RHYTHM AND SYNCOPATION - " Most rhythms have a regular pulse or beat. Normally the stress, or accent, comes on the first beat, in a measure. In Jazz, the stress sometimes comes on the second beat, or in between the main beats. This is called syncopation. A tension is created between the steady pulse and the syncopated rhythm.

JAM SESSIONS - When musicians get together without an audience and experiment with tunes, it is known as a jam session. It is during sessions like these that most Jazz evolves.

COMPOSING JAZZ - Although jazz involves lots of improvisation, there are some fixed elements in a piece. Instead of writing down every note, jazz composers provide a rough outline, usually consisting of a tune and the chords that go with it. Chords are two
or more notes played or sung together. They are usually written as chord symbols, which tell the musician which chords accompany a tune. The musicians improvise around this hotline. Most jazz composers base their work on music they come up with during jam sessions."
MUSIC TO LISTEN TO:

* SAXOPHONE - Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny (1957) & Clarence Clemons, Rescue/Hero (1999)

* CLARINET - Benny Goodman, Live at Carnegie Hall 1938 (1950)

* TRUMPET - Chet Baker, 'Round Midnight (1998)

* TROMBONE - Tommy Dorsey, The 17 Number Ones (1990)

* PIANO - Thelonius Monk, Straight No chaser (1989)

* DOUBLE BASS - Charlie Haden Quartet West, Now is the Hour (1996)

* DRUMS AND VIBRAPHONE - Lionel Hampton, midnight Sun (1993)

http://ladydpiano.com/Music.html