Ralph Earl Sutton, November 4, 1922– December 30, 2001, American Jazz Pianist
Jazz musicians play a form of music that has a lot in common with many other genres, but the biggest difference is improvisation. While classical music strives to conform the musical tones to orchestral sonorities, jazz musicians are encouraged and expected to improvise in any way that inspires them. This is what makes the genre so unique.
Ralph Sutton
In the earliest days of jazz, New Orleans-style bands used simple arrangements that were largely memorized and improvised upon by the performers. The swing era of the 1920s to the 1940s saw big bands move toward more complex harmonies, primarily within a rhythm section that consisted of chordal instruments such as piano or guitar, bass and drums. The jazz era of the 1960s saw a return to small ensembles, and bebop introduced complex melodies and often fast tempos. The jazz fusion of the 1970s introduced sounds more commonly associated with rock and R&B to jazz, and the music became more commercial. It also helped establish or bolster the careers of singers such as Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan and Sade, and saxophonists Grover Washington Jr., Kenny G and Kirk Whalum.
By the late 1980s, smooth jazz was gaining popularity and blending with popular music styles. This style has a mellower, more relaxed sound and is played at about 90 to 105 beats per minute. The lead melody instrument is saxophone, especially soprano and tenor, although bass, trumpet and even vocalists are sometimes found in this genre of jazz music.
The 1990s brought about a reaction to the fusion and free jazz of the 1970s, with musicians such as pianists Jason Moran and Vijay Iyer, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel and vibraphonists Stefon Harris and Christian McBride returning to smaller forms with simpler harmonies. This resurgence of neo-traditionalist jazz was characterized by an emphasis on small group ensembles with one to three melody instruments and a rhythm section.
While many jazz musicians are jacks of all trades, with a detailed musical knowledge that allows them to be hired for rock, pop and R&B sessions, the vast majority of jazz professionals have a true passion for jazz music that is evident in their playing. They perform in clubs, concert halls, festivals and on television and radio. They teach, write and record music. They are the face of a musical tradition that is not dependent on a specific audience and that is something to celebrate. Jazz has stood the test of time and is a true cultural treasure. It defies the worst that Western culture can devolve into – imperialism, cynicism and ironic detachment – and in its best form is the pure expression of the individual.