Gotta Be Jazz (YVS)

1 Jazz is a unique and exciting kind of music that was born in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.

That’s more than a hundred years ago!

2 The city of New Orleans played an important part of the development of early jazz.

Way back then, the people of New Orleans came from many different cultures.

3 There were African Americans as well as Creoles, who were descendants of mixed African,

French and Spanish heritage. There were also people from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

5 All of these different kinds of people had their own musical traditions.

Jazz began to emerge when different peoples and their music began to blend together.

6 Early jazz is not just one style of music. It includes many styles, like Dixieland, bebop, swing or blues.

5 But wait a minute! Wait a minute! I’m confused. Is it blues, or is it jazz?

4 Or are they just makin’ it up?
6 Blues, Ragtime, Dixieland - if it’s any of these, it’s gotta be jazz!

ALL JAZZED UP (DUKE CHORUS)

1 Because New Orleans is on the Mississippi River, it was easy for musicians to travel north, brining their music

with them. Other cities that quickly became known for jazz included Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and New York.

2 Young Americans in particular really liked this new style of music. They loved to listen and dance to it.

3 Radios and record players were becoming more widely available, which also helped the popularity of jazz.

Almost anyone could listen to it.
5 Jazz was truly spreading across the land.

JAZZ IS ON ITS WAY (DUKE CHORUS)

1 As jazz quickly spread up the Mississippi River, it made its way east to Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York City.

2 Eventually it even headed west “travel my way, take the highway, that’s the best.”

4 Hey, that sounds like a song!
3 It is a song! And it ended being a jazz standard about the highway that everybody used to travel

as they headed west to seek their fortunes at the end of the road.
5 Not just any road. If it’s gonna be jazz, it’s gotta be Route 66!

ROUTE 66 (DUKE CHORUS)

1 The blues is a musical style that originated in the African American community. It came from plantation songs,

spirituals and field hollers or calls. It was used to express sadness or difficulties and challenges through music.

2 Not all jazz tunes are blues and not all blues tunes are jazz. In fact, the blues has found its way into almost every style

of 20th century music from folk to rock, country, pop, and, of course, jazz.

3 The word “blue” has even become another way of saying “sad.” So if you find yourself feeling sad, at least you know

you can always sing the blues.

THE BLUES (DUKE CHORUS)

1 As jazz spread across the country and even around the world, it also continued to evolve.

2 In the 1930s a new kind of jazz emerged and the Big Band or Swing Era became popular.

Swing music was energetic and fun to dance to.

3 Yet another new style of jazz called behop, or bop, appeared in the 1940s. This was a very complex kind of jazz

with fast melodies and improvisations. Bebop showcased the technical skills of players and had a frantic feel to it.

Some people didn’t care for it while others thought it was genius.

5 Cool jazz also appeared in the 1940s, but it was very different than bebop. Some think it was kind of reaction

against bebop. The word “cool” meant the style was more understated, moody or subdued.

6 Clearly, not all jazz music swings. If you ever wondered what it means to swing or not to swing, let us show you.

TO SWING OR NOT TO SWING (ELLA CHORUS)

1 One of the most important elements of jazz is improvisation.

4 What’s that?

2 It’s a performance given without planning or preparation, composing music while performing it.

4 I still don’t get it.

1 Think of it like this. It’s making it up as you go along.

2 And you can even do this with singing. It’s called scat singing. Instead of words, you use nonsense syllables.

1 Listen to this song, and you’ll understand.

CHOO CHOO CH’BOOGIE (ELLA CHORUS)

1 In the 1950s and 60s, Latin-influenced jazz became particularly strong.

Latin dances, such as the samba and the bossa-nova, were extremely popular in the United States.

2 Latin jazz has its own unique sound. It uses a wide variety of Latin percussion instruments, such as congas, t

o flavor the music, and Latin American rhythms influenced by Africa.

3 And don’t forget to mention Afro-Cuban jazz, which is also influenced by popular Cuban dance music,

such as the mambo!

MARDI GRAS MAMBO (ELLA CHORUS)

1 The great thing about jazz it just continues to grow and change.

2 Today people can take almost any song they know and add jazz elements to it to make it sound like a jazz song.

3 Really? Any song?

2 Sure! Listen to this simple children’s song about a penguin named Pierre.

4 Are you for real?

1 Give the song a jazz feel, and maybe a simple song can become part of the story of jazz.
3 Do you really think so?
2 It’s worth a try. If it’s about taking musical risks...you know... 1 It’s gotta be jazz!

PIERRE THE PENGUIN (ELLA CHORUS)

1 One thing I never understood is why all the old jazzers had such funny names.

2 You mean like Dizzy?

3 And Satchmo?

5 Lady Day?

6 And Jelly Roll?

1 Exactly!
4 They made them up!

1 You see, these jazz players were very creative people. Their nicknames were either chosen by themselves

or given to them by their friends.

2 Usually it was a name that said something about their personalty and about the way they made jazz.

3 Listen to this song that will tell us more about their great jazz musicians.

HARLEM RENAISSANCE (ELLA CHORUS)

1 So that’s jazz!

2 Well, it was jazz.

1 What do you mean “that was jazz?”

2 What I mean is that jazz isn’t finished yet and never will be.

3 That’s right. Jazz music is only a little over a hundred years old and it’s always changing.

Who knows what it might sound like in another hundred years.

4 You mean they’re still making it up again?

5 Exactly! But whether you hear it in New Orleans or New York...

1 Rio de Janerio or Bombay...

2 Melbourne or Cape Town...

3 If the sound you year is full or surprise and honesty...

4 Strength and improvisation...

5 Sadness and joy...

1 Then it has to be...

2 It ought to be...

3 It’s gotta be...

ALL Jazz!

IT DON’T MEAN A THING/SING SING SING (ALL)

The End

Gotta Be Jazz - Recordings and Lyrics

Jazz (Both)

Jazz, Jazz, Jazz. Playin', singin', swingin'

Jazz, Jazz, Jazz. Playin', singin', swingin'. Jazz.

Born in America, oh so long ago,

jazz is music ev'ryone should know.

Down in New Orleans, people heard the sound.

Jazz was happening all around the town.

It was blending, it was an evolution.

It was a style that simply came to be.

It spread around, this music revolution,

till it was played from sea to jazzy sea.

Oh! Jazz, Jazz, Jazz. Playin', singin', swingin'

Jazz, Jazz, Jazz. Playin', singin', swingin'. Jazz.

Jazz. Rhythm. Jazz. Swing.

Jazz. Blue notes. Jazz. Improvisation.

Improvisation.

Oh! Jazz, Jazz, Jazz. Playin', singin', swingin'

Jazz, Jazz, Jazz. Playin', singin', swingin'

Playing', singin', swingin'.

Oh! Jazz!

J-A-Z-Z. Jazz!

All Jazzed Up (Duke Chorus)

Wanna hear those saxes……Wanna hear those trombones.

Wanna hear those trumpets, I’m all jazzed up tonight.

When the joint is jumpin’, and the beat is thumpin’.

Man, my heart gets pumpin’. I’m all jazzed up tonight.

When they start to play my favorite song, I can hardly wait to swing along.

When the band is smokin’, honey I’m not jokin’,

Though it goes unspoken, I’m all jazzed up tonight.

Love to hear the rhythm, and the beat it’s given.

That’s what I call livin’. I’m all jazzed up tonight.

When the brass is reelin’, and I get that feelin’,

Gonna hit the cealin’, I’m all jazzed up tonight.

When they start to play my favorite song, I can hardly wait to swing along.

When the band is smokin’, honey I’m not jokin’,

Though it goes unspoken, I’m all jazzed up tonight.

Ba ba dap bap ba dow. Ba ba dap bap bad ow. Ba ba dap bap ba dow.

I’m all jazzed up tonight.

Ba ba dap bap ba dow. Ba ba dap bap bad ow. Ba ba dap bap ba dow.

I’m all….. jazzed…….up…..to……..night. Woh yeah! Woh yeah!

…………….. I’m all jazzed up tonight.

Jazz Is On Its Way (Duke Chorus)

Movin' up the river, listent to that sound. Jazz is on its way.

Goin' to Chicago, goin' to New York. Jazz is here to stay.

From Louisiana, spreading through the land. Hear that music play.

From Kansas City to Saint Louie, 'cross the U.S.A., oh! Jazz is on its way.

body percussion/dixieland interlude

Movin' up the river, listen to that sound. Jazz is on its way

Goin' to Chicago, goin' to New York. Jazz is here to stay.

From Louisiana, spreading through the land. Hear that music play.

From Kansas City to Saint Louie, 'cross the U.S.A., oh! Jazz is on its way.

Oh! Jazz is on its way!

Jazz is on its way!

spoken: Yeah!

Route 66 (Duke Chorus)

If you ever plan to motor west,

Travel my way, take the highway that's best.

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

It winds from Chicago to LA,

More than two thousand miles all the way.

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Now you go through Saint Louis

Joplin, Missouri,

And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.

You'll see Amarillo,

Gallup, New Mexico,

Flagstaff, Arizona.

Don't forget Winona,

Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino.

Won't you get hip to this timely tip:

When you make that California trip

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Won't you get hip to this timely tip:

When you make that California trip

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. YEAH!

Songwriters: BOB TROUP

The Blues (Duke Chorus)

Oh, when you’re down and feelin’ sad;

Oh, when you’re low and feelin’ bad;

Oh, when you feel so crummy,

You don’t know what to do:

If crummy was a color, that color would be blue;

Here’s what you do;

you sing the blues, the blues, the blues.

(like crying) Wah, wah, wah. Boo hoo hoo.

Woe is me. Woe is you.

Whimper whimper. Sigh sigh sigh.

Sniffle sniffle, Cry cry cry.

Oh, when you’re down and feelin’ sad;

Oh when you’re low and feelin’ bad;

Oh, when you feel so crummy,

You don’t know what to do:

If crummy was a color, that color would be blue;

Here’s what you do;

you sing the blues, the blues, the blues.

Here’s what you do:

you sing the blues, the blues, the blues.

Here’s what you do:

You sing the blues,

You sing the blues.

School Blues

1st Solo: When I was in kindergarten, my first day of school, didn’t know how to read or write, or tie my shoes.

2nd Solo: I passed the first grade, the second grade too.

Don’t know how I made it, with all that homework to do.

3rd Solo: The third grade was harder, thought my brain cells would burst.

And now I’m in the fourth grade, and I wish that I was in first.

4th Solo: I’m scared of fifth grade, and I don’t want to leave this school.

All: Oh yeah!

5th Solo: I heard it’s scary in sixth grade, but a girl’s/boy's gotta do what a girl’s/boy's gotta do.

All: Oh yeah!

To Swing or Not to Swing (Ella Chorus)

To swing or not to swing; that is the thing, that is the thing.

Jazz doesn't necessarily have to swing.

Sometimes it's true, swing is not the thing.

To swing or not to swing;

that is the thing, that is the thing.

This swings. This swings.

This swings. Ba da ba da ba da.

This does not swing. This does not swing.

This does not swing, cha cha cha.

Jazz doesn't necessarily have to swing.

Sometimes it's true, swing is not the thing.

To swing or not to swing;

that is the thing, that is the thing.

That is the thing. That is the thing.

Ba da ba da ba da da dot.

To swing or not to swing!

SWING!

Choo Choo Ch'Boogie (Ella Chorus)

I'm headed for the station with my pack on my back.

I'm tired of transportation in the back of a hack.

I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack.

And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack.

And pal around with democratic fellows named Mac.

So take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo ch'booogie. Woo woo, woo woo, ch'boogie.

Choo choo choo choo ch'booogie.

So take me right back to the track, Jack!

I'm gonna settle down beside the railroad track,

And live the life of Riley in a beaten down shack.

So when I hear the whistle I can peep through the crack,

And watch the train a'rollin' when it's ballin' the jack.

For I just love the rhythm of the clickety clack.

So take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo ch'booogie. Woo woo, woo woo, ch'boogie.

Choo choo choo choo ch'booogie.

So take me right back to the track, Jack!

Dwee...'n doo bah doo bah doo bah wee doo daht.

Bahp, bah dah daht.

Dwee doot 'ndoo daht.

I'm heading for the station with my pack on my back.

I'm tired of transportation in the back of a hack.

I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack.

And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack.

And pal around with democratic fellows named Mac.

So take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo ch'booogie. Woo woo, woo woo, ch'boogie.

Choo choo choo choo ch'booogie.

So take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo ch'booogie. Woo woo, woo woo, ch'boogie.

Choo choo choo choo ch'booogie.

So take me right back to the track, oh yeah!

Mardi Gras Mambo (Ella Chorus)

Down in New Awlins where the blues was born. Takes a cool cat to blow a horn.

On La Salle and Rampart Street. Combos playing with a mambo beat.

Mardi Gras Mambo……..(Mambo, Mambo)

(Both) Mardi Gras Mambo……..Down in New Orleans.

In Girt town where the cats all meet, they Mardi Gras Mambo with a beat.

Jolly Chief was the Zulu King, Truck on down to the Mambo swing.

Mardi Gras Mambo……..(Mambo, Mambo)

(Both) Mardi Gras Mambo……..Down in New Orleans. (repeat)

Down in New Awlins where the blues was born. Takes a cool cat to blow a horn.

On La Salle and Rampart Street. Combos playing with a mambo beat.

Mardi Gras Mambo……..(Mambo, Mambo)

(Both) Mardi Gras Mambo……..Down in New Orleans. (Repeat)

(ending) Mardi Gras Mambo….Mambo!

PIERRE THE PENGUIN (Ella Chorus)

words and music by David Greenbaum

PIERRE THE PENIGUIN IS A MIGHTY COOL BIRD

HE HAS A STORY YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD

HE WAS VERY POPULAR AND HIGHLY REVERED

UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED

THAT WAS KIND OF WEIRD

HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THE C A S

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

NOTICED THAT HIS FEATHERS BEGAN TO FALL

AND THEN PAM – THE SUPER A B MADE A CALL

TO A FRIEND SHE SAID I HAVE AN IDEA

TO HELP PIERRE GET OVER HIS FEAR

THEY MADE A SUIT OUT OF NEOPRENE

AND LET ME TELL YOU IT WAS MIGHTY SWEET

PIERRE THE PENGUIN

A MIGHTY COOL BIRD

PIERRE THE PENGUIN

PIERRE THE PENGUIN IS A MIGHTY COOL BIRD

PIERRE THE PENGUIN

A MIGHTY COOL BIRD

PIERRE THE PENGUIN

PIERRE THE PENGUIN IS A MIGHTY COOL BIRD

YEAH

Harlem Renaissance (Ella Chorus)

words and music by Peter Sroka

We are the artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Welcome to the 1920s.

My name is Louis of the Harlem Renaissance.

I was a musician of the Harlem Renaissance.

Louis Armstrong, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba.

I am one of many artists of those days.

My name is Ella of the Harlem Renaissance.

I was a singer of the Harlem Renaissance.

Ella Fitzgerald, scoobie doo-bop-bop-bop-bop.

I am one of many artists of those days.

We are the artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Welcome to the 1920s.

My name is Langston of the Harlem Renaissance.

I was a poet of the Harlem Renaissance.

Langston Hughes, “It was a long time ago.”

I am one of many artists of those days.

My name is Josephine of the Harlem Renaissance.

I was a dancer of the Harlem Renaissance.

Josephine Baker, wa-wa-wa-wa-wa!

I am one of many artists of those days.

We are the artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Welcome to the 1920s.

My name is Bill of the Harlem Renaissance.

I was a dancer of the Harlem Renaissance.

Bill Bojangles Robinson, tap-tap-tap-tap.

I am one of many artists of those days.

My name is Paul of the Harlem Renaissance.

I was an actor of the Harlem Renaissance.

Paul Robeson, “OH DESDEMONA!”

I am one of many artists of these days.

We are the artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Welcome to the 1920s.

We are the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. 3 X

Yes, we are the artists of Harlem, New York City.

Harlem Renaissance!

It Don’t Mean a Thing/Sing Sing Sing

Solo: What good is melody? What good is music?

If it ain’t possessin’ somethin’ sweet?

It ain’t the melody, It ain’t the music.

There’s something else that makes the tune complete.

Ella: Sing sing sing sing, everybody start to sing.

Both: By singin’ ladlela, whoa ho-ho-ho—ho!

Duke: Now you’re singin’……with a swing.

Ella: You gotta swing swing swing swing,

Everybody start to swing.

Both: By singin’ ladlela, whoa ho-ho-ho—ho!

Duke: Now you’re swingin’ while you sing, come along.

Ella: You gotta listen, to find the groove.

Duke: It’s done if you let your feet do the moves.

Ella: And when you’ve found it, it’s hard to lose.

Duke: That’s it, you’re swingin’ it with this tune now.

Ella: Sing sing sing sing, everybody start to sing.

Both: By singin’ ladlela, whoa ho-ho-ho—ho! Now you’re singing’ with a song that’ll swing.

Both: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,

Doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah.

Ella: It don’t mean a thing all you got to do is sing.

Duke: It don’t mean…a…thing…got….to sing.

Both: Doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah.

Ella: It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot.

Duke: Makes no difference.

Ella: Just give that rhythm everything you’ve got.

Duke: Talkin’ bout rhythm.

Both: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,

Doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah.

Ella: First you hear the drums a-pounding. Setting down the rhythm of the band.

And it is quite astounding. Listen to the rhythm.

Duke: First ya hear…..rhythm, then ya hear……music.

Is it clear….which one…..that ya hear….on the drums. (repeat)

Ella: First you hear the drums a-pounding. Setting down the rhythm of the band.

And it is quite astounding.

(Next part together)

Duke: First you hear…..rhythm, then ya hear……music.

Is it clear….which one…..that ya hear….on the drums.

Ella: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,

Doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah.

Ella: It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot.

Duke: Makes no difference

Ella: Just give that rhythm everything you’ve got.

Duke: Talkin’ bout rhythm.

Both: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,

Doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah doo wah.

JAZZ (CHORUS-ALL)

ALL JAZZED UP (DUKE CHORUS)

JAZZ IS ON ITS WAY (DUKE CHORUS)

ROUTE 66 (DUKE CHORUS)

THE BLUES (DUKE CHORUS)

TO SWING OR NOT TO SWING (ELLA CHORUS)

CHOO CHOO CH’BOOGIE (ELLA CHORUS)

MARDI GRAS MAMBO (ELLA CHORUS)

PIERRE THE PENGUIN (ELLA CHORUS)

HARLEM RENAISSANCE (ELLA CHORUS)

IT DON’T MEAN A THING/SING SING SING (ALL)

The End

Gotta Be Jazz - Recordings and Lyrics