Rhythm is the most important element in jazz.
If rhythm is played well, the audience will react positively.
Musicians have problems with rhythm:
— lack of exposure to listening to artists
–result from tension in the body
–technical difficulties with the instrument; the more control you have your instrument, the less barrier it presents to expressing yourself.
To get rid of tension: method that teaches coordination and relaxation such as yoga, physical exercise, dancing, meditation etc are useful
The way the rhythm is played is determined by the style of the music.
Swing — evolved around 1900 in new Orleans.
–the strong accent on the off-beats which is the wak beats in Western art music.
–the downbeats were often anticipated, creating synocpation.
Ragtime — evolved from 19th C dance known as the cakewalk, employed syncopation which was called ragging the melody.
— ragtime relied on straight 8th notes and dotted 8th-16th note rhythms. Therefore it did not swing in the same manner as the early jazz bands and is closer rhythmically to Western art music.
Latin American rhythms:
Bossa Nova, Samba, Clave — has underlying basis of the mambo, cha cha, meringue, salsa