Obfuscation > Jazz Vocabulary

Jazz Vocabulary

A-B
Arco - A word used by jazzers when playing in a swimming pool. Utilizing the jazz form of call and response, one will close his eyes and shout "Arco" and the others must respond with "Poco" or be in danger of being called outre.

Back Beat - From hip-hop culture. This is the action which gives a rapid, staccato sound as if talking through a rotating fan. One musician will strike the other on the back in single-stroke roll fashion as the first musician "grooves his rap", ... homey, ... dog.

Blue Note - This comes from the California School of Jazz, the same people who brought us "Cool Jazz." Cool jazz plays blue notes, hot jazz plays red notes, and really cold jazz plays purple notes with white edges. If you want to know about brown notes please contact the agency of the federal government in charge of hybrid weaponry.

Butt Crack - On a snare drum, a rimshot done with the back end of a stick.

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C-D
Contatas - Italian word denoting a female soloist with large mammalian glands, coming literally from two words meaning "with hoo-hoos."

Dominant 7th - A chord that, when combined with a recessive 7th, usually reproduces its major/minor offspring, unless the result is a mutated 7th (see substitution chords and 21st Century music).

Double Time - The time of day -- for most after 7:00 or 8:00 P.M., for some after 10:00 A.M. -- when some jazz musicians begin ordering doubles. Note: Contrary to popular opinion, this has nothing to do with half time, which is part of marching band (not EVEN dixieland parade bands).

Drum Key - 1. Implement for turning bolts specific to percussion equipment.
2. The practically monotonistic range (usually approximately 50 cents less than a minor third) in which most drummers sing.

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E-O
Farte - Italian term meaning tremendously loud expulsion of gaseous substance in the manner of a labial fricative.

Fauxbourbon - Not to be confused with fauxbourdon which means false burden (see "How I Learned to Play the Blues"). Fauxbourbon deals with the bourbonish brown drinks such as scotch and brandy, and even includes Southern Comfort.

French Horn - A woman of ill-repute from France. Why, I could tell you some... what? Oh, with an 'n.' Never mind.

Fugue - Well fugue, too!

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P-S
Perfect Pitch - This comes from the baseball term of the same name and means playing in the groove or in the pocket, as in throwing the ball straight into the catcher's mitt. Also used when an oboe misses all edges of a trash can.

Rhythm Changes - A comprehensive history of rhythmic development and mutation written by Weall Noyermother which begins with "Come to Kokopelli" in Whole Notes, winds through Spike Jones' "Metered Sneezes and Fart Noises", and ends with Weather Report's "Where's The Bridge? I Don't Know, But Try To Catch It The Next Time Around."

Subito - Small, miniaturized sandwich on French Bread.

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T-Z
(La) Triviata - Italian Jazz based on short phrases, wide but irrelevant knowledge, and pieces of pie.

Trom Bone - What you feed your Trum Pet.