Sandy Brown Jazz

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Arrangement - Coming to an agreement with other musicians about the way you have organised a piece of music.

Bongo - French for 'Good To Go'.

Capriccio – A quick coffee.

Chamber Music – Music of convenience.

Da Capo - Ruthless bandleader who makes offers you can't refuse.

Drone - Jazz played robotically rather than by a musician
e.g. as in 'Flying Home (by remote control)' or Angel Eyes in the Skies.

Galliard - Similar to a slim guitar player / pianist.

Gregorian Chant – Impatient Gregory Porter Fans.

Harmonic - Mouth Organ with a note missing.

Hymn - Sexist term applied to a piece of religious music. Similarly the word 'Amen' is used rather than 'Awomen'.

Metronome – Musically challenged busker on the Paris Metro.1

Modulation - Mad about Lambrettas, Paul Weller and The Jam.

Nachtmusik - Term used by people who don't understand jazz. (as in: 'That's Nachtmusik!')

Obbligato - Student or Manager's fees.

Oboe - Wandering musician of no fixed abode.

Orchestration – a musical arrangement cut off in its prime.

Piped Music – Music indigenous to the Scottish Highlands and Dagenham.1

Quadrille - Strange dance where participants get thrown out to sea with lobsters.

Quaver – Stage fright.1

Relative major and minor - Sister in the Salvation Army and brother who plays with the colliery brass band.

Rubato – Music for a foot massage.

Runs – after effects of a vindaloo.1

Sackbut - Bags' Groove (sometimes played by an early form of trombone).

Solo - A note by a single instrument or voice as far down the register as possible.

Soprano - Gangster's girlfriend who wants to be a singer.

Subdominant – Masochist.1

Suite - Praise for a solo or a piece of music.

Super Tonic - A tonic that comes with the gin already in it.

Tremolo - Member of Brian Poole's band.

Triad – booking agency operating from Chinatown.1

Trill - Birdsong effect or an exciting piece of Irish improvisation.

Xylophone – Small toy musical instrument often given as gifts to children who show their appreciation by playing the stupid thing constantly, over and over, all day long; see also ‘drums’.

Yerba Buena – Spanish for ‘Good Grass’.1

If you would like to add to our list of definitions for jazz musicians please contact us.

1 - With thanks to Ron Rubin

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