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Jazz History Trivia Quiz

Do you like to swing? Then come on in you hep cats and take my Jazz quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by jim_in_oz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jim_in_oz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
84,135

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1515

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Name the famous night club in Harlem where the Duke Ellington Orchestra played for years.

Answer: (Two Words - think fabrics)

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of the great jazz vocalists got her start by winning a talent contest and catching the attention of bandleader Chick Webb? Hint

Billie Holiday

Ella Fitzgerald

Peggy Lee

Bessie Smith

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is "Dizzy" Gillespie's real first name? Hint

Edward

John

David

Andrew

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who wrote the famous jazz tune "Giant Steps"? Hint

Louis Armstrong

Thelonious Monk

Bud Powell

John Coltrane

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which tenor saxophonist first came to fame in Count Basie's Big Band? Hint

John Coltrane

Lester Young

Ben Webster

Coleman Hawkins

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Question 6 of 10

6. Gerry Mulligan is famous for playing the soprano saxophone.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who is regarded as the father of the "free jazz" movement? Hint

John Coltrane

Sonny Rollins

Miles Davis

Ornette Coleman

8. In what year did Duke Ellington amaze the audience at the Newport Jazz Festival with an extended rendition of "Diminuto and Crescendo in Blue" featuring a 27-chorus solo by tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves? Hint

1956

1957

1955

1958

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which bassist of renown, who played with Oscar Peterson in the 1950s, died in Indianapolis on Tuesday 2 July 2002?

Answer: (two words)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was the first musician to put together a jazz trio of piano, guitar and bass?

Answer: (three words - a merry old soul)

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 30 2024 : Guest 82: 2/10
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 79: 2/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Name the famous night club in Harlem where the Duke Ellington Orchestra played for years.

Answer: 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".

2. Which of the great jazz vocalists got her start by winning a talent contest and catching the attention of bandleader Chick Webb?

Answer: Ella Fitzgerald

In 1934 at the age of 16 Ella entered the Harlem Apollo Theatre amateur night. She had intended to dance but ended up being too nervous so she sang instead; and won! Luckily, Chick Webb was in the audience.

3. What is "Dizzy" Gillespie's real first name?

Answer: John

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie earned his sobriquet through his zany, off-beat and effervescent sense of humour.

4. Who wrote the famous jazz tune "Giant Steps"?

Answer: John Coltrane

Giant Steps is the title track from the only record released by "Trane" in 1959.

5. Which tenor saxophonist first came to fame in Count Basie's Big Band?

Answer: Lester Young

Lester Young was very close to Billy Holiday. He called her "Lady Day" and she called him "Prez".

6. Gerry Mulligan is famous for playing the soprano saxophone.

Answer: False

Gerry Mulligan usually played the baritone saxophone, although he did play the other saxophones, including the soprano.

7. Who is regarded as the father of the "free jazz" movement?

Answer: Ornette Coleman

Free jazz is based around Ornette's "Harmolodic Theory": that musicians need to think and feel around the harmonic chord structure of the music to allow for greater creativity and emotion in their music. This was controversial as the results can sound rough, raw and very atonal to the untrained ear.

Answer: 1956

I've heard this recorded. The audience reaction sounds, and was reported to be, phenomenal. By all accounts, people were dancing in the aisles and shouting. The tenor sax solo makes your spine tingle.

9. Which bassist of renown, who played with Oscar Peterson in the 1950s, died in Indianapolis on Tuesday 2 July 2002?

Answer: Ray Brown

This one will age quickly but was only a week before I wrote this quiz. Ray was renowned for helping young, upcoming jazz musicians get their professional starts. He co-owned a jazz club and performed regularly with young musicians.

10. Who was the first musician to put together a jazz trio of piano, guitar and bass?

Answer: Nat King Cole

This combination proved such a hit that it has been used by pianist leaders ever since, most notably, Oscar Peterson, the Canadian jazz great.

Source: Author jim_in_oz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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