C Jam Blues
Duke Ellington Orchestra
Alternative embedded performance: Duke Ellington Orchestra live in 1971. The preferred recording remains linked on YouTube.
First listen
Listen once without writing. What do you notice?
Listen closely
1 PULSECan you feel the steady swing beat?
Sentence stemThe beat feels ___.
Vocabulary
- steady
- swinging
- bouncy
- relaxed
2 PITCHHow many notes are in the main idea?
Sentence stemThe main idea uses ___.
Vocabulary
- two notes
- high notes
- low notes
- a short pattern
3 TIMBREWhich instrument takes a solo?
Sentence stemI hear a ___ solo.
Vocabulary
- piano
- trumpet
- saxophone
- trombone
4 STRUCTUREWhat happens between the solos?
Sentence stemBetween the solos, ___.
Vocabulary
- the main idea returns
- the band answers
- the rhythm continues
- everyone plays
5 TEXTUREDoes one instrument or the whole band lead?
Sentence stemFirst ___ leads; then ___.
Vocabulary
- one instrument
- the whole band
- a soloist
- the brass
How does this piece make you feel?
There is no right or wrong answer. Which words match your response?
calmexcitedhopefulcuriousjoyfulpowerfulpeacefultensedreamybravethoughtfulenergeticmysteriouscomfortedrestlessproudsadsurprisedupliftedfocused
Music through time
1942 · Big-band jazz & blues
- Medieval500–1400
- Baroque1600–1750
- Classical1750–1820
- Romantic1820–1900
- 20th century1900–2000
- Contemporary2000–present