Josh Batteer Media Assignment 5
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131
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Arts Humanities
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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2
Uploaded by AgentPenguin3766
Josh Batteer
Jazz Media Assignment 5
Jazz is a genre characterized by its remarkable diversity, and within its rich tapestry,
various subgenres have emerged over time. Four distinctive styles of jazz—Cool Jazz, Hard Bop,
Modal Jazz, and Third Stream—offer unique musical experiences. In this essay, we will explore
the similarities and differences among these genres through a careful examination of specific
examples from each.
Cool Jazz is marked by its subtle and restrained approach to improvisation and a focus on
intricate melodies and harmonies. It often features relaxed tempos and a lighter overall sound.
Hard Bop evolved as a reaction to the cool and often more cerebral styles of jazz. It is
characterized by its robust, energetic, and soulful approach to improvisation. Modal Jazz, as
exemplified by Miles Davis' "So What," emerged as a reaction to the complex chord
progressions of bebop. It is characterized by a focus on modes (scales) rather than traditional
chord changes. Finally, Third Stream is a unique genre that represents the fusion of jazz and
classical music. Miles Davis' "The Pan Piper" from "Sketches of Spain" is a prime example of
this style.
When comparing some specific examples across these 4 genres there are noticeable
similarities and differences that stood out to me. When comparing Miles Davis - "Boblicity"
from "Birth of the Cool" to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - "Moanin” some obvious
differences stood out to me. "Boblicity" in Cool Jazz maintains a more relaxed tempo, while
"Moanin” in Hard Bop is characterized by a more up-tempo and hard-swinging rhythm.
“Moanin” also seems to incorporate the bluesy influences that are common in Hard Bop songs,
while "Boblicity" explores complex harmonies and displays a more intricate and experimental
style of jazz. Next, I compared another Cool Jazz example, Chet Baker - "My Funny Valentine",
to a Modal Jazz example, Miles Davis - "So What". Some of the similarities I noticed between
these two examples were that both songs possess a lyrical style that emphasizes the melody of
the song. I then compared Miles Davis - “So What” to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers -
“Dat Dere” a hard bop example. “Dat Dere" maintains a strong emphasis on groove and
rhythmic intensity, while "So What" offers a more open and spacious rhythmic feel. I finally then
compared Miles Davis - “The Pan Piper” which is a Third Stream example, to David Brubeck
Quartet’s - “Take Five”. One key difference I noticed between these two songs was that “The Pan
Piper” seems to have more of a classical music influence, as the instruments in the background
accompanying Miles Davis played their instruments with a tone and style giving off classical
feelings and rhythms. “Take Five” on the other hand features a more unconventional feel to it, as
well as having a higher emphasis on improvisation than “The Pan Piper” seemed to have.
Overall, these comparisons illustrate the diverse nature of jazz genres and the ways in
which they vary in terms of rhythm, tempo, improvisation, melody, and harmonic complexity.
While Cool Jazz and Modal Jazz emphasize subtlety and melodic exploration, Hard Bop leans
towards energy and rhythmic intensity that provokes a feel which has the listeners guessing
where the song could go next. Third Stream combines jazz and classical traditions with
orchestral elements, creating a distinctive blend. Each genre has its unique qualities, and these
differences showcase the evolution of jazz music as it began to grow and expand upon the roots
in which it started from.
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