interpretation), being confident that the conductor will pick you up.
1. Oscar Peterson, Canadian pianist. This is the person thanks to whom I try to somehow play jazz. He died on December 23 of the year before last, at the moment when I was playing jazz at the conservatory. Thanks to this musician, I comprehended my perception and attitude towards jazz.
Since childhood, jazz has been playing in our family, my dad is an amazing pianist, he played and still plays... Since then, Oscar Peterson has been a standard for me. I took fifteen concerts note by note and adapted them to my capabilities. All my attempts at jazz fantasies are the influence of this brilliant man. When I was in Canada, he was brought to my concert (he was no longer in the best condition), after the concert we met. I played it for him. For me it was a moment of happiness. It was planned to hold a joint concert, but, unfortunately, this will no longer be possible.
According to jazz historian Scott Yanov, « Peterson plays a hundred notes where another pianist would make do with ten; but all one hundred usually ended up in the right place, and there is nothing wrong with demonstrating playing technique if it serves the music. Peterson did not go from style to style, but grew up within the style that he once found, and there is nothing wrong with that either.”
2. Ray Brown the amazing jazz double bass player who played with Peterson is also no longer alive.
Don Thompson, pianist: “He plays notes so perfectly, it's as if he'd been sitting all night, getting his fingers in the best positions to play. He is the Bach of bassists."
Ray Brown Trio "Blues for junior"
3. Dave Brubeck Brubeck), pianist, invented his own unique, ragged style of jazz, different from the traditional four quarters.
This is what Brubeck himself says: “It is very important to share your feelings, strong emotions with someone. Hatred, anger, but even better - love. As long as you feel something strongly, and if you are an artist, you always manage to convey it in one way or another.”
Charlie Parker: “I like Brubeck. He reached such perfection that I could only reach it by making every conceivable and inconceivable effort.”
The Dave Brubeck Quartet "Three To Get Ready"
4. Erroll Garner pianist, also self-taught. They say: it’s better not to try to play jazz, just listen to how Garner does it. The performance isn't technically particularly outstanding, but every line he delivers makes you want to cry. Nobody can understand how he does it. His charm, his sound is something incredible.
At all distinguishing feature outstanding jazz musicians the fact that you can immediately understand who is playing. You can immediately distinguish great jazzmen from just jazzmen.
Pianist, innovator, who developed his own unique “orchestral” style of piano playing. He was called "the man with forty fingers." Garner was influenced by many pianists, including Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, and Monty Alexander.
Eroll Garner "Gaslight"
5. Dizzy Gillespie), trumpet player, and Charlie Parker saxophonist, inventor of the bebop style.
Tedd Hill, conductor: “Several of my musicians threatened to leave the orchestra if I took this madman with me. But it turned out that young Dizzy, with his eccentricity and constant ability to make jokes, was the most reliable person in the orchestra. He saved so much money for himself that he even encouraged others to borrow from him so that he could have some income from it when he returned to the States.”
Gigi Grice, musician, friend of Charlie Parker: “Parker is a natural genius. If he had become a tinsmith, I believe that he would have accomplished something significant in this business as well.”
Dizzy Gillespie and The United Nations Orchestra. A Night In Tunisia / Live at The Royal Festival Hall, London. Broadley Music International Ltd.
6. Chick Corea, pianist. There is nothing to say here; those who attended his concerts in Moscow were lucky.
“I sought to combine the discipline and richness of colors of a symphony orchestra, the charm of harmony, melody and form with the rhythmic energy of jazz and folklore different nations" In 1970, he became an adherent of Hubbard's teachings and received the nickname "Mr. Scientology."
Chick Corea. City of Brass / The Ultimate Adventure: Live in Barcelona. 2007 Chick Corea Production, Inc.
7. Niels Pedersen). He played the double bass with great speed and unique swing passages. No one can repeat this, it's fantastic.
One of the outstanding European virtuosos. Became famous as Oscar Peterson's partner. American musicians They called it the “Danish miracle.” In the 80-90s he assembled his own ensembles with Scandinavian musicians.
8. Boris Rychkov. They say that a Soviet person cannot play jazz, but Rychkov is a unique pianist of amazing jazz thinking, his improvisations were absolutely original, he spoke his own language. Everyone talked about it, including the outstanding jazz player Georgy Garanyan, my oldest friend, whom Svyatoslav Belza calls “the sax symbol of Russia.” And for him, Boris Rychkov is in first place in the ranking of jazz players.
Vasily Aksenov, writer: “In 1952, the now famous pianist Boris Rychkov needed a saxophone. Playing the saxophone at that time was considered hooliganism. They were not on sale. One day, Boris, who had already lost hope, was walking along one of the Arbat alleys and suddenly heard seditious sounds. In the mezzanine, among the antique rubbish, an old Czech carefully played a butterfly polka. With great pleasure and for a small price, he gave up the saxophone to the happy Boris.”
9. Clark Terry Jazz player, 89 years old, the last of the Mohicans.
Miles Davis, the great jazz trumpeter: “Clark Terry played trumpet in our school orchestra. This is someone who was definitely born with a silver trumpet in his mouth! He always seemed to be able to play with confidence and solidity. When he played, all the seats were filled, people specially came from other cities to listen to him play.”
10. Art Tatum, a unique pianist, a genius. A blind man who never learned anything, unlike Peterson who is classically trained.
Stefan Grappeli, violinist: “Tatum was my god, I wanted to play the violin like he did on the piano.”
Fats Waller, pianist, composer: “How can I play when the Lord God himself sits among us today!”
Art Tatum "Tiger Rag"
11. Herbie Hancock. I love him. This is jazz from thirty years ago, when every note of it could make you cry.
Traditionally included in the top four acoustic pianists of modern jazz, along with McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. He entered the history of the development of jazz piano technology thanks to the concept of multidimensional harmony (Speak Like a Child, 1968). For the first time in the history of jazz, he used modern synthesizers, which ensured his worldwide fame. Last year, he was named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of Our Time" in the Arts and Entertainment category for his "unparalleled service to jazz and pioneering efforts to expand its boundaries."
As a musical movement, jazz was formed in the United States at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, representing a synthesis of cultures: African and European. Since then it has evolved greatly and has become the impetus for the development of many other musical styles. At the beginning of the last century, jazz bands, musical ensembles that included wind and percussion instruments, as well as piano and double bass, were gaining popularity. The brightest jazz performers were forever inscribed in the history of music.
Cult jazzmen
Perhaps the most famous jazzman in the world is Louis Armstrong. This name is known not only to fans of this musical style; for a wide audience it is so closely associated with jazz that it has become its personification. Armstrong is a representative of traditional New Orleans jazz, thanks to him this style developed and became popular in the world, and his influence on the music of the last century can hardly be overestimated. He is also called the "Jazz Maestro" or "King of Jazz". Louis Armstrong's main instrument was the trumpet, but he was also an excellent vocalist and jazz band leader.
And Frank Sinatra was a legendary jazz vocalist with an incredible vocal timbre. In addition, he was also an excellent actor and showman, a standard of musical taste and style. During his musical career, he received 9 of the highest music awards - a Grammy, and also won an Oscar for his acting skills.
The most famous jazz performers
Ray Charles is a true jazz genius, awarded America's main music award as many as 17 times! He is ranked 10th out of 100 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the greatest artists. In addition to jazz, Charles also performed compositions in the genres of soul and blues. This great artist went blind as a child, but this did not stop him from achieving worldwide fame and making a huge contribution to the history of the music industry.
Miles Davis, a talented jazz trumpeter, gave rise to new varieties of this musical style, such as fusion, cool jazz and modal jazz. He was never limited to one direction - traditional jazz, this made his music multifaceted and unusual. He was the one who can be said to have founded modern jazz. Performers of this style today are often its followers.
Great women
The best jazz performers are not necessarily men. Ella Fitzgerald is the greatest singer with a unique voice with a three-octave range. This magnificent vocalist was a master of voice improvisation and received many awards during her long career, including 13 Grammys. 50 years of the singer’s work is a whole era in music, during which this jazz diva released more than 90 albums.
Billie Holiday had a much shorter career, but no less colorful. Her singing style was unique, and therefore the legendary vocalist is considered the founder of jazz vocals. Unfortunately, the singer's unhealthy lifestyle led to her death at the age of 44, and in 1987 she was awarded a Grammy posthumously. These great singers are far from the only women jazz performers. But they are definitely one of the brightest.
Other artists
There are, undoubtedly, other famous jazz performers of yesteryear. Sarah Vaughan is “the greatest voice of the 20th century”, her voice was truly unique, mannered and sophisticated, becoming deeper and deeper over the years. Throughout her career, the singer honed her skills. And Dizzy Gillespie was a virtuoso trumpet player, vocalist, composer and arranger. Dizzy founded modern improvisational jazz (bebop) with Charlie Parker, an amazing saxophonist who became so through hard practice and 15 hours of music lessons.
Living and popular jazzmen
Diversity and fusion of styles is what modern jazz is all about. Performers often do not limit themselves to one direction, combining jazz with soul, blues, rock or pop music. Today the most famous are: George Benson, a master of voice and guitar for about 50 years, Grammy winner; Bob James is a smooth jazz pianist, one of the founders of this style and the creator of the band called the Bob James Trio, which features saxophone, drums and bass performed by David McMurray, Billy Kilson and Samuel Burgess. Another piano genius and composer is Chick Corea. A multiple Grammy winner and a very talented musician, in addition to keyboards, he also plays percussion instruments. Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz performer with a rare voice with a range of 6 octaves, known for her joint performances with many jazz stars. Georgian Nino Katamadze is one of the most famous jazz singers of our time, she is also a composer of her own songs. He has a surprisingly deep, special voice. She has her own jazz band called Insight, with which she records and performs. The ensemble consists of guitar, bass guitar and drums, performed by Gocha Kacheishvili, Uchi Gugunava and David Abuladze, sound engineer - Gia Chelidze.
Young generation
Modern popular jazz performers are often young talents, among whom girls especially stand out. A real breakthrough was the talented Norah Jones, author and performer of her own songs, singer and pianist. Thanks to the range and timbre of her voice, many compare her to Billie Holiday. During her 10-year career, she managed to release 10 albums, as well as earn a Grammy and many other prestigious awards. Another young jazz singer is multi-instrumentalist Esperanza Spalding, the first jazz artist to win a Grammy for Best New Artist of the Year in 2011, who has also won other awards. Plays many instruments and speaks several languages.
Above are the brightest and most outstanding jazz performers. And although there are a lot of excellent musicians in this direction, it is enough to listen to the best to get a basic understanding of such a concept as jazz.
