Jazz and Blues History Flashcards

Grade 7 · Music · Flashcards

Key terms, musicians, and movements in the history of jazz and blues from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century.

Flashcards

Blues

African American music genre from the Deep South characterized by the 12-bar progression, expressive vocals, and themes of hardship and resilience

Jazz

Music genre born in New Orleans ~1900, blending blues, ragtime, and African rhythms; defined by improvisation and syncopation

Improvisation

Spontaneously creating music in real time; a core feature of jazz performance

12-bar blues

A repeating 12-measure chord pattern (using I, IV, and V chords) that forms the foundation of blues music

Louis Armstrong

Trumpet virtuoso from New Orleans (1901–1971); one of the most influential jazz musicians in history

Duke Ellington

Jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader (1899–1974) who elevated jazz to a concert art form

Bessie Smith

Known as the 'Empress of the Blues,' she was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s–30s

Robert Johnson

Legendary Delta blues guitarist (1911–1938) whose recordings deeply influenced blues and rock music

Bebop

Complex, fast jazz style from the 1940s emphasizing virtuosity; developed by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie

Swing Era

1930s–40s period of jazz dominated by big bands playing danceable music for mainstream American audiences

Harlem Renaissance

1920s flourishing of African American culture in Harlem, NY; jazz was a central expression of this movement

Ragtime

Syncopated piano music popular in the late 1800s–early 1900s; one of the musical roots of jazz

Syncopation

A rhythmic technique placing emphasis on off-beats or weak beats, creating a sense of surprise and groove; fundamental to jazz and blues

Get a personalized course on Jazz and Blues History built around your child.