Types of Jazz to the Present Day Jazz - Case Study Example

Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Introduction Thesis statement: Bob Fosse’s weaknesses after being turned into strengths made him a successful, very influential and innovative choreographer and Jazz dancer. Introduction Jazz is a music style known to have America as its native land. Some of its characteristics include an understructure that is rhythmically strong and flexible. In its basic tunes and chord patterns it has ensemble provisions and an idiom that is very highly sophisticated, (Kraines 1992). This dance has witnessed a very controversial but notable American choreographer of the 20th Century; Bob Fosse. Many people made great careers in the world of jazz but Fosse was one of the best. A person may be lacking in one way or another but that is never a reason for that person never to amount to anything. Until the days of Bob Fosse, jazz has had a long journey from the time it was started, split or gave birth to various other types of jazz to the present day Jazz. Origin It originated from a confluence of African and European music traditions at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It has incorporated American music since it was developed to present.( Gunther 2001 ). Formally in Chicago jazz was a slang used by the citizens which later became to be a music name. In the early 20th century there was birth of many other related genres, way back from 1910 which included Afro-club and Brazilian jazz. When jazz was started   1985 it was the time when jazz music was started in New Orleans. Well, it all started with slavery. Spiritual and worldly music was sung by the African slaves, which combined their inhabitant African music with American music. Shortly after all the slaves were liberated and slavery was outlawed the ex-slaves fashioned the pessimism,(Johannes 2008 ). Dixieland music, and marching band music all kind of hybridized and jazz came about in the 1890s in New Orleans. The first jazz publications or recording were made in 1917, to be more precise. The record Livery Stable Blue coupled with Dixie Jazz Band One Step was the very first record of Jazz to be released on 26th February in 1917 for the Victor Talking Machine Company. The first most important jazz proceedings, not only in jazz but also in music account, were recorded around 1923 courtesy of King Oliver and his Jazz group. Jazz music that was recorded starting 1917 to 1923 does not have such a great melodic significance,( Kraines 1992 ). Types of jazz With the increasing domination of various kinds of entertaining music, jazz dance changed into a new style taught presently and recognized to be the recent jazz, whereas tap dance pronged off to pursue its own, disconnect evolutionary path. Much is not known about tap dance since it came to be overshadowed by the modern day jazz. Modern jazz took the stage and has been evolving through various stages through time. Modern day jazz dance Prior to dancing or performances, the dancers characteristically perform movements in order to warm up and stretch body muscles so as to avoid injuries. In addition, core-strengthening exercises are often used for conditioning.( Kirchner 2005 ).The varying styles of jazz include the "this was highly suggested as a work Song." Another style is the New Orleans .This style began in the 1890's as brass band performances of gospel songs and marches. In 1917 a dance style known as Chicago style was developed by the musicians and because the music had been prohibited in North Chicago definitely became the home for the jazz music,( Johannes 2008 ). Because of resistance from white establishment, the dance jazz took a different turn. It became a express and upbeat application of tempos, comprising of elaborate piece of music and cadenced patterns (Schuler 67). The jazz beat was made lighter by Bebop. In the late 1940's, Bebop joined dissonance and theoretical chording with customary jazz. This style placed bigger emphasis on solo performance. A style called Fusion came afterwards. This style reflected jazz tradition. Jazz originally had its origin in the African culture. It was invented and developed by African Americans before its evolution into the modern styles. Fosse’s style of dance may have had a blend of sensations because of his European and Irish cultural orientation,( Kirchner 2005 ). Bob Fosse Bob was born as Robert Louis Fosse by a Norwegian father with an Irish mother in Chicago. Out of their six children, he was the youngest. When he was out of school he formed a group with Charles Grass, another youthful performer, and began a partnership under the name, The Riff Brothers. According to Schuller, 67, Bob Fosse is a strong jazz musician who used his weak areas as his strong points. Fosse was very powerful yet a simple jazz musician. He had a great authority of the dancers who danced to his tune. Fosse may have been a non performer if only he did not discover his potential. So many weaknesses could be found on him, many of which he used as stepping stones to fame. He had problems with his feet, hands, shoulders and even his social life. His walking style made him lean backwards and this is the posture that he adopted for his dancers. According Kirchner, 2005, Fosse’s imperfections made him play on them. Because of his slouched shoulders and pigeon toes he developed a choreography that was turned in. He may have had social problems since he divorced his two first wives and separated with the third one. Never the less Fosse emerged to be a force to reckon with in the world of jazz music. Among his out standing achievements he directed many films, was a theater of music director and choreographer and a screen writer. He received nomination four times for an academic award because of his role in directing cabaret. This made him remarkable for being one of the most influential choreographers in the present decades. His choreographic style mostly focused on many imperfections on his body to make new poses and moves, (Gunther 2001 ). According to records Fosse’s toes were spread out like a pigeon’s. He never focused his on the legs or feet a lone. In addition to legs or feet he used his hips, stomach, his shoulders and other parts of the body. Fosse took his bad habits and made a killing out of them. For example he wore gloves because he could not use his hands in a clean way. Movement by Fosse was highly highlighted by his dance style. He would take some of the dancers and at times would have just one finger or eyebrow move at one time. He was incredibly unsophisticated yet prevailing in his dramatization and faction,( Johannes 2008 ). He would have the performers follow up his movement whichever one he chooses. In any Fosse number, you’re sure to find smoke or cigarette, net stockings together with a tipped hat. He preferred a cool, sensibility of jazz in all his choreography although it turned out to be Burlesque in nature, sleek with pelvic movement coupled with heavy leans.   Fosse had a style of dancing which was easy to notice combined with a stylized sexuality. Other distinguished distinctions of his methods incorporated the use of u-shaped knees, slanting shuffling, and rolled shoulders. With Fred Astaire as a mentor, he deployed props for instance bowler hats, together with canes and chairs (Schuler, 67). His brand name use of hats was inspired by own reserve. The bibliography of Fosse according to Martin was that his baldness caused him to wear hats, and definitely his dancers too. Although his dancers may not all have been bald, just to look uniform they were given hats. During his performances he always put gloves on his hand as a habit. He took all of his bad lifestyle and utilized them to his advantage. He did not have a physically powerful turn-out in his legs, so he would turn-in as a substitute (Kirchner 2005).He distorted all of his lifestyle, even the mode in which he walked- he walked not straight but leaning behind. In 1979, Fosse together with others directed and wrote a film that was half autobiographical which portrayed the life of a womanizing choreographer addicted to drugs –a director surrounded by triumph and losses. Fosse's unique jazz dance style was stylish and sexy, and easily recognized. After having grown up in the Caberet nightclubs, the nature of Fosse's signature style was sexually suggestive. Some the dance trademarks he employed were knees turned in, sideways shuffling, rolling of shoulders among others. In reference to (Schuler 67), Fosse’s style really highlighted isolated movement. He’d take a group of dancers and sometimes would have only a finger or an eyebrow moving at a time. He was very simplistic yet powerful in his dramatization and faction. He would have the performers follow up his movement whichever one he chooses. In any of Fosse’s numbers, you can be sure to get things like cigarettes and net stockings together with a tipped hat. He used a cool, jazz sensibility in his choreography, although Burlesque by nature and sleek with pelvic movement with heavy leans.   Conclusion In conclusion, according to Kirchner 2005; Bob Fosse’s success and influence was brought a bout by the fact that he had many imperfections. He made many contributions to the jazz dance and to some extend may have shaped its course. His style and exploits will have influence on other dancers of jazz and other genres of music. Supposing he had a near to perfect body and personality it is true he may not have made it as a renown dancer. He took all of his bad lifestyles and utilized them to his advantage. For instance, he did not have a physically powerful turn-out in his legs, so he would turn-in as a substitute. He distorted all of his lifestyle, even the mode in which he walked. (Kirchner 2005). All these things turned out to help him climb the ladder of fame. Works Cited Bill Kirchner, The Oxford Companion to Jazz, Oxford University Press, 2005. Dance.about.com\od\types of dance Luebbers, Johannes "It's All Music". Resonate Australian Music Centre,2008. Minda kraines, Jump into jazz.The basics and beyond for jazz students, Princeton Book Company, 1992. Schuller, Gunther .The swing era. Oxford University Press ,2001. Read More

Modern day jazz dance Prior to dancing or performances, the dancers characteristically perform movements in order to warm up and stretch body muscles so as to avoid injuries. In addition, core-strengthening exercises are often used for conditioning.( Kirchner 2005 ).The varying styles of jazz include the "this was highly suggested as a work Song." Another style is the New Orleans .This style began in the 1890's as brass band performances of gospel songs and marches. In 1917 a dance style known as Chicago style was developed by the musicians and because the music had been prohibited in North Chicago definitely became the home for the jazz music,( Johannes 2008 ).

Because of resistance from white establishment, the dance jazz took a different turn. It became a express and upbeat application of tempos, comprising of elaborate piece of music and cadenced patterns (Schuler 67). The jazz beat was made lighter by Bebop. In the late 1940's, Bebop joined dissonance and theoretical chording with customary jazz. This style placed bigger emphasis on solo performance. A style called Fusion came afterwards. This style reflected jazz tradition. Jazz originally had its origin in the African culture.

It was invented and developed by African Americans before its evolution into the modern styles. Fosse’s style of dance may have had a blend of sensations because of his European and Irish cultural orientation,( Kirchner 2005 ). Bob Fosse Bob was born as Robert Louis Fosse by a Norwegian father with an Irish mother in Chicago. Out of their six children, he was the youngest. When he was out of school he formed a group with Charles Grass, another youthful performer, and began a partnership under the name, The Riff Brothers.

According to Schuller, 67, Bob Fosse is a strong jazz musician who used his weak areas as his strong points. Fosse was very powerful yet a simple jazz musician. He had a great authority of the dancers who danced to his tune. Fosse may have been a non performer if only he did not discover his potential. So many weaknesses could be found on him, many of which he used as stepping stones to fame. He had problems with his feet, hands, shoulders and even his social life. His walking style made him lean backwards and this is the posture that he adopted for his dancers.

According Kirchner, 2005, Fosse’s imperfections made him play on them. Because of his slouched shoulders and pigeon toes he developed a choreography that was turned in. He may have had social problems since he divorced his two first wives and separated with the third one. Never the less Fosse emerged to be a force to reckon with in the world of jazz music. Among his out standing achievements he directed many films, was a theater of music director and choreographer and a screen writer.

He received nomination four times for an academic award because of his role in directing cabaret. This made him remarkable for being one of the most influential choreographers in the present decades. His choreographic style mostly focused on many imperfections on his body to make new poses and moves, (Gunther 2001 ). According to records Fosse’s toes were spread out like a pigeon’s. He never focused his on the legs or feet a lone. In addition to legs or feet he used his hips, stomach, his shoulders and other parts of the body.

Fosse took his bad habits and made a killing out of them. For example he wore gloves because he could not use his hands in a clean way. Movement by Fosse was highly highlighted by his dance style. He would take some of the dancers and at times would have just one finger or eyebrow move at one time. He was incredibly unsophisticated yet prevailing in his dramatization and faction,( Johannes 2008 ). He would have the performers follow up his movement whichever one he chooses. In any Fosse number, you’re sure to find smoke or cigarette, net stockings together with a tipped hat.

He preferred a cool, sensibility of jazz in all his choreography although it turned out to be Burlesque in nature, sleek with pelvic movement coupled with heavy leans.

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