Traditional African Music and Jazz

Which of the following is a characteristic of traditional African music?

• AABA form

• common use of fugues

• atonal in nature

• use of brass instruments

• use of complex polyrhythms

check all that relate to "call and response" form

• involves community - participatory

• while call and response are common in African music, this is not a form that is used in jazz

• often the "call" is improvised

listen to this audio clip. What is it an example of?

• sacred music

• talking drums

• ostinatos

• polyrhythms

listen to the sound clip. check all boxes that apply: this is an example of

• polyrhythms

• call and response

• talking drums

• ostinatos

The trumpet player in this sound clip makes his instrument sound like a human voice -- characteristic of African music. His name is

• Dizzy Gillespie

• Miles Davis

• Freddie Hubbard

• Cootie Williams

According to jazz piano great Randy Weston, why is it important for Black Americans to learn about African culture and history?

• To develop a positive identity as African American

• Because Black Americans are Africans born in America

• To reclaim the cultural heritage that whites tried to destroy

• all of the above

Check all characteristics that jazz shares with traditional African music

• use of ostinatos or "riffs"

• use of polyrhythms

• use of call and response

• you can dance to it (at least during some time periods you could)

• the musicians can sound like they are speaking language when they play

List 3 more characteristics (beyond those listed in question 7) shared between traditional African music and jazz.

another word from jazz terminology for an "ostinato" is a (a)  

Why are we starting our jazz history unit with traditional African music?