Rhythm & Blues- “Race Records”: All recorded product around 1920 until 1945 by black artists for a black audienceJump Blues Bands (1940s)General Characteristics:- Blues Elementso Strophic song formo aab blues text formo Melodic style (descending melody, blue notes)o 12-bar blues progression- Boogie Woogie Elementso Ostinato bass lineo 8-pulse rhythmo Barrelhouse rhythm- Big Band/Swing Elementso Performance styleo “Adult quality” lyricso Instrumentation Piano Guitar Bass Drums (rhythm section) Horns; soloist usually a saxophone Vocalists: “smooch tenor,” ballads and a “shouter/screamer”- “Jump” refers to a style of dancing, later turns into the JitterbugLouis Jordan and the Tympany Five; Choo Choo Ch-Boogie (1946)Post WWII Rhythm & Blues- Harsher vocal style- More risqué lyrics- Loud instruments- Instrumentation resembles jump blues:o Vocalisto Pianoo Acoustic basso Electric guitaro Drumso Tenor saxo Sometimes included backing vocals, organ, and hornso Emphatic dance rhythms- Excitemento Hard driving rhythmso Emphasis on backbeat (beats 2 and 4 in a 4:4)- Use of term “rock ’n’ roll” in lyrics to indicate both dancing and love makingPopular Artists:- Bull Moose Jackson and the Buffalo Bearcats; Big Ten Inch Record (1950s)- Roy Brown (1925-1981); Good Rockin’ Tonight (1948)- Jackie Brenston (1930-1979) and the Delta Cats; Rocket 88 (1951)- Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (1926-1984); Hound Dog (1953)o Song composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller- Big Joe Turner (1911-1985); Shake, Rattle, and Roll
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