Journal 9 – Taking your Jazz Temperature
You have now listened to the music of New Orleans Jazz, Chicago Jazz, New York Jazz, Kansas City Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Cool Jazz, West Coast Jazz, and Avant-garde Jazz. Write a short paragraph about which style of jazz you have enjoyed the most, and why. Include your favorite piece of music from that style in your paragraph, as well as what you particularly like about it.
My favorite style of Jazz has to be Hard Bop. I can hear the R&B influences every time I hear a Hard bop song, and it appeals to me the most. Meanwhile, my favorite song from Hard Bop has to be “Moanin”. I love most everything about that song, and while it still is jazz, its reminiscent of some of my favorite rock songs. “Moanin” in particular spoke out to me as one of my favorites, particularly because of the similarity to rock songs. Not only that, the mood is extremely exuberant, and maintains that beat. I particularly like the role that the sax, trumpet, and piano perform with vigor.
My favorite of Jazz so far is Hard Bop. Many songs I already listened to are in this genre, yet I had no idea it was considered Hard Bop, so I have a new-founded appreciation for them. I enjoy the pace of the songs, and how each instrument’s accents are wildly different but work very well together. My favorite Hard Bop song is “Rush” by Seattleblts, a band formed by Yoko Kanno for the soundtrack of a 1998 Japanese show Cowboy Bebop. Rush has some Latin influences in its music on the percussion side of instrumentation. The trumpets sound amazing too.
I would have to say my favorite style of jazz so far is cool Jazz. It has always been something that I’ve been into but never knew the actual genre of music. Music like time out by Dave Brubeck although not necessarily cool jazz, is one of my favorite albums of all time. It is slower and easy to comprehend, and that is all the aspects of cool jazz. It has nice and tasteful licks that hit the ear just right. My favorite piece of all time is most likely Kathy’s waltz, it was always a song I had heard as a kid but never knew where it was from. I love how the rhythm section is so far at the forefront and the drums are in the background giving it a bit of support but not taking over the entire song. It’s use of slow beautiful lines is what really takes me, it allows me to close my eyes and really take in every single note thats being played, and why it is.
I think Swing is my favorite and my favorite piece is “Blue Lou.” I like the big band sound of Swing and its composition style. I like this piece in particular because I like the “punchiness” of it. It reminds me of old cartoon music too.
All throughout growing up I heard Cool Jazz and Hard Bop a lot, but never really understood what they were classified as within the subgenres of Jazz. I came to enjoy Cool Jazz because of its subtleness and relaxed tempos. I think that when it comes to Cool Jazz, I have to give two favorites to both “Macedonia” by Vince Guaraldi and the Gerry Mulligan Sextet’s rendition of “In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning”. These two songs are such a treat for first time listeners providing the most relaxing of rides, easing you into the melodic phrasing of Vince Guaraldi’s Piano playing and Gerry Mulligans deep but so clear Bari sax playing. All jazz is such an awesome listening experience that it’s really hard to pick a favorite, but I know that Cool Jazz will give me a lifetime of comfort and good music.
Cool Jazz has been my favorite jazz style out of all of them. In contrast to the faster-paced and more dramatic styles like Bebop, I truly enjoy how it has a smooth, relaxed vibe. So What by Miles Davis is one of my favorite Cool Jazz compositions. It truly strikes me how well the music glides with its easygoing cadence and clear, silky trumpet notes. I really adore the way the instruments interact, particularly the way the bass and piano combine to provide a subtle yet beautiful groove. Cool Jazz’s overall vibe is ideal for relaxing, and it’s simple to lose yourself in the soothing, calm ambiance.
I enjoyed Chicago jazz and progressive jazz. My favorite would be cool jazz. I’d say that it’s my favorite because it is more calming. I like how cool jazz is very subtle, and gives off a very chill listening experience. I feel like I can take a nice relaxing nap listening to cool jazz. I really like the song Boplicity by Miles Davis, after listening to the song I searched for others and ended up really enjoying how soothing the Feels So Good by Chuck Mangione is.
Out of all the Jazz styles we have listened to, my favorite style is Swing. The fact that Swing is so danceable is one of the best parts about it. There hasn’t been a Swing song where it hasn’t made me want to just get up and dance! The use of the saxophone and especially the bass are what makes Swing so great. My favorite Swing piece isn’t in the textbook but is titled ” Jive, Jive, Jive Aces” by The Jive Aces, which I found while researching more Swing after listening to the musical selections. I really like that the singers are in tune with the instruments rather than competing like I hear in some music. The piano and the drums in the song are the backbone that makes it so danceable, in my opinion. Another great part of the song is when the brass pops in to add a little “razzle dazzle” to the singers as well as the other instruments.
I like bebop. The fast complex improv is very pleasing to my ear. The song I chose was ‘Straight, No Chaser’ by Thelonius Monk. I like the heavily syncopated drums, the catchy rhythm, and all of the fantastic soloing done in the track.
I think my favorite style of jazz would have to be west coast jazz because of the smooth laid back sound it gives off. A piece I have listened to in that style that I really enjoyed was “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck. I felt the song had a very unique rhythm and found it really relaxing and cool honestly! One of the main things I like about West Coast Jazz is how it seems to blend complexity with calmness through the sounds and rhythms.
Based off of the different the styles we’ve listened to, I enjoyed Cool Jazz the most. It has a smooth, relaxed vibe that’s really easy to listen to, but still interesting and thoughtful. One piece I especially liked was “So What” by Miles Davis. The mellow tone, slower pace, and laid-back feel made it stand out from the more intense or fast-paced styles. It’s the kind of music that helps me unwind and focus at the same time. I liked how it felt calm without being boring—it still had depth and emotion, just in a more subtle way.
My favorite jazz musician is Louis Armstrong, so it’s probably no surprise that the style I’ve enjoyed the most is New Orleans Jazz. There’s something about the energy and emotion in that early jazz sound that really connects with me. My favorite piece is Shine by Louis Armstrong. I love the combination of the big band backing him up and Louis’ gritty, beautiful voice—it has so much character and soul. What I really like about this style is the group improvisation—everyone gets a moment, but it still feels like a conversation. It makes me realize I probably have liked jazz longer than I knew, as Louis has been a favorite of mine since I was 12 years old. The ending of Shine—where the instruments get a little squeaky and Louis says, “That is all, there isn’t any more”—makes me smile and chuckle every single time.
Honestly, I’ve enjoyed Hard Bop the most out of all the jazz styles we’ve listened to. There’s something about its raw energy, soulful feel, and connection to blues and gospel that really resonates with me. Hard Bop feels grounded and expressive it’s like jazz with a streetwise edge. My favorite piece from this style is “Moanin’” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The opening call and response between piano and horns grabs me every time, and the groove is so infectious. I especially love how the solos build intensity, each musician feeding off the last with both power and finesse. It’s a style that speaks directly to emotion while still showing incredible technical skill.
I love ragtime music. I didn’t know much about Jazz in general before I took this class, but I loved ragtime. The style of Jazz and the artist who played in a way that I thought was pretty similar to the liveliness and the back-and-forth, a little bit was King Oliver. I really liked Dipper Mouth Blues; it has lots of energy and is very danceable. Whenever I hear New York or New Orleans Jazz, I can’t help but bob my head in time with the music.
My favorite style of jazz so far has been Swing. I used to listen to electro-swing artists like Caravan Palace all the time, and I love hearing the original influences. My favorite swing song has been “In The Mood” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, partially because it is familiar but also because it is very sax-heavy, my favorite jazz instrument. I also enjoy the call and response of the melody and low brass towards the end of the song.
I think Swing is my favorite for now. I love the energetic and lively music! I grew up around ballroom dance kids, so this music feels a little more familiar. It’s bright and fun and engaging, with some drama and romance while not taking itself too seriously. I also thing the swing beat is really interesting, I didn’t grow up with a strong music education, but I knew the basic beat count for 4/4 measures, so the swing beat caught my attention. I love “In the Mood” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, it’s an iconic piece that is light and interesting with a fantastic sax solo.
Out of all the jazz styles I’ve listened to, I enjoyed Kansas City Jazz the most. It has a smooth, laid-back feel with a strong blues influence that makes it easy to enjoy. My favorite piece from this style is “Li’l Darlin’” by Count Basie. I love how the music moves slowly and calmly, with each instrument taking its time. The back-and-forth between the sections of the band feels like a relaxed conversation. It reminds me of simpler times, when there wasn’t constant access to the internet and I spent more time watching comfort shows and just enjoying the moment. The music feels comforting and familiar, like something that brings a sense of peace.
Out of all the jazz styles we’ve explored, I’ve enjoyed Cool Jazz the most. I really enjoy its smooth, laid-back vibe. My favorite piece from this style is “Boplicity” from Birth of the Cool. I love how the arrangement feels so clean and balanced. Each instrument has space to breathe, and the melodies are very simple and beautiful at the same time. The mood is calm and sophisticated. It’s jazz that you can really sink into, and it’s made me really appreciate the artists behind the music as opposed to the music itself.
Swing jazz is the one that I have been mostly associated with my time in music out of the rest. With the instruments and musical talent that I’ve developed (trumpet and ballroom dance particularly) have drawn me close to this style of jazz in particular. One song in particular, called “Crazy Swing”, is one that I’ve been associated with for 6 years and have danced to every now and then for a routine I do on my dance team. The feel of the style (one-a two, three-a four), my dance and music association, and everything else makes this one my favorite!
My favorite style of jazz thus far has been Cool Jazz. Cool Jazz, including the works of Miles Davis, is exactly what comes to my mind when someone mentions the genre of Jazz: soothing, challenging, and eye-opening. Birth of the Cool by Miles Davis has so many unique tracks that implement different textures and tones deriving inspiration from Bebop and classical. Pieces like “Boplicity” and “Rogue” feel like conversations between instruments rather than a showcase of solos, which makes the piece much more interesting. The muted trumpet, smooth saxophone lines, and piano create a soundscape that’s both mentally stimulating and emotionally calming. What I appreciate most is how Cool Jazz manages to be complex without overwhelming the listener – it brings you in gently, then keeps you engaged with its subtle brilliance.
Even though if you caught me at last week i would say bebop was my favorite form of Jazz. there is just something about the upbeat music, and the not predicting what is going to happen next just grew on me. but now i would have to say it is cool jazz. this is the music that i would think about when someone says they listen to jazz while doing homework. there is just something about how the music combines with the instruments and how it all forms a calm piece of art. it is a hard switch going from my favorite being bebop to cool jazz. but i also would have to say this is 100% dependent on my mood. So i guess you can say i cant really pick one as my favorite, but rather i have two that i like to interchange.
I think Chicago jazz has been my favorite type of music that we’ve heard so far. The mix of group improvisation like in New Orleans jazz with clearer leads and a more lively tone. It has an urban edge which is something I like about it. “Singin’ the Blues” by Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer is one of my favorite songs that uses this style. Beiderbecke’s lyrical and cornet playing is what really stands out to me in this music. His tone is smooth and expressive which makes the piece unique. Even though it’s more structured than early jazz, it still has an impulsive feel. I like how Chicago Jazz brings together history and new ideas. It seems like a turning point in jazz’s development toward more individuality and expression.
I personally really enjoyed Hard Bop the most. Hard Bop is very similar to other music I enjoy and listen too. It is very soulful and brings a lot of emotions. I also love how it is intense but groovy. My favorite piece of music of Hard Bop is “Moanin” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. I am obsessed with the melody of the piano, the amazing solo by the trumpet and saxophone. The entire energy and intensity of the music is the reasons why I do love Jazz!
Hard Bop is easily my favorite. There’s something about its gritty, soulful edge that just hooks me. It’s got this perfect balance of raw energy and technical flair that makes it stand out. My favorite piece has to be “Moanin’” by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers. I’m obsessed with that opening piano riff by Bobby Timmons it’s so catchy and the way the horns jump in with that call-and-response. The solos are fierce yet smooth, and the whole track has an infectious swing.
Hard bop for sure. The harmonization of brass instruments and smooth piano played alongside with it in songs for example Sister Sade by Horace silver, is just food for my ears, candy per chance the way my ears crave it. My favorite piece is easily Soul Sister by Dexter Gordon. The slow but promising pace of the song brings peace to my soul but at the same time I can make out words with the way the sax shifts notes so swiftly in a speaking sort of manner.