Jazz Music Glossary

Essential Jazz Terms

Big Band

A large jazz ensemble typically consisting of 15-20 musicians divided into trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and rhythm sections. The standard big band has 5 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, bass, guitar, and drums.

Swing

A jazz feel where eighth notes are played unevenly (long-short), creating a lilting, propulsive rhythm. Also refers to the Swing Era (1935-1945) when big bands dominated popular music.

Bebop

A jazz style developed in the 1940s characterized by fast tempos, complex harmonies, and virtuosic improvisation. Key bebop composers include Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

Soli

A section in a big band arrangement where an entire section (e.g., all four trombones) plays a harmonized melodic line together, creating a powerful unified sound.

Shout Chorus

The climactic final chorus of a big band arrangement, typically featuring the full ensemble playing at maximum intensity with strong rhythmic figures.

Voicing

The specific arrangement of notes in a chord across different instruments or registers. Good voicing is essential for creating a balanced, resonant ensemble sound.

ii-V-I

The most common chord progression in jazz: minor seventh chord (ii), dominant seventh chord (V), major seventh chord (I). Forms the harmonic foundation of countless jazz standards.

Bossa Nova

A Brazilian jazz style developed in the late 1950s combining samba rhythms with jazz harmonies. Key composers include Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto.

Comping

Accompaniment technique used by piano, guitar, and vibraphone players in jazz. Involves playing chords and rhythmic figures that support the soloist without overpowering them.

Head

The main melody of a jazz composition, typically played at the beginning and end of a performance. Between the heads, musicians improvise solos over the chord changes.