Americana Music
Due to its proximity to New York City, the world capital of jazz, New Jersey has had an interesting history with the genre. The piano as an instrument is particularly important to New Jersey's relationship with jazz music history because there have been so many important jazz pianists who came from this state.
Before I knew what this type of music was called, I loved it. I was drawn to the realness of the music - the feeling, the talent that makes up these amazing sounds and melodies. Then I set out to learn more.
The new music equipment has also helped in creating new genres such as techno, rap and pop, etc. The artificial sounds that various contemporary electronic instruments such as electric guitars and keyboards have ignited the idea of producing different sounds that will fit today's generation.
Throughout the 50's jazz music was patronized by Pannonica de Koenigswater, a wealthy descendant of the Rothschild banking family and resident of Weehawken New Jersey. She was a friend of many of the most important artists in the evolution of bebop, the prevailing jazz tradition to this day.
After a facilitated retreat in 1999, the AMA was born and has proved itself to be a valuable promoter and supporter of the Americana genre. When you are the association responsible for the last public performance Johnny and June Carter Cash would do together, you know there is a lot of clout there.
In addition to those musicians patronized by Pannonica, there were other bebop jazz pianists who were born in New Jersey. The first one of note was Al Haig, famous for assisting Charlie Parker in creating the genre by playing alongside him in his quartet in the mid 40's. Haig was born in Newark, which was at that point another important center of jazz music innovation. Finally, the renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans, famous for assisting Miles Davis in the creation of his landmark album Kind of Blue, was born right in Plainfield New Jersey. Evans got his start playing locally in his brother's band before moving on to music school and eventually playing in New York City.
There are many other jazz pianists who were born, lived in, or played important gigs in this state. While it is often overshadowed by New York City, its connection to important musicians such as Duke Ellington, Al Di Meola, and Pat Metheny in addition to the many jazz music pianists mentioned already show how important this state's contributions to jazz history are.
Before I knew what this type of music was called, I loved it. I was drawn to the realness of the music - the feeling, the talent that makes up these amazing sounds and melodies. Then I set out to learn more.
The new music equipment has also helped in creating new genres such as techno, rap and pop, etc. The artificial sounds that various contemporary electronic instruments such as electric guitars and keyboards have ignited the idea of producing different sounds that will fit today's generation.
Throughout the 50's jazz music was patronized by Pannonica de Koenigswater, a wealthy descendant of the Rothschild banking family and resident of Weehawken New Jersey. She was a friend of many of the most important artists in the evolution of bebop, the prevailing jazz tradition to this day.
After a facilitated retreat in 1999, the AMA was born and has proved itself to be a valuable promoter and supporter of the Americana genre. When you are the association responsible for the last public performance Johnny and June Carter Cash would do together, you know there is a lot of clout there.
In addition to those musicians patronized by Pannonica, there were other bebop jazz pianists who were born in New Jersey. The first one of note was Al Haig, famous for assisting Charlie Parker in creating the genre by playing alongside him in his quartet in the mid 40's. Haig was born in Newark, which was at that point another important center of jazz music innovation. Finally, the renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans, famous for assisting Miles Davis in the creation of his landmark album Kind of Blue, was born right in Plainfield New Jersey. Evans got his start playing locally in his brother's band before moving on to music school and eventually playing in New York City.
There are many other jazz pianists who were born, lived in, or played important gigs in this state. While it is often overshadowed by New York City, its connection to important musicians such as Duke Ellington, Al Di Meola, and Pat Metheny in addition to the many jazz music pianists mentioned already show how important this state's contributions to jazz history are.
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