Jazz Trivia

1. In what year was "Strange Fruit" first released as a single?

From Quiz Song by Song: "Strange Fruit"

Answer: 1939

The song was first released in 1939 as a single with "Fine and Mellow" on the B-Side. The song was produced by Milt Gabler for Commodore Records, an independent label known for producing Dixieland jazz and swing records.

From Quiz Watch Your Tenor

Answer: Stan Getz

Stan Getz was born in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1927. When the depression hit his family moved to The Bronx, New York in 1929. He played several instruments but really fell in love with the tenor sax. He got his first tenor sax at age 13. He did very well in the public school system but his real talent was obviously music. He made the New York City All-City Orchestra, a real honor for any young musician. He played with his first big band at age 16 in 1943 and did very well. He quickly moved from band to band playing with the likes of Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. From 1947 to 1949 he played lead tenor in Woody Herman's Orchestra. That orchestra featured four great saxophonists - Getz, Serge Chaloff, Zoot Simms, and Herbie Steward. They were called "The Four Brothers." He toured the world with that group. In 1961 he began spreading Brazilian music throughout America. In 1962 the album "Getz/Gilberto" came out. It featured Getz, Antonio Jobim, Joao and Astrud Gilberto. The most famous song from that album is "The Girl from Ipanema." Getz struggled with various addictions throughout his life. He died of liver cancer in 1991.

From Quiz The Night is Dark and Full of Jazz Tunes

Answer: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

A famous bossa nova tune written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1960 and recorded by dozen of musicians. Corcovado, or the Hunchback, is a mountain in the middle of the city of Rio on the top of which stands the staute of Christ the Redeemer.

From Quiz Warning: I'm Partial to Free-Jazz...

Answer: Seasons

My love for Alan Silva's music knows no bounds. For decades this was my most sought after LP bar none. THEN I heard a certain Thurston Moore was buying every copy he came across. The war was on. Ironically I finally got my copy from Thurston's business partner Byron Coley in the 00s. And he got it signed for me to boot. The wheezing mouth-breather was a happy boy that day. OH, you wanna know about the album. Forgive my diversion. It was released in 1969 on the French BYG label (A label so wonderful that there is probably a special corner in Heaven for its founder). Alan is a bass player (an acoustic bass player) who's is endlessly inventive. His bow technique in particular is praised highly. Nowadays he tends to be more synclavier oriented, but that's his choice. The personnel of 'Seasons' is like a who's who of the free jazz world and it was reissued (even on vinyl!) not all that long ago so it's no longer near impossible to find. Look, you really can't go wrong with anything that has Alan Silva on it. You might as well start here.

From Quiz What I Learned in Jazzercise

Answer: Satchmo

Nicknamed "Satchmo", Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) is regarded by many as one of the most influential musicians in jazz music. A skilled trumpeter, singer, and actor, Satchmo was one of the most popular musicians during his lifetime. His nickname is a shortened version of "satchel mouth" which refers to the size of his mouth. His last hit was "What a Wonderful World" which was released in 1967. It was a comment on the singer's wishes for a more peaceful future and was one of his most optimistic pieces of music.

From Quiz Before Their Time

Answer: Car accident

Despite only living to the age of 25, he contributed greatly to jazz music. On June 26, 1956 he was being driven to a gig when the car spun out of control, due to heavy rain, and wrecked off the side of the road; as a consequence, all three passengers died.

From Quiz Nicknames for Jazz Legends

Answer: Satchmo

He had other nicknames as well, but this one is the most recognizable. It is short for 'Satchel Mouth,' as he had a big mouth.

From Quiz Let There Bebop

Answer: 1940s

Big bands generally featured ten or more musicians. When America entered World War II these musicians were not exempt from being drafted and, as a result, it became increasingly difficult to maintain both the numbers and the quality within such large ensembles. This allowed smaller groups, quintets and quartets, to flourish and, in the process, create greater solo opportunities, the driver for improvisation which is at the heart of Bebop.

From Quiz British Jazz

Answer: Chris Barber

Chris Barber was a superb frontman and trombone player. He toured with his band for years but was especially popular in the 50s and 60s' so called 'Trad Boom'.

From Quiz Legendary Sax Players

Answer: Charlie Parker

Charlie "Yardbird" Parker was a phenomenally talented alto saxophonist, who in addition to being considered the greatest sax man who ever lived, is also credited with creating the musical style of "bebop," along with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Sadly, heroin abuse took Bird from the world far too early, at the age of 34. His musical influence still weighs very heavily on saxophonists today.

From Quiz Some MORE Great Jazz Artists

Answer: Miles Davis

Miles recorded this album in 1956, with Coltrane, Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and "Philly" Joe Jones (drums). I am a huge Paul Chambers fan, and I love this album. In his most famous recording, Kind of Blue, Davis kept some of this group, while replacing others. Paul Chambers, who I consider the greatest jazz bassist of all time, kept his post as Miles' bassist. But James ("Jimmy") Cobb plays drums on that album, replacing Jones. Davis replaced Red Garland with Bill Evans on most of the tracks, with Wyn Kelly playing on "Freddie Freeloader". Julian "Cannonball" Adderley plays some amazing stuff on "Blue In Green" on that album. Also, while Hubbard and Brown were brilliant trumpeters, Parker was a saxophonist.

From Quiz A Review of the History of Jazz 2

Answer: Sonny Greer

Sonny Greer played with Duke Ellington in the Washingtonians.

From Quiz A Review of the History of Jazz

Answer: Jelly Roll Morton

He walked into a New York publishing house in the 1940's and pronounced his legacy from the middle of the room!

From Quiz Scott Joplin, "The King of Ragtime"

Answer: Piano

Joplin also played the cornet, violin, and sang.

From Quiz Jazz Vocalists: Part 1

Answer: Billie Holiday

I think Billie recorded her best stuff in the late 1930s and very early 1940s. While "Strange Fruit" is probably her best known song, I love her version of "What A Little Moonlight Can Do".

From Quiz Some Great Jazz Artists

Answer: Blossom Dearie

Blossom Dearie doesn't sound like a real name, but it is! Her voice sounds like a flower too - beautiful, delicate, and tougher than you think. My favorite track from her is "'Deed I Do" off her self-titled album, which was recorded for Verve in September 1956.

From Quiz Jazz Guitarists: An Overview

Answer: Grant Green

Much of Green's work has been panned by critics over the years, but albums like "Born To Be Blue" and "Matador" rank among the finest jazz guitar albums out there.

From Quiz Jazz Guitar Legends: Joe Pass

Answer: He was a drug addict and did jail time

Joe did serve in the military, but after getting out he became a drug addict and ultimately served time behind bars. He did not emerge again as a recording artist until 1962.

From Quiz Jazz Guitar Legends: Wes Montgomery

Answer: Indianapolis

Unlike most jazz musicians, Wes never relocated to New York, Los Angeles or any of the other cities that served as hubs of jazz music.

From Quiz Jazz Guitar Legends: Kenny Burrell

Answer: Detroit

Born and raised in the Motor City, Burrell launched his jazz career in Detroit-area nightclubs. However, he didn't really become well-known until he moved to New York City.

From Quiz Jazz From Yesteryear to Yesterday

Answer: Joe Zawinul

They ended up recording an album together.

From Quiz Monk

Answer: Royal Mountain, N.C., 1917

After his birth, his mother took her son up North.

From Quiz The World of Jazz

Answer: Ben Pollack

Ben Pollack's band acted as a "nursery" for many great band leaders, including Bud Freeman, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Muggsy Spanier, Jack "Big T" Teagarden, and Glenn Miller.

From Quiz Jazz History 2

Answer: The Modern Jazz Quartet

Lewis on piano, Jackson on vibraphone, Heath on bass, and Clarke on drums were the original MJQ. Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955, and this newer form of the group remained together until 1974, when they disbanded. They reformed, however, only 7 years later, in 1981.

From Quiz Jazz for Jazz people

Answer: 1961

Scott Lafaro died a little over a week after these recordings were made, sending the already-depressed Bill Evans over the edge. He didn't form a new trio for some time.

From Quiz Jazz History

Answer: Cotton Club & The Cotton Club

The Cotton Club, located on West 142nd Street, New York City, was owned by gangster, Owney Madden, who bought it as a place from which to sell "Madden's #1 Beer".

From Quiz Classic Jazz

Answer: The Benny Goodman Band

Members of the Count Basie orchestra appeared on stage, but the whole band was not on the concert schedule.

From Quiz 'A Great Day In Harlem'

Answer: Art Kane

This photo, Kane's first, began his long career.

From Quiz Jazz On A Summer's Day

Answer: Bert Stern

This was Stern's first and only film. He's best known for his photos of Marilyn Monroe and advertising photos for Kubrick's 'Lolita'.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:45 AM

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