FW: [Dixielandjazz] Jazz slang

[Kurt]

-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt [mailto:bowermastergroup at qwest.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 12:37 AM
To: Bill Gunter
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Jazz slang


Bill,

I have a copy of Leonard Feather's "The Encyclopedia of Jazz" (forward by
Duke Ellington) Horizon Press, New York 1955.  He has an entire section
called "Glossary of Terms - used by jazz musicians".  Looks like there are
about 250 different words listed.

Here are a few examples:
Ax, Axe, n.  Horn, instrument (usually saxophone).

Bad, adj. Good.

BeBob, n.  See Bop.

Bean, n.  Dollar

Bop, n.  A harmonic, rhythmic and melodic extension of jazz, developed in
the early 1940's.

Chick, n.  Girl.

Dad, daddy, daddyo, n.  Cordial form of address.

Dig, v.  Discern, understand, observe, listen to, like.

Dixieland, Dixie, n.  Jazz in the style first popularly associated with the
Original Dixieland Jass Band, most often improvised by trumpet, trombone,
clarinet, piano, bass and drums.

Dog tune, n.  A song of no musical merit.

Hep, adj.  Obsolete among musicians, See "hip".

Hip, adj.  Sophisticated, aware.  ("I'm hip" means I know.")

Insane, adj.  Very good, exceptional.

Jim, n. Form of address.

Jitterbug, n. Person dedicated to wild dancing to jazz.

Longhair, n.  Classical musician of fan.

Moldy fig, n.  Partisan of early traditional jazz.

Nutty, adj.  Great, exceptional.

Pad, n.  Home, bed.

Pops, n.  Form of address.

Society band, n.  Band that plays innocuous commercial dance music.

Solid, adj.  Great, fine, commendable.

Square, adj.  Unsophisticated person.

Tin Pan Alley, n.  Imaginary location, symbolical of commercialized popular
music.

Zoot, adj.  No longer current among musicians.  Exaggerated, ostentatious
(of clothing).



Now, try to use at least one new word in normal conversation tomorrow.  Your
friends will "dig" it "Daddyo"!

Kurt










-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com]On Behalf Of Bill Gunter
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 5:16 PM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Jazz slang


Hi listmates,

Slang, from a linguistic point of view, is fascinating stuff. I'm an
ex-English teacher so when I hear slang I often start thinking more about
the vocabulary than the subject at hand. I know, it's a distraction, but
that's the curse of being a pedant!

Jazz slang has altered over the years from the time I first heard the word
"hep cat" to more contemporary "hip dude."

We refer to our music as either "hot" or "cool" and bandy these terms about
as if we think we're actually saying something specific to somebody else.

Here's an off hand list of slang expressions in our music . . . do you "dig"
them all?

hep
hip
cool
hot
dig
blow (yeah, dude, I blow violin!).
clam
man
cat
aligator
etc.
etc.
etc.

I'd like to collect a list of ancient and contemporary slang terms used in
our genre. Take a minute and jot some down and I'll add them to my list.

After I compile a respectable list I'll attempt definitions and identify
parts of speech and, if possible, the origins of the words or phrases. It's
possible I could cull and article out of this for some jazz publication such
as the American Rag or the Mississippi Rag.

On the other hand, this could be a massive waste of time.

But never forget . . . "Any time wasted is time well spent!"

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "jazzbo" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com

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