SHORT LISTENING ASSIGNMENT FORMAT - Essay Example

One OClock Jump The Youtube video selected for this assignment is the One O’Clock Jump which is a reflection on the jazz styles of the early 1940’s. The instruments used in this musical piece are piano, cello, drums and brass instruments like saxophone, trombone and trumpets. Brass instruments produce sound by vibration of air when the music players lips vibrate as they blow in air through the cupped mouthpiece to a tubular resonator.The style name of this is Kansas City Jazz Styles (Styles of Jazz Music) in early group and individual riff style which means that a group of musicians like the group of three trumpeters, saxophonists, and trombone players and the soloists like the pianist or cellist or the drummer take turns to improvise the piece based on what was performed by the musician(s) before him.

Riff refers to short relaxed phrases being repeated over varied melodies. In this piece the complex riff structure in the head arrangements or collaborative arrangement that was memorized and not written down.The visual appeal in the video is remarkable. The video displays the musicians’ prowess and their rhythmic motions to the music mark the beginning of the swing era. The swing music was gaining popularity at the time and the Jazz Big Bands were a reflection of the times. The piano played by Count Basie as the lead is accompanied with the double bass.

The chord progressions is the 12 bar blues (Rickert) in structure and duration. The saxophone and trumpet follow. The role of drums is to maintain the rhythm or groove but the in time solo (Maricle) and riffing by the trombone and drum players add to the complexity of the piece. Saxophone soloing for a brief period is followed by a trumpet solo from the section. This style is a classic example of head riff structure. The trumpet solo was very significant. The musician starts from low tone and displays a wide range in tone during his solo.

He is preceded by the saxophone soloist and succeeded by the piano solo. The trumpet lends to the bouncy beat and light mood of the music piece and is very well placed in the sequence. The visual elements as discussed previously is enhanced with the lighting effects where the lights fall on each sectional as they play out their piece starting with saxophone players, the trombones and their head motions imitating the music and then the section of trumpet players. The One O’Clock Jump ends with all the players playing a repetitive phrase with variations in tone and melody and the catchy beat almost like a dance beat lends to the charm of the song.

Why this jazz song became so popular is not difficult to understand. The overall performance is quite astounding. The light and fluffy rhythm has an energetic feel that is easy to swing to and uplifts the mood instantly. The complex riffs played out by the ensemble is very melodious and the sequences played out all seem to fit in perfectly and hence it is no wonder why it has come to be considered as one of the best songs of the century.References:Maricle, Sherrie. "Soloing." Introduction to Jazz and Big Band Drumming. 2003. .

Rickert, David. "Count Basie: One O." Swing Set. 2005.