What is some jazz vocabulary?

Answer 1

There is all kinds of jazz slang of varying degrees of acceptance among jazz musicians. Here is a by no means comprehensive list.

The Apple - New York City. This is now common usage.

We got a gig up in "The Apple" at Minton's with Diz and Bird.

Axe - A guitar

Hey, Jack, bring your "axe" over tomorrow and we'll jam.

Baby - A term of endearment.

Hey, "baby," I got some bread, lets paint the town.

Bad - Good.

Man, that was one "bad" saxophone player.

Bag - A person's particular interest or ability.

I'd like to play with your combo, man, but that sound just ain't my "bag."

Birdbrain - A Charlie Parker imitator.

Blow - (1) A jazzman's term for playing any instrument, even an instrument that does not require air at all to play. (2) To improvise.

(1) Man that kid can really "blow." (2) Do you want to "blow" on this tune?

Bread - A jazzman's word for money.

Alright, man, if you want me to play, you gotta come up with some "bread."

Burnin - (1) Used to describe a particularly technically excellent solo. (2) Really fast.

(1) Hey, man, did you hear that solo by Lee? It was "burnin." (2) That tempo was really "burnin."

Cans - Headphones.

That last take was really good, put on the "cans" and lets record the final take.

Cats - Other Jazz musicians or virtually any other people.

I used to pplay in late-night jam sessions with the "cats" over at Sid's.

Changes - Chord progression.

Hey, man, do you know the "changes" to Donna Lee?

Chops - The ability to play an instrument, a highly refined technique. Also refers to a brass players facial muscles.

"He played the hell out of that tune; he's sure got chops." and "My chops are still achin' from last nights gig."

Clams - Mistakes while playing music.

Charlie is really playing some "clams" tonight.

Combo - Combination of musicians that varies in size from 3 to 10.

Did you see that "combo" that Hawk put together?

Cool - A laid back, restrained approach to music. A superlative which has gained wide acceptance outside of jazz.

That cat Miles Davis plays some "cool" jazz. That cat Miles, is "cool.".

Dad, Daddy-o - A hipster's way of addressing another guy.

Hey, "daddy-o", what's cookin'.

Dark - Angry or upset.

Joe was really "dark" after Jaco showed up 30 minutes late for the gig.

Dig - To know or understand completely or to enjoy.

Hey man I listened to your record and I "dig" it..

Drag - (1) to depress or bring down a person's spirits or, as a noun - a person or thing which depresses. (2) Accidentally letting the tempo slow down

(1) Let's get outta here, that guy is a real "drag." (2) That bass player is great but man he always drags.

Gig - A paying job.

I'm playing a gig in the city tonight.

Hip - A term used to describe someone who knows or understands. Originally "hep" until the 40's or 50's.

Charlie Parker is really "hip".

Horn - Any brass instrument (including saxes).

Hey man, did you bring your horn?

In the Pocket - Refers to the rhythm section being really together;

Those guys are really in the pocket tonight.

Jam Session - A group of jazz players improvising over tunes they all know.

You might want go downstairs, Duke's boys are having a "jam session."

Jive - Phony, fake, or lame.

Man I had to go to this meeting and was so jive, it was just wasting everyone's time.

Noodlin' - To just play notes that have no particular meaning to a tune or solo.

Quit "noodlin" man, let's start working the tune.

Pad - House, home, apartment or bed.

Hey, Lester, c'mon up to my "pad" you look like you need to cool down.

Roast - Play brilliantly to show up a lesser player

Smokin' - Playing very, very well.

I can already tell from outside that Jimmy is "smokin'" tonight.

Square - Someone or something that is really lame or jive.

That cat is a real "square."

Swing - To sounds really good

That band "swings" so hard.

Take five - A way of telling someone to take a five minute break or to take a five minute break.

Hey man, I'm beat, let's "take five."

Train Wreck - Event during the playing of a tune when the musicians "disagree" on where they are in the form (i.e. someone gets lost), so the chord changes and the melody may get confused for several bars, but depending on the abilities of the musicians (it happens to the best of them), they can usually get out of it without any of the audience knowing.

Man, that was almost a "trainwreck."

Woodshed (or Shed) - To practice.

Duke was up all night shedin' that untouchable lick.