Society of Toronto
last updated 30 May 2004
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About the Classic Jazz Society of Toronto
What is Classic Jazz?
Classic Jazz goes by many names -- New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Trad Jazz, to mention just a few. The Classic Jazz Society of Toronto is primarily interested in jazz that was played prior to 1940. It sometimes includes compositions that are often considered swing.
Traditional jazz is
toe-tapping, foot-stomping music
generally hot, sensuous, earthy, emotional
generally intended for dancing and having a good time
generally played in such a manner that the underlying tune is recognizable to the untrained listener
often based on tunes from pop or similar sources
Here are some articles on the very controversial topic of "What is classic Jazz?"
Traditional/Classic/Dixieland Jazz FAQ and
Resource List by Stan Klein
By traditional/classic jazz, I mean the genre that broadly includes hot dance music of the
1920's, 30's, and early 40's, Dixieland, swing, boogie-woogie, blues, and ragtime. It
includes some of the big-band music and especially the band-within-a-band music of the
big-band era. Traditional jazz bands also preserve the cakewalk music of the 1890's,
because it lends itself to the jazz style...
http://cpcug.org/user/sklein/jazzfaq.html
Traditional Jazz - New Orleans by Geoff Boxell
The main features of New Orleans jazz are the unscripted ensemble work, the unwritten but
generally acknowledged rhythms that may be used, and the defined roles of the
instruments...
http://members.tripod.com/GeoffBoxell/jazz.htm
An Introduction to New Orleans Jazz by Bruce
Boyd Raeburn
The best way to account for the early development of jazz in New Orleans is to familiarize
yourself with the cultural and social history of this marvelously distinctive regional
culture...
http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/BeginnersIntro.html
A Dixieland/Jazz Overview by Murray Pfeffer
It's rather sad to relate, but even many Americans (the land where Jazz was born) no
longer understand the meaning of the expression "Dixieland Jazz". If we define
'Jazz' as the free improvisation on a melody, then "Dixieland Jazz" is that type
of improvisation which we today associate with bands originally playing in America's
'Southland'. ..
http://www.nfo.net/.WWW/JO.html#JO