Ever wondered how a simple tune like 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' can be jazzed up into an improvisational marvel? Season 2 of the More Wanted Music Podcast swings into the soul-stirring universe of jazz, taking you from its smoky origins in New Orleans to the polished performances of Kenny G. As your host, I'll share how this versatile genre can weave complex tapestries from simple threads and why it might just be the most transformative style of music ever to grace our ears.
This season is all about celebrating jazz in all its glory, and in our opening act, we're turning the spotlight on the legends that shaped the genre, as well as the hidden gems waiting to be discovered. With anecdotes from my family's rich musical heritage and a burning desire to master jazz piano, I invite you to join me in honoring icons like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. Let's embark on a journey that promises to elevate your appreciation for jazz, whether it's a newfound love or an old flame that keeps drawing you back in.
Intro/Outro music by Soundtripe music
Website: https://moorewineandmusic.com
Email: moorewinemusic@gmail.com
Ever wondered how a simple tune like 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' can be jazzed up into an improvisational marvel? Season 2 of the More Wanted Music Podcast swings into the soul-stirring universe of jazz, taking you from its smoky origins in New Orleans to the polished performances of Kenny G. As your host, I'll share how this versatile genre can weave complex tapestries from simple threads and why it might just be the most transformative style of music ever to grace our ears.
This season is all about celebrating jazz in all its glory, and in our opening act, we're turning the spotlight on the legends that shaped the genre, as well as the hidden gems waiting to be discovered. With anecdotes from my family's rich musical heritage and a burning desire to master jazz piano, I invite you to join me in honoring icons like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. Let's embark on a journey that promises to elevate your appreciation for jazz, whether it's a newfound love or an old flame that keeps drawing you back in.
Intro/Outro music by Soundtripe music
Website: https://moorewineandmusic.com
Email: moorewinemusic@gmail.com
You. Hey everyone, hello, hello, hello, welcome to More Wanted Music Podcast, season Number 2. I'm going to wait for a couple of seconds to see if anybody joins in. Hello, hope everybody is doing well on the rainy Friday night. Anybody is here, click in and tell me who you are and where you are listening or watching from. This is Season Number 2 of the More Wanted Music Podcast, a podcast where we talk about music, genre and more over a glass of wine. Hi, mom, glad you can join me this evening. Alright, anybody else on. I hope everybody's Friday has been good so far. Anybody else? Click in and say hi, I'm excited for this season, if you have not already. Hi, aunt Sandra, how are you? Glad you can join in this evening I'm going to be talking about Susan, premier of the History of Jazz.
Speaker 1:Jazz is such a different genre than most other types of music. I wanted to spend this season talking about jazz. I thought it was a good lead in from our last season of Blues. Before we get started, be sure to hit that like. Be sure to hit subscribe. Hey, now, aunt Brenda, hit that like. Hit that subscribe button.
Speaker 1:Head on over to morewineandmusiccom and, matter of fact, I want you to see my new design of a t-shirt. It's the More Wine and Music Podcast and it says more, more of the Blues. I hope everybody could see and that's for dedication for last season of the Blues. So get your t-shirts. It's available on the wwwmorewineandmusiccom website. Also. I don't know if you can see I'm going to pan back a little bit. I don't think you can see much. I got shorts on, very comfy shorts, aunt Brenda, I hope you was able to see the shorts on the moreshoppingco website. They are very comfortable, have pockets. It's the polyester type material. It's not cotton and so it just it just has a good feeling to it. So head on over to wwwmoreshoppingco for the shorts and other t-shirts. That's on the website. Also for this t-shirt the More Wine and Music Podcast More of the Blues t-shirt at wwwmorewineandmusiccom.
Speaker 1:All right, here we go. Season number two, episode one. We're going to talk about the history of jazz. It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing, do-up, do-up, do-up, do-up, do-up. I'm sure you guys that's on here knows what that's okay for. I've at least heard it, and that's pretty much the the gist of what jazz is all about. I mean it has. The jazz is. It's a type of music that has a lot of swing, a lot of bebop, and that's a particular song with the famous lyrics by Sir Duke himself, duke Ellington. It's a jazz. It's a. It could be classy, it could be mellow, it could be smooth, but those are some of the adjectives that, when I think of jazz, that's what I think of, and but we're going way, way back. We're not talking about the type of jazz that are out now.
Speaker 1:If anybody listening, if you, if you like jazz, what type of jazz do you like? Do you like the old, old school jazz like from Duke Ellington, or do you like the more current, contemporary jazz like Kenny G, phony James, that type of genre? Post it in the comments. I like to hear what people or maybe you don't like jazz at all. It can be an acquired taste. It's one of those. Either you like it or you don't. But and Brenda, you said both I do too. I do too. I imagine myself listening to the old school, the old timey jazz, like where I just sung by Duke Ellington. I can just imagine myself being in some smoky club. Listen, you know, you have to be dressed. You couldn't go to a club, especially back in the in the day to listen to a jazz band or anything like that. You just couldn't come in looking like what. You had to be dressed and looking very sharp and classy, and I could just put myself back in those times. You know, listening to the music, listen to the swing of the Charleston and and listen to Dizzy Gillespie, duke Ellington, dave Brubeck, all those old, old school, that authentic jazz.
Speaker 1:But we also need to understand where did jazz come from? Ella Fitzgerald, oh yeah, love me some. John Coltrane, yes, yes, yes, yes. But where did it come from and where did it derive from? It was pretty much derived from the right, back to the late of the 19th century, going into the 20th century, during, and it kind of derived from ragtime music, and maybe I'll touch during the season, I'll touch a little bit about ragtime, because the first thing you think about when you talk about ragtime music you talk about, you think about Scott Joplin. But so jazz kind of kind of derived from that and it actually as well as the new right.
Speaker 1:Jazz originally started in New Orleans and basically the term jazz, jazz really nobody knows where that term came from. It could have been from came back from in the 1860s, where African-American slaves. They describe their dancing as called JAZZM, which means them and energy, and which is what jazz is basically is it could be high energy. You get out there, do that swing and it does, it gives you that high energy. So I think that's probably where jazz the term jazz probably derived from, is that dialect of JAZZM. And I see, yeah, my mom, you like Kenny G and Marcellus, oh, okay, and in Herbie Hancock, yep, yep, the blend. Jazz is basically the blend of ragtime and blues and it was created essentially by African-Americans.
Speaker 1:And around the 1890s the brass bands in New Orleans became to form these type of music in the black community Marching bands, as we all know, if anybody, we all know about how New Orleans are, and they use these type of music, the brass band and all the hoopla, the parades and everything that was their way of celebrating either the sick or actually celebrating the one who have died. So I mean there's and if you go down to New Orleans people who has a funeral, they have that whole band, that whole hoopla of having a marching band and that whole procession as a funeral procession. So that was part of the tradition in New Orleans and usually they did that because back in the day. Back in those times, blacks were prevented to have access to healthcare, as we all know, and life insurance, and it was basic and we all know of the basic segregated South. So they create a way of celebrating the dead of their loved one by having a band, basically having a party. That's the way of celebrating their dead.
Speaker 1:So, like I said, new Orleans became the mecca of entertainment, especially in the early 20th century. You wanna hear some good music and fun and have fun, hence the Mardi Gras. You go to New Orleans and usually these type of entertainment would be performed in what we call, or they call, red Light District, and we all know what Red Light District is. That's where all the brothels and all the shenanigans in that particular side of our town, that all that stuff was going on, the prostitution and all the brothel houses and stuff, and that's where you would find all these speakeasy clubhouses and all this stuff. But the improvisation of music began to draw audience from all over. A lot of people from the other side of town would sneak on over to the Red Light District and because of the music, if nothing else that brought all cultures and all races together was the sound of music. So everybody loved any type of good music and care who you are. They would leave their pillar high class houses and come to the Red Light District and also come into these clubs and listen to these bands.
Speaker 1:So the regression and segregation laws passed in 1890s and this was actually the backlash of the reconstruction era Increased discrimination towards anyone with African blood and eliminated the special status previously afforded a CREO. And if everybody knows what CREO, the term CREO, it was a mixture of African and European descent and that's usually what CREO was very prevalent in New Orleans, in Louisiana, in the New Orleans area. So you brought in, but they were considered still, they were considered black. I don't care how. You know, mixed you are, you're one. You know the rule one drop of black blood, you're considered black. So but it's again, it didn't stop the, the forming together of races to create music and to for others to listen to the, the improvisation of the jazz, of the brass band, it.
Speaker 1:Usually it consists of a piano, drums, horns and, you know, a big cello or violin. I don't know what's what's a bass cello, I think that's what it is. That's what was basically consists of the of the jazz instruments and on. According to the source of the mysterious origin of jazz. The musical DNA and livery. Stable blues come from the black arches arses. That was just so, basically, even though whites, you know, played that type of jazz, type of tone and type of style of music was known as jazz.
Speaker 1:It originally came from African Americans because we had the beat of the Congo and other instruments that were considered up temple. We also infuse the Congo, we also confuse and infuse the Caribbean style of music. All of that is from us. We're the one that's created that, that, that rhythm, and it caught on and so everybody started to. At first, you know, it was considered weird music because nobody couldn't, you know, really grasp the concept. But I mean, you can't help when you hear the beat, and when you hear, you know the horns and everything. You can't help but to, you know, move. You can't just sit there. If you sit there then you know something's wrong. You have to. You admit it gets you to moving. So, like I said, the particular mix of African style drum beats and the Caribbean rhythm found in jazz as a whole and that became more prevalent from the time of 1817 to 1843 when black slaves, some from Africa and some from the Caribbean would gather, and it was usually on a Sunday when they were, you know, not working in the fields in New Orleans, and they began to gather in, like in the square, the town square, and that's when they were became to poly cross, pollinate their, their music. So that is where kind of jazz started. And so this went on between blacks and all African blacks and Creoles, and they came together with both of their style of music and they kind of infused their style of music together and that's how they, you know, begin to form this tone of what we know is jazz.
Speaker 1:From the early 1900s to the 20s, as I said before, the instruments consisted of the drums, the horns, the brass and the piano. And you notice, if you listen to older beginning music of jazz, there were no vocals, it was just basic music and it's just a son of music and most of it was more up temple. Now, up until you know, before jazz, you had the blues. Blues was, you know, that deep delta blues, as we heard before. It was more slow and gritty, but it's essentially. But jazz took that style of blues and up to make, you know, brought it up a temple, you know. So they brought it up into a more of a pepier style and so you were able to dance to that. Right, you was able to. You know the beat made you get up and you know, and move. Blues wasn't as sad I mean, I'm sorry, jazz wasn't like the blues were.
Speaker 1:You know you're talking about some. You know your woman leaving you and you coming out of the fields and you know you had a hard day at work and it wasn't just wasn't even about that, it was about getting up and and, and you know talking about, you know, just being uplifted, being cool, being classy, and it just give you that, that rhythm to where you just, you know you can't help but to sway back and forth to the music. The piano was basically the main staple of the band Right, so you've got the piano and then from there you create your other instruments, your your beat, of which is the drums. So the piano held the foundation of them, of the music piece, and then you got the, the drums, who kept the beat, and then you got the horns that comes in and pull like the icing. It was the icing on on, on the whole, on the cake, so to speak. So you know, you know, without piano, which I'm kind of partial to. You know, those who are on on live know why, because I played the piano. So you know the piano was the one that really started the music.
Speaker 1:And then you get out, you know, and then you get the beat of the drums and you get the horns, you know, jumping in and you know, and there you go, you got a temple, you know be. And then next thing you know, you're sitting here swinging back and forth and it just makes you want to, you know, put on some shades and just say things like Daddy O and cool and Okay, no, okay, Okay, yeah, I watched a lot of stuff from the 60s. Okay, I was born in the 60s, I wouldn't that didn't live in the 60s. But yeah, I can relate to the cool and Daddy O. I'm sure you guys that are on here no knew where that all that came from. But you know it just has it, just give you that. It just gives you that Feeling it like you right? Mom, you said that. You know it just helps you enjoy the brighter side of life. It gives, it takes you away from all that doom and gloom that's. You know that was going on. It just gives you a chance to just Get dressed up and go to a nice Um atmosphere club. You know, sit there and just enjoy the, the beat, and you can't help but to get up and, you know, do these, the Charleston and all this other stuff which I, you know, I wish I knew how to do that. I can't do it. Maybe I'll, you know, learn how to do that. But you can't help but to, you know, respond to the beat of the music. So so that's basically it.
Speaker 1:I mean, jazz is a. It's a different type of genre is either you like it or you don't, and a lot of people you know who may not like it. You know, I always say, maybe you don't understand it, you know it's. It's something that you put a collective of instruments together and they have this complex chords and I mean and I've read somewhere, I forgot where, that you could take a simple song and A simple song and then jazz it up, put a couple of improvisations of the chords and Put it, you know, put a spin to it, and the next thing, you know it has a jazz and have a whole new, different tone. You could take something simple as twinkle, twinkle little star and and change the chords a little bit and Bring the temple up a little bit and Next thing, you know, it's a whole different sound, but it's a simple song as twinkle, twinkle little. So start, and You're right, I am Brenda. I mean, it's food for the soul.
Speaker 1:Jazz is it's you. I don't. You don't have to have vocals. I personally prefer, you know, just the instrumental. I don't have to have listened to, you know, vocals. I'm, although I love, you know, those who sing jazz, but I just like to listen to the music you know. And, sandra, you're right, I mean, it's your favorite type of music, it's your. You listen to it as you're on your day off. I could, matter of fact, I Listen to it at night. I just turn on you know something you know, like serious XM, because they have the contemporary, new age jazz, so-called new age but then they have the channel that plays the strictly old, authentic, and there's a difference, there's an authentic jazz. And then you got the newer contemporary jazz, and I love the new contemporary jazz as well, but I also like to listen to the old because I mean, those were the ones who started it and that that's what you know. That's what my podcast is all about. It's just given homage to those who actually started.
Speaker 1:You know these music genres, so I've always wanted to learn how to play. You know, jazz piano and it it's. You know it's not an easy. Yeah, watercolors, that's right, watercolors Um, jazz is not it? It's not an easy. It's not an easy way of playing it. It's not an easy way. It's full of progressive chords, but it allows you to use your creative mind. You're right, mommy, it's easily listening, it's upbeat and it's relaxing. Like I said, I've always wanted to actually study and take. Actually, if I learn how to just know how to just take a chord and then just do some improvisation, just improvise on some things on different music, and just learn how to take a slow song and turn it and bring it upbeat and change the chords on it, I mean I've tried it, but I mean there's a way. I mean you have to study it and understand how to do it, and so maybe one day that's beyond my bucket list is to actually go back and take some music lessons and actually learn how to play a jazzy. The chords play music in a more of a jazzy style, so that is basically what jazz is all about.
Speaker 1:This season is gonna be interesting because I'm gonna try to find artists that are lesser known but have made an impact on jazz. Nancy Wilson yeah, she has mastered it with her voice, absolutely absolutely. Sarah Vaughn is another one. Dino Washington, those early art vocalists, ella Fitzgerald I mean, when you think of jazz and you think of female jazz artists, you think of them. But yeah, next week I'm gonna be talking about one of the earliest known persons that actually was recorded as one of the ones who started the jazz. Nina Simone Right, absolutely. His name was Jelly Roll Morton. Has anybody heard of that name? I've heard of it. I just never knew his background story. But I have heard that artist's name, jelly Roll Morton. So that's who I'm gonna be talking about. Boop, boop, ella, okay, right, so okay. So that's who I'm going to be talking about as far as one of the pioneers of jazz. There's anybody that you guys would like me to talk about as far as their biography? Definitely. Let me know, post a comment, hit me up on morwineandmusiccom and I'll definitely do the research, and it's an interesting genre. I'm very excited because I love, always love, jeff.
Speaker 1:I started like a jazz probably in my early teens. When I actually started listening to it I was in my early teens when I actually had a taste of it and from then on it was over. I fell in love with the music and so, you know, maybe I was ahead of my time. You know, at 12 and 13 and 14 years old, I was listening to stuff that was more grown up than what my you know my age, you know my age was like Jackson Fyre, not to say I didn't like them, I did, but I was listening to more music that were more older than what was out for my age. So, and like I said, jazz was I have an old soul, I probably did, I probably do, I probably did. Well, it was from you guys, from my aunties and mom and them.
Speaker 1:You know, we come from a very musically inclined family. So you know, I guess that's probably where I got it from. You know, earth, wind and Fire was my favorite group. That was my all time favorite ground. I know I'm going off subject, but yeah, you know, I like Jackson Fyre, I like the. You know who else was out then the silvers, I mean, those were, I like them, but I like more older. I don't know the older, the older stuff I did. And so, like I said I um all, yeah, all of us, all the cousins, we all, you know, we just all have. You know, we all just have come from a musically I'm blessed to come from a musically inclined family. So you know, maybe I was that made me appreciate you know every type of genre of music, but Anyway.
Speaker 1:So Jelly Roll Morton is my first person going to dig deep in next week. So, and from what I, the little bit that I read about him is gonna be a wild ride. I mean, and I guess it goes with the times of being a jazz, being a jazz player, you pretty much was wild. I mean a lot of, a lot of them, a lot of the artists were back then. They were wild, and so you know, I guess you know you have to be In order to, you know, survive, especially back way back. You know in the early 20s and you know from the teens, 20s and 30s on up to the 50s. So, okay, so, thank you so much for listening to season number two of the more wine and music podcast. Oh, I said you was an early jazz lover.
Speaker 1:Okay, so Did granny by you guys records of jazz. I know she bought you guys the updated Music that was out at that time. I didn't know she was in. Was she into jazz? It's no telling. You know, I'm I'm learning a lot more about what granny was, granny was. She might have been feisty and all that stuff, but she, I'm sure she has some. She has some hidden secrets that you know, we, we don't know about.
Speaker 1:But Be sure to, like I said, check out this the more wine and music podcast and the more of the blues t-shirt To give homage from the last season of the blues. You can get that on wwwmorewineandmusiccom. Also, check out the yeah, granny bought, you got I heard. Yeah, I remember you mom, you told me that granny used to buy you guys's records. Um, yeah, actually, yes, you got me a side side track for a minute.
Speaker 1:I was thinking about something, but anyway, um, please, head on over to shop at more shopping dotco, and there's a lot of other cool stuff over there too as well. I've I tried to Create t-shirts and shorts and stuff that has us saying that has a meaning to what is, you know, as far as what is the sayings that's on the t-shirt, each saying that I put on there. I have a meaning for it and so you know. Just, I hope you guys support it and if you have any questions, like I said, if you have a particular Artist that you would like for me to talk about, then please Send me a message.
Speaker 1:To more wine and music comm. All right, I have fun. Thank you, family. I appreciate you for Again supporting Me and we're gonna have fun this, this season. It's gonna be fun. So I, I really, uh, would encourage everybody, just Look up some old um jazz Uh songs. Look up Duke the sir Duke, look up Duke Ellington, look up all these old jazz artists. Even go back farther than that I've I was listening to, I I just did a search on early jazz music and you'll get some like clippings of how it sound, um, and it kind of puts me back into like the 20s in that old phonograph. Um, but yeah, I mean it's interesting to just listen to all that. So, all right, so next week, same time, same station. You guys have a good evening and I love you all very much. Thank you, family. I'll talk to you soon. Have a good night, bye.