Rapp on Jazz

Jazz is an odd word. Not surprisingly, no one agrees on how it came to be. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Charles Henry Christian, born July 29, 1916, was an American swing and jazz guitarist. He was among the first electric guitarists and was a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Few songs are as closely associated with a single performer as “Strange Fruit” and Billie Holiday. The song protests the lynching of Black Americans with lyrics that compare the victims to the fruit of trees. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Ella Fitzgerald, affectionately known as the "First Lady of Song" and the "Queen of Jazz," captivated audiences with her extraordinary vocal range, mesmerizing improvisational talents, and remarkable versatility. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz singer and pianist Sarah Vaughan affectionately nicknamed “Sassy” and the “Divine One,” was an extraordinary talent who blended technical brilliance with heartfelt emotion.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Pat Metheny, guitarist and composer, was born in 1954 into a vibrant musical family,  where he began his journey with the trumpet. His innovative style blends progressive and contemporary jazz, Latin jazz, and jazz fusion.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Born in 1941, pianist and composer Chick Corea was pivotal in bridging fusion and traditional jazz. As a member of Miles Davis's band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of fusion.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Tenor saxophonist Walter Theodore Rollins, better known as Sonny Rollins, was born in New York City on September 7, 1930. After discovering Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, he started playing the alto saxophone.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, born in 1941 in Chicago, began his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group and quickly joined the legendary Miles Davis Quintet. He transformed the jazz rhythm section and influenced today's post-bop sound. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Wayne Shorter was a visionary saxophonist and composer who significantly shaped post-bop and fusion jazz. He joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and quickly became the primary composer. Known for his saxophone mastery, he transitioned from the tenor saxophone in the late 1960s. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Art Blakey was an incredible drummer and bandleader who transformed the jazz scene. He burst onto the scene in the 1940s and collaborated with legends like Fletcher Henderson, Billy Eckstine, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Horace Silver, born in 1928 and passed away in 2014, was a pianist and composer known for blending hard bop with elements of gospel, blues, and Latin music to create a sound that is uniquely his own. His masterpieces, like “Song for My Father” and “The Preacher,” are cherished for their infectious melodies and irresistible grooves. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts...

Frank Sinatra, known as the “Chairman of the Board” and "Ol' Blue Eyes," was born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey. He began his musical career in the swing era, drawing inspiration from singer Bing Crosby.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Nat King Cole began his remarkable journey as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s when he founded The King Cole Trio. This group became the best-selling act on Capitol Records and made history as the only Black ensemble at the time. Their innovative sound inspired countless jazz ensembles that followed. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, was a revolutionary jazz vocalist known for her unique and emotional phrasing.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Dave Brubeck was a prominent composer and pianist in cool jazz, celebrated for his innovative use of time signatures.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, born Stanley Gayetski on February 2, 1927, was nicknamed "The Sound" due to his warm, lyrical tone.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Chesney Henry Baker Jr., better known as Chet Baker, was born on December 23, 1929. He became renowned for his lyrical trumpet playing and soft vocal style, earning the nickname "Prince of Cool" for his innovations in cool jazz.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Bud Powell, born during the Harlem Renaissance, was a pioneering pianist and composer who significantly contributed to the development of bebop music.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Visionary trumpeter and bandleader Miles Davis pioneered multiple jazz styles throughout his five-decade career. He was accepted into Juilliard but dropped out to join Charlie Parker's bebop quintet. Davis collaborated with John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock, creating some of the most iconic moments in jazz history.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Composer and pianist Thelonious Monk’s eccentric style and innovative harmonies redefined jazz. His numerous contributions to the jazz repertoire include classics such as "'Round Midnight," "Blue Monk," "Straight, No Chaser," and more. He is the second-most recorded jazz composer, following Duke Ellington. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Saxophonist Charles Parker Jr., born August 29, 1920, nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird," was one of the architects of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as Duke Ellington, born on April 29, 1899, was a composer, pianist, and bandleader whose contributions shaped the very fabric of jazz.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Art Tatum Jr. was born in 1909. Blind from a young age, Tatum overcame obstacles to become a virtuoso pianist whose technical brilliance and harmonic innovations left an indelible mark on jazz.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

William James Basie, also known as  Count Basie, was a legendary bandleader and pianist whose Kansas City swing defined an era of jazz. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra and led the group for almost 50 years.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.