Main

C

Chicago style jazz

A style of small band jazz popular in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s that derived from New Orleans style, but emphasized greater solo space, fixed ensembles, and a more prominent role for the rhythm section.

call-and-response

An antiphonal pattern common to jazz and all African American folk music, with a "call" played by a soloist and "answered" by the ensemble.


Big John's Special, Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra (1931)


Continue reading "call-and-response" »

chachacha

Also "chachachá." A mambo and/or danzón-derived rhythmic style and dance form (Latin).


Spurier's Dream, Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band (2000)


Continue reading "chachacha" »

changes

A series of chords; the harmonic structure of a piece of music; the chords for a particular melody.

charanga

Originally a Cuban orchestra of a flute, violins, and rhythm section, now more often with brass instruments added.


El Danzon De La Reina Isabel, La Charanga Rubalcaba (2000)


Continue reading "charanga" »

chart

A musical arrangement.

chase

A series of short musical passages (trading fours or twos) played by several players at a fast tempo.

chops

Technical ability; the lips of a brass player.

chord

The simultaneous sounding of three or more tones.

chord progression

See changes.

chorus

The refrain or the main body of a popular song. See popular song forms.

chromaticism

The use of all 12 tones of a scale

circle of fifths

A series of twelve perfect fifths that circle back to the original tone.

circular breathing

A technique used by wind instrument players and singers to produce a continuous stream of notes without stopping for air. (The air is inhaled through the nose simultaneously while the mouth continues to produce musical sounds.)

clave

A five-beat pattern that underlies all salsa music.

claves

A pair of wooden sticks used to play the clave pattern (Latin).

coda

The conclusion to a piece of music that functions like a summing-up, or an afterthought. A short coda is called a tag.

collective improvisation

Simultaneous improvisation by several musicians (most often heard in early jazz and free jazz).

combo

A small instrumental group of fewer than ten musicians.

comping

The pattern of rhythmic placement of harmony used by keyboardists and guitarists while accompanying soloists.

conjunto

"Combo": a band of guitar, tres, bass, bongos, trumpets, piano, percussion, and three vocalists, first formed for playing in Cuban carnival (Latin).

contrapuntal

See counterpoint.

cool jazz

A jazz style characterized by moderate volume, quiet rhythm sections, low vibrato, and sometimes improvised counterpoint; c. 1950s. (See also West Coast jazz.)


Gotta Dance, Jimmy Giuffre (1956)


Gerry Mulligan Quartet, "Line For Lyons"

Continue reading "cool jazz" »

coro

"Chorus": the two or three-voice refrain sung against a montuno.

coro/pregón

Call-and-response between soloist and the coro (Latin). \

counterpoint

Independent improvised or composed melodies played against each other.

cross rhythm

The simultaneous use of two or more different rhythmic patterns; a basic feature of most African American musics.

cut/cutting/carving

To outplay other musicians, usually in a jam session.

Terms by letter

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X Y Z
Show All