Language of Jazz

The word “jazz” did not begin to appear in print until around 1915 and was grudgingly admitted into polite society. This book explores the vocabulary which has grown up around it. Entries include words unique to jazz (“bebop”, Dixieland”, “ragtime”); ordinary words with specific jazz meanings (“cool”, “jam”, “stride”); musical terms adopted by jazz (“bar”, “rhythm”, “swing”); instruments associated with jazz (“alto”, “clarinet”, “trombone”); nicknames of musicians (“Bird”, “Duke”, “Satchmo”); place-names lined to movements in jazz (“Dial”, “Okeh”, “Savoy”) and notable venues (“Birdland”, “Cotton Club”, “Minton’s”). The introduction argues that the great era of jazz lies between the early-1920s (before which it still consisted of various formative elements) and the late 1970s (after which it began to merge with other musical forms). He suggests that “jazz” will eventually describe a major musical style of the mid-20th century, as “baroque” describes one of the early-18th century.