Fats Waller
Fats Waller was an American jazz pianist, singer, and composer whose exuberant style helped define the stride piano tradition.
Born Thomas Wright Waller in 1904, he wrote standards including "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose." His playful personality and comedic vocals made him a popular entertainer until his death in 1943.
On the port side
- tenthsTen equal portions
- octavesEight-tone intervals
- ragtimeSyncopated piano genre
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
basslines · walking bass · counterpoint · ornamentation · polyrhythms · comping · boogie-woogie · cutting contest
One who composes music
- lyricistWriter of song texts
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- Tin Pan AlleyMusic publishing district
- ASCAPMusic royalty organization
sheet music · royalties · Broadway musicals · melody · arranger
Pioneering jazz trumpeter, singer
- Count BasieKansas City bandleader
- Billie Holiday"Strange Fruit" vocalist
- Great MigrationVast collective relocation
- Harlem RenaissanceBlack arts explosion, 1920s
Duke Ellington · Ella Fitzgerald · improvisation · scat · recording · influence · pioneer · innovator
Dramatic, attention-grabbing performer
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- humorAmusing quality
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- muggingRobbery with violence
comedic timing · personality · stage presence · wit · antics · audience · performance · vaudeville
Large jazz ensemble
- Lindy HopSwing dance from Harlem
- jitterbugEnergetic swing-era partner dance
- dancehallPaid venue for social movement
- ballroomVenue for formal dances
Savoy Ballroom · Cotton Club · speakeasy · Prohibition · 1930s · Harlem · bandstand · rhythm section
left-hand
On the port side
syncopation · basslines · walking bass · counterpoint · ornamentation · polyrhythms · comping · boogie-woogie · cutting contest · rent party
songwriter
One who composes music
- lyricistWriter of song texts
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- Tin Pan AlleyMusic publishing district
ASCAP · sheet music · royalties · Broadway musicals · melody · arranger
Louis Armstrong
Pioneering jazz trumpeter, singer
- Count BasieKansas City bandleader
- Billie Holiday"Strange Fruit" vocalist
- Great MigrationVast collective relocation
Duke Ellington · Ella Fitzgerald · Harlem Renaissance · improvisation · scat · recording · influence · pioneer · innovator · organ
showman
Dramatic, attention-grabbing performer
mugging · comedic timing · personality · stage presence · wit · antics · audience · performance · vaudeville · revue
big band
Large jazz ensemble
- Lindy HopSwing dance from Harlem
- jitterbugEnergetic swing-era partner dance
- dancehallPaid venue for social movement
ballroom · Savoy Ballroom · Cotton Club · speakeasy · Prohibition · 1930s · Harlem · bandstand · rhythm section · brass section