Is this technically Jazz?

Technique
1

Is this technically Jazz?

I am learning ‘traditional’ Jazz with all the scales and arpegios, but I made this strictly freehand.

Please excuse the terrible recording…Its from a cell phone

Wonderful World - Bb harp

Thanks for the feedback!

2

Before I forget, let me first of all point you to Peter Hogie’s (@Hogie.Harmonica) beautiful recording of a “What a Wonderful World” harmonica solo:

Now back to your question: I will refer you to this Wikipedia article that may help you to find your answer. After reading it I think that you will have a better understanding of just how diverse jazz music is. Probably the best summary would be that from Duke Ellington: “It’s all music.”

3 Likes
3

@Carlos1 Thanks!

So I guess I will just call it ‘Free Jazz’, since I don’t really know what I am doing yet.

Probably guessed that from the recording😁

2 Likes
4

The way I look at these things is that genre names are a bit like Music Theory, they are just attempts to objectively describe, classify & put labels on a thing that is ultimately subjective & personal, i.e. music.

Genre names & Music Theory are both descriptive, not prescriptive.

What really matters is how you feel about the piece.

I liked it regardless of what you choose to call it. Thanks for sharing. :smile:

When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less
Lewis Carroll

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet
Shakespeare

2 Likes
5

I am not able to access your recording because it’s google hosted and I am currently in Mainland China.

But, I sent a similar recording to the one Carlos linked (thanks!) to Michael Rubin. He said, something like (you could play this at a jazz jam and nobody would bat an eye. But if you had several tunes like this one, they would complain. Jazz tunes typically feature more focus on continuous 8th notes, whereas I was playing more triplet based rhythms.

If you want to get going in Jazz, I really recommend getting a Bb chromatic and taking advantage of the many many resources out there for tenor sax. There a fantastic YouTube channel with exercises, and transcribed solos for easy tenor sax (some of which are quite hard on the harmonica!). Playing a ton of that will get you more acquaintanted with the style.

1 Like
6

@Hogie.Harmonica

I am learning on a C chromatic - does changing to a Bb help a lot? I am guessing chords are easier to access.

The recording I did was a Bb diatonic harp.

Thanks for responding - Have a safe trip!

7

Thanks man! Chords are no easier to access, it’s just that tenor sax parts are written in Bb. And there’s a ton of free jazz learning resources available for tenor sax because it’s such a popular jazz instrument.

Outside a few low notes, you can play most basic tenor sax parts on a Bb chromatic. Worth having!

1 Like
8

You are progressing. Keep at it!
My one bit of advice that I was given by Luke and now I see everywhere is not to be afraid to have the notes “linger on” a bit (think of it like watering plants with a watering hose, making sure each gets enough water, instead of “pushing a button”)

2 Likes