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Similarities between jazz and blues
Ragtime and blues influence on jazz
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Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday were both prominent jazz singer-songwriters during the same time and masters in their own right, but their worlds could not have been further apart. In 1939, while they were both in the midst of experiencing mainstream success, Ella was touring with Ella and her Famous Orchestra and showcasing her perfect pitch and tone to the world while singing songs that would soon become standards to fellow singers and musicians. Billie was singing solo, comfortable with her limited range, and gaining the adoration of audiences nationwide who loved her soulful voice. Both of these historic singers made contributions to the art of jazz, with vocalists and instrumentalists still using elements of their style today. Ella …show more content…
This tune became a jazz standard due to its slow harmonic progression that sounds like blues, and Billie’s recording in 1936 is a true example of just that. The low, crawling music begins and drags on, while Billie begins to croon in a completely soulful way. What we see come from Billie in this is complete sincerity in the form of music, and she popularized this song and led it to become number twelve in the U.S. pop charts, further cementing her stardom. Ella recorded her version some time later in 1958, on her and Louis Armstrong’s Porgy and Bess. Again, Ella sings with clear dictation and is able to express her three octave vocal range freely. Her version does not invoke as much gut-wrenching emotion as Billie’s does, nor does it explicitly stick to the pure blues style, but it conveys the story and message as the lullaby that it is. With both Ella and Billie recording their renditions of this opera piece, interest in the opera and with jazz music has continued on. A third and final tune that both Ella and Billie performed is “Willow Weep for Me,” with Ella recording it in 1960 on Hello, Love and Billie recording it in 1956 on Lady Sings the Blues. In Ella’s rendition, she again expertly exercises her range, going from highs to lows easily, and still keeping the tempo slow. This song is actually an impressive piece of work for Billie, who utilizes her vocals to the best of her ability, and is able to thoroughly embody the
There are many writers that convey their purposes using different methods. Many writers use different techniques to persuade their audience towards a specific idea in their writing. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain tells the story about a boy named Huck, who takes on many adventures along with Jim, a runaway slave. Throughout their journey, Huck starts to realize that African Americans are much the same as white Americans. He sees that the treatments of African Americans is wrong and cruel. Huck’s view on African Americans changes through the course of the novel because Twain introduces his idea of racism being immoral through the different uses of techniques. Writers like Walt Whitman, Brent Staples, Langston
According to Ruth Feldstein “Nina Simone recast black activism in the 1960’s.” Feldstein goes on to say that “Simone was known to have supported the struggle for black freedom in the United States much earlier, and in a more outspoken manner around the world than many other African American entertainers.” Her family ties to the south, her unique talent, her ability to travel and make money are similar to the Blues women movement that preceded her. It can be said that Nina Simone goes a step further the by directly attacking inequities pertaining to race and gender in her music. However, what distinguishes her is her unique musicianship and that is what ultimately garners her massive exposure and experiences over those of her past contemporaries.
The difference with the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong version is that it has a slower, jazzier tempo. They were accompanied by a band but the piano is the main instrument displayed. The blue’s tonality is heard throughout the performance, mainly in the voices of the two Blues singers. They perfectly embody the voices of two lovers by making it romantic, as well as playful at times. This version of the song makes me get up and start moving. Not necessarily the way I would with a rap song, but more like a slight swing. It is easier to sing along with because of the flexibility of the
It is a wonderful song that captures a lot of history in a short time just to describe how great Billy and Reno think each other are. At the beginning of the song they explain why they are about to sing and then at the end of the first verse say, "At least it'll tell you how great you are."(Porter 8). Right after the last sentence of the first verse the chorus begins with, "You're the top! You're the Coliseum."(Porter 9).
Have you ever wanted to learn about the Harlem Renaissance, I am learning about 3 Harlem Renaissance singers? Billie Holiday began singing around the 1930. Holiday was discovered by John Hammond at the age of 18 years old. In 1935 Billie Holiday went to record with jazz pianist Teddy Wilson. Billie Holiday joined Basie’s band in 1937. Billie Holiday toured with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1937. “Billie Holiday signed with Decca Records in 1944 and also scored an R&B hit the next year with Love Man.” In 1954 Holiday had a successful tour of Europe. Holiday gave her final performance on May 25, 1959 (“Billie Holiday Biography”).
She returned back to the home in 1926 after she had been sexually assaulted. In her difficult early life Holliday found solace in music, singing alone to the records of Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong. Around 1930, Holiday beginning singing in local clubs and renamed herself “Billie” after the file star Billie Pove at the age of 18, Holiday was discovered by producer John Hammond while she was performing in Harlem Jazz Club. Hammond was instrumental in getting Holiday recording with and up-and-coming Clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goudman. In 1934 they released 2 hits “Your Mother’s Son in-law” and the top ten hit “Ruffin the Scotch” October 1945 Holiday’s mother died and she began drinking more heavily and escalated the drug used to dose her grief. Holiday’s drug caused her a great professional set back that same year. She was arrested and conviction for narcotic possession in 1947. Sentenced to one year and a day of jail times. Holiday went to federal rehabilitation facility in Alderson, West Virginia. On July 17, 1959, Holiday died from alcohol and drug related complication. More than 3000 people turned out to say good-bye to Lady Day at her funeral held in St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church on July 21, 1959. In 2000 Holiday inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Billie Holiday Biography)
Ella Baker and Martin Luther King Jr. did have their similarities as leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, but there were vast differences as well. Their differences allowed the Civil Rights Movement to be more encompassing while fighting for the same cause. Baker and King both grew up in the South, had religious upbringings, had at least some level of a higher education, and were public speakers. What set them apart was their differing opinions on who contributed to social change, and how. This is expressed through the varying social classes they depended on, importance placed on reputations developed through public associations, and nonviolence tactics that used to fight for equality. Even though Baker and King had different methods in which
Louis Armstrong had a very successful jazz career performing and composing popular jazz hits in the 1920’s.
Subsequently, these new artists drove jazz into even more popularity during the 1920s. Musicians, such as Paul Whiteman, King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong, formed dance bands to accompany dancers, while their bands, along with other greats, like Willy Smith, Duke Ellington, and Jelly Roll Morton, recorded with some of the era’s most noticeable and rising record companies such as Gennett Records, Paramount Records, and Okeh Records. From listening to the radio or at various venues, artists would pick up influence from other artists, taking their own twist on the tunes, style, and music to create subgenres of jazz, such as ragtime, as favored by Fletcher Henderson, and blues, as sung by Bessie Smith. These artists, furthermore, created music that spoke to America whether through a joyous, fast-moving ragtime or a sympathetic, slow, and steady blues.
In Billie Holiday’s I’ll be Seeing You there are references to childishness and comfort. When the lyrics talk about the “The park across the way” and “The children's carousel” it relates to the motif of adults being childlike. Bucky’s is immaturity is shown in his love of sports, his lack of desire to be respected, and his consumption of junk food. Although some adults have and/or do these things they are still associated with growing up. Additionally, it seems as if Billie Holiday is comforting the other person [presumably male] just as Marcia comforts Bucky. Billie is constantly telling the receiver of this song, “I’ll be seeing you,” and Marcia makes Bucky come to see her. This reversal of typical gender roles as a parallel to I’ll be Seeing
4. "Santa Fe" from the Newsies original Broadway Cast. "Santa Fe" is the main song sung by the lead character in the play. The lead, Jack Kelly, wants nothing more than to leave 1800's New York and get out to Santa Fe. I can relate to this song because sometimes I want nothing more than to get up and leave. "Let me go. / Far away. / Somewhere they won't ever find me, and tomorrow won't remind me of today."
After the first minute of the song the rhythm of singing increased and became as the vocalist is talking. This style is especially coming from artists like Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae. The vocalists gave the deep feeling of the song with their body movements and expressions. Also, the vocalists gave information about the song after the performance. The second song of the first part of the concert which is directed by Teri Roiger was ‘’What a Little Moonlight Can Do’’ written by Harry Woods. The outstanding instruments for this song were drum and piano. The vocalists were performing great and the rhythm of the song was very fast. It was an enjoying performance. The drum’s and piano’s solos were very great and caught the appreciation of the audience. In some parts of the song music was very fast and then it was slowing again. I used to listen this song from Billie Holiday’s recordings and this performance gave me the feeling of 1930s jazz habits. This song has some bob and swing style and melodies. The beats of the song made me willing to listen the music more carefully. The rhythm was very fast than the other performances so this was the most enjoying one for
The magnificent stories of Billie Holiday, the great Louis Armstrong, and Adelaide Hall are about how they struggled, conquered, and worked through the Harlem Renaissance. From realizing they all left an impact on the world. They were very successful African American musicians. It takes a lot to write and express different feelings especially to the world, but they all did in song and in action.
Also, known as “Funeral Blues” it was initially written as a song for a play that Auden
In 1891 Emily Dickinson wrote Hope is the Thing with Feathers a single work in her collection called Life (Poetry Foundation, n.d. p.1). In 2012 Susan LarBarr put the poem to music. LarBarr has composed many pieces for youth, university and church choirs (LarBarr, 2012, p. 1). The combination of a meaningful text and touching music created a song which I can say is one of my favorites. The song is powerful in words; the words create a picture of what hope is and what it can do. This song is also powerful to me personally because it has been part of my life in several transitional times. The music is beautiful with harmonies and complex cords that engage the listener and stir emotions.