Jazz Ensembles

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

Contemporary jazz is an all catch term for various arrangements of popular mainstream jazz that began in the 1980's and 90's. It is a fusion of pop, rock and funk and has been greatly influenced by R&B (rhythm and blues). It has an almost exclusive concentration on memorable melodies and pleasant mellow textures. This style of jazz originated in the United States with a famous influencer being Miles Davis.

KEITH JARRETT TRIO/ STANDARDS TRIO

In 1983, an esteemed American jazz pianist asked Gary Peacock, a double bassist, and Jack DeJohnette, a drummer, to record an album of jazz standards released as Standards, Volume 1. Standards, Volume 2 and Changes soon followed after. They were both recorded at the same session at New York. The success of these albums led to this new "Standards Trio"becoming one of the most leading working groups in jazz. The Standards Trio has also produced some notably challenging pieces of music, several of these contain original tracks but are mainly improvised. The live recordings Inside Out and Always Let Me Go (both released in 2001), renewed interest in the Standards Trio as it was wholly improvised free jazz. By this stage, the musical communication between these musicians became almost telepathic, and their improvisations often take on a complexity that sounds composed.

PIECE ANALYSIS

I WISH I KNEW

- - Duration
    - has swing to it, long notes and short notes values.
      - this gives it a more jazzy feel as it feels like swing
    - 4/4
  - Tone colour
    - clear, mellow, bright, eerie
      - the piano is bright and mellow, but the harmonies make it sound slightly eerie
  - Pitch
    - Is generally played in a higher octave.
    - has lot's of dissonance
      - this gives it more of an interesting feel to the music
    - major with many accidentals and naturals
  - Texture (layers)
    - Thin and homophonic, piano and bass
  - Dynamics
    - Starts as piano, a moves through to mezzo piano/forte
  - Structure
    - doesn't have the traditional intro, verse, chorus, outro
    - has and intro and blowing

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