Cultural Outsider Playlist Part 2: Introducing Jazz
Introduction:
In this blog, I've selected jazz as my musical style to explore from an outsider's perspective. I created a playlist of five jazz artist performances and analyzed each one by comparing its rhythms, instruments, themes, and emotional expression to another video in the set. Doing so helped me see how different artists shaped the genre in their own ways. Furthermore, I've also created two thoughtful questions for each video that only someone deeply familiar with the jazz culture could fully understand. This blog highlights my creative and research-driven exploration of the jazz genre.
Billie Holiday: Love me or Leave me.
Billie Holiday's version highlights emotional expression through her soft phrasing and slight delays in timing, which add a sense of tension and vulnerability. The steady rhythm allows her voice to stand out and carry out the mood of the song. Unlike other tracks that rely more on energetic instrumentals or improvision, Ms. Holiday's performance's feels more intimate and centered on her vocal interpretation. Her tone creates a calm, reflective mood that contrasts with the brighter or more upbeat styles of the other jazz pieces. Furthermore, due to a documentary that I've personally watched, I've realized that Ms. Holiday's music throughout her life reflected her love life, political affairs, and her personal issues, which is why her style of music was and is very emotional.
Questions I would ask the artist:
1. Was singing a way of venting your emotions?
2. Looking back, which personal experience do you feel had the strongest impact on your growth as a vocalist?
Frank Sinatra: I've Got the World on a String.
Frank Sinatra's performance highlights his effortless delivery and confident swing. Unlike Ms. Billie Holiday soft emotional styles, Sinatra's delivery is brighter, more polished, and more focused on rhythmic accuracy. The lively instrumentation, especially the brass, adds to the upbeat mood. Compared to Mr. Duke Ellington or Mr. Miles Davis, Sinatra leans more toward popular jazz vocals than improvisational or experimental jazz. In other words, staying in style. His version of jazz creates a joyful, celebratory feel powered by charm rather than deep reflection.
Questions I would ask the artist:
1. Have any personal experience inspired a song that you made or was you just making songs to keep up with the younger generation of your time?
2. How did you handle the pressure of being seen as a leading figure in popular music?
Ella Fitzgerald: Dream A Little Dream Of Me.
Ella Fitzgerald delivers this soft jazz classic with a warm velvety voice. Ms. Fitzgerald smooth phrasing and gentle style give the song a dreamy, romantic feel. Unlike Ms. Billie Holiday's emotional intensity, Fitzgerald's version is lighter, more melodic, and marked by clear polished vocals. The instrumentation remains subtle and supportive, allowing Ms. Fitzgerald's technical skill to stand out more. Compared to Mr. Frank Sinatra's lively swing or Mr. Miles Davis improvisational approach, this performance is calm, intimate, and focused mainly on vocals.
Questions I would ask the artist:
1. What vocal techniques helped to maintain such clear and warm tones during slower and softer songs?
2. Did any personal experience influence the warmth and emotion in your vocal style?
Duke Ellington: Take the A Train.
Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" is lively, bright, and rhythmically rich, highlighting the strength of a big-band jazz. The horns, the piano, the swinging rhythm, and short instrumental solos created an engaging musical dialog. Unlike Mr. Sinatra or Ms. Fitzgerald's vocal focused songs, this piece emphasized instrumental skill. Its energetic tempo and layered arrangement contrast with the cool, minimalist style of Mr. Miles Davis. Mr. Ellington's performances show-cases jazz as a collective effort, driven by careful arrangements and band cohesion.
Questions I would ask the artist:
1. What inspired the arrangements and structure of this piece?
2. If you could perform this piece today, would you interpret it differently to reflect modern day jazz or contemporary culture?
Miles Davis: So What (Official Video).
"So What" is a classic example of cool jazz, featuring a relax tempo, open arrangements, and a focus on improvision. Its use modal jazz, which gives musicians space for long solos and simple, minimal melodies. Unlike Mr. Duke Ellington's structure big-band style, Mr. Davis's sound is more open and innovative. The mood is calm but thought-provoking, allowing subtle changes in rhythm and harmony. Unlike the vocal tracks in the playlist, this piece shows jazz as an entirely instrumental and exploratory art form.
Questions I would ask the artist:
1. What inspired you to focus on modal jazz instead of traditional chord-based jazz for So What?
2. How did your personal experiences or the world around you in the 1950's influence the sound of So What?
Conclusion:
These five jazz pieces I've chose, show the genre's variety while sharing core elements of creativity, rhythm, and personal expression. Billie Holiday singing is raw and reflective, Ella Fitzgerald's is smooth and melodic, Frank Sinatra is upbeat and confident, Duke Ellington is bold and structured, and Miles Davis is calm and improvisational. Together, those artists highlight jazz's depth and versatility.
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