"Swing", like most fields of endeavor, also has it's own special lexicon. Once used mostly by the musicians themselves, the slang has now become a part of the greater
society. And, what is even more remarkable, is the way the language has prospered. It is still widely used today, AND
growing.
--------------------------------------------Karat "Pure Gold"
Ex: "He's 18 karat."

Ace One dollar; Dollar's worth, one, first rate
Ex: "He's 'Ace' with me. (He's 'First Rate')
Ex: "Slip me an Ace, Gate." (Let me have a dollar.)


Air-check An actual radio or television performance caught on tape; as opposed to a work done in a recording studio

Alligator Originally, a slang term for "Musician".
Very early in Jazz history, musicians referred
to themselves as "alligators". Now it simply refers
to any Swing Devotee (abbrev. 'Gator or Gate)
Ex:
'Cat' #1: See ya later, alligator.
'Cat' #2: After a while, crocodile.

Axe ANY musical instrument.
Ex: Man, - what do you think of my new Axe?


Ball To enjoy
Ex: We had a 'Ball' when Tommy Dorsey played.


Baby A term of endearment. (for either sex.)
Ex: Say, "baby," I got us some "bread",
let's "move" downtown.

Bad Good
Ex: That dude does some "bad" ass playing.


Bag Delight - joy, etc.
Ex: Man, Jazz is my 'bag'. I 'dig' it the most!
Ex: Man, - Tommy Dorsey's "Well Git It" is my "Bag".


Balloon lungs A Brass player with good breath control.
That cat has "balloon lungs," he held that note
for one complete minute!

Barn Burner Frank Sinatra's slang for a classy "doll"
(woman). Today, it's applied to anything good.
Ex: "My 'Doll' is one real "Barn Burner."

Barrelhouse Colloquialism describing the 'low' saloons
at the turn of the century (19th) that
served whiskey straight out of the barrel.

Originally, "Barrelhouse Music" was the
type of piano music (also called 'Fast
Western') played in those cabarets.

Beat May be used as:
Adjective: Exhausted or tired.
Ex: I'm "beat". We've been gigging since dawn.
Noun: The time or timing.
Ex: The band played with a solid beat.


Big Apple New York City.
Ex: He's working at Roseland Ballroom in the 'Apple'.


Birdbrain Common slang for someone whose
thinking was a little muddy.

Blow A jazzman's term for playing an(y) instrument.
Ex: 'Satchmo' really "blows."

Blow your top Expresses both:
exasperation
Ex: Hey man, I know it's tough, but don't
"blow your top." (sometimes: "Don't Flip your wig.")
enthusiasm
Ex: I "Blew My Top" when Benny Goodman played.

Blue Notes Flatted 3rd and 7th notes are the definition
of the "blues scale".

(The) Bomb "Real cool".
Ex: Kenton's "Peanut Vendor" is "the bomb."

Boogie Man A critic. (Dates back to the mid-1930s.)
Ex: That "boogie man" knocked Basie's "One
O'Clock Jump".

Boogie Woogie A piano form (popularized in late-1920s
Chicago) that uses a steady eight beat
ostinato in the left hand.
Today, the expression 'Boogie' has a sexual
connotation.
Ex: Hey, Baby, let's "boogie on down."

Bounce A happy musical Beat (time).
(Businessman's Bounce: A fast and nervous two-beat;
it's now an obsolete expression.)

Bread Money.
Ex: You come up with the "bread"; we'll make the gig.

Break Passage in music with the Rhythm suspended.

Break it down In a real groove.
Ex: They were "breaking it down" on "One
O'Clock Jump"

Bring Down As a verb - to depress.
Ex: He "brings me down" with all that
Blues playing.
As an adjective - one who depresses.
Ex: Let's cut out of here. This is a
real "bring down."
Note: also used as one word: bringdown.

Bug Annoy.
Ex: He "bug's" me.

Burning Verb describing a sideman's technically
excellent - and emotional - solo.
Ex: Ziggy Elman's solo was "burning."

Bust Your Conk To be carefree
Ex: "Check out Charlie Barnet's gig tonight.
You'll really 'bust your conk'."

Canary A Female Vocalist. (Also: 'Thrush' and 'Warbler'.)


Cans A Radio man's expression for Earphones.
Dates back to the early 1920s when
earphones were as large as small cans.
Ex: Put these cans on and listen to this
tape track.

Cats Jazzmen, or people who love Jazz.
Ex: Man, them "cats" are really blowin' up
a storm.


Changes Originally a Black musician's term for
Chord progressions.
Ex: Say Man, do you have the "changes" for
"Stardust".

Character Someone with an unusual personality.
Ex: He certainly is a "character."

Chase Two sidemen with alternating Solos.

Chick A young, pretty girl
(See "Frail", "Fly Chick"; "Barn Burner").
Ex: Man, that "chick" is a real Barn-Burner.

Chills A real thrill.
Ex: Listening to Benny Goodman "chills" me.


Chirp To sing.
Ex: That 'Canary' knew how to "chirp".


Chops Originally, used by Black Hornplayers to
describe the state of their false teeth or
Lips. Generally speaking, it refers to the
musician's technical skill.
Ex: Wow. That Ziggy Elman has great "chops".
Ex: My Chops is "beat" from all those high
C's tonight.


Clams Goofs by a sideman.
Ex: Man did you hear all his "clams" on
that tune.

Clambake A Jazz "Jam" session.
Ex: Man, them Cats had a real Clambake at
the gig last night.

Clinker A wrong note. (Also called a "fluff".)
Ex:
Cat 1: That was some "clinker" he had in the 2nd chorus.
Cat 2: Yeah man, he really 'fluffed' it.

Collar all jive Understand the subleties
Ex: Man, I dug Claude Thornhill last night, and
'collared all his jive'."

Comes On Par Excellence!
Ex: The show "comes on" like gangbusters!


Cop a Deuceways Buy two dollar's worth (of marijuana)
Ex: That's when he left to 'cop a deuceways'."

Cop a Slave Get a job
Ex: That cat's 'copped a slave'."

Combo The diminutive for "Combination"; a small
group.
Ex: Goodman's small "combos" are sensational.

Cool Originated (1950s) West Coast. Describes a
restrained intellectual, rather than emotional,
approach to music.
Ex: Stan Getz plays some real "cool" jazz.
Now a widely used superlative.
Ex: He's one "cool" cat.

Copacetic Agreeable
Ex: Things are really copacetic here.

Crazy Another jazz superlative.
Ex: Listen to that "crazy" beat the band's
'laying down'.

Crib Very Sparsely appointed Apartment. (See "pad")
Ex: Come on up to my "crib" and relax.
("Cheap" whore houses often had just very small
cubicles, furnished only with a cot. In the
vernacular of the day, they were referred to as
'cribs' and the establishment as a 'crib house'.)

Cut To leave or depart. (aka: "cut out")
Ex: Let's "cut out".
To outdo another person
Ex: Charlie's solo really "cut" that cat last night.
A battle of the bands.
Ex: Basie and Lunceford's band had a real
'cuttin'contest' last night.


Daddy-o One hipster's way of addressing another hipster.
Ex: Hey, "daddy-o", what's cookin'?

Dark Angry or upset (used in the Midwest).
Ex: They were in a "dark" mood when he was
late for the gig.

Dig To understand - to get the point - to like.
Ex: Hey, 'daddy-o', "dig" this crazy music.

Dog (around) Follow
Ex: "That 'cat' was 'doggin' me all night long."

Drape/Dry Goods Clothes (Also: Threads)
Ex: Man, I did that Cat's Drape.
Ex: Man, dig these Dry Goods. How do you
like the Drape?

Dukes Not strickly a Jazz expression, - hands.
Ex: He had his Dukes full. -handling the
crowd.

DJ, DeeJay Short for Disk Jockey. Originally, a
radio announcer who hosted record playing
show. Now also a party host who has no
band, just plays records.

Ex: That "DJ" spins some cool Cookies (disks).

Down by Law The earned respect for talent or ability to
"get down."
Ex: After all those years of work, his
success was "down by law."

Drag Depressing a person's spirits.
Ex: He's a real "drag."

Drive To play with real concentrated emotion.

End Still another Superlative.
(See "Cool"; "too much" or "crazy.")
Ex: The way Benny blows his licorice stick
(clarinet) is the living, breathing "end."

Fall In Arrive on the scene
Ex: "I 'fell in' with 'Duke' at
the Apollo Theater last night."

Fall Out Exiting
Ex: "Man, when they brought on the
Musical Saw, I 'fell out'."

Fay A white person (See: "Ofay" below)

Finger Zinger Playing very fast, or music written to be
played fast.
Ex: The "Minute Waltz" is a real "Finger
Zinger".

Flip To Act or think in a crazy (eccentric) manner.
Ex: I really "flipped" listening to all
that Jazz.

Flip your lid See "Blow your top."
Ex: I "flipped my lid" listening to Benny
Goodman."

Fly Smooth or slick.
Ex: Man, that was a "fly" solo.

Fly Chick Attractive female
Ex: Man, dig that Fly Chick over there.

Fracture To deeply affect (usually humorously)
someone.
Ex: Man, your jokes "fracture" me.

Frail A Lady; A "Chick".
(Also see: "Main Squeeze" )
Ex: Man, dig that frail.

Freak Lip Describing a musician who can play endlessly.
Ex: Man, he 'balled' all night, and 'blew'
them away at the next day's concert. What
a pair of "freak Lips".

Frisking the Whiskers Warming up prior to a session.
Ex: He arrived early and started "frisking the whiskers".

Four Beat Four even Beats Per bar of music.
"Two Beats" is also four beat time, but with the
1st and 3rd (or 2nd and 4th) beats accentuated.

(Some Marihuana Slang: Weed and stash are more modern expressions.)
gage Marihuana
golden-leaf The best marihuana
grefa Marihuana
gunja Marihuana
hard-cutting mez The best marihuana


Gangbusters Powerful
Ex: Man, did you dig Benny wailing last night,
- He came on like 'Gangbusters'."

Gas A performance that moves you.
Ex: The way he 'wails' is a real "gas." (or Gasser)

Gate or Gator Jazz musician. Originally used as a
loving and warm description of Louis Armstrong.
Folks said his mouth was as large as a "Satchel",
from which came one of his nick-names -"Satchmo".
He was also called "Gate Mouth", referring to an
'Alligator's mouth' (see Alligator definition above)
above) from which we get the expression "Gate" or
"Gator" - originally denoting a person as a musician,
but today it denotes anyone.
Ex: 'Skin me' "Gate". (Shake hands)

Get Down Musically:
Superlative playing. He really "gets
down" on that horn.
Sexually:
Baby, let's amble on over to my pad and
we'll "get down".

Gig May be used as a :
Noun: A paying job.
Ex: I've got a "gig" next Monday night.
Verb: To Play a job.
Ex: I'll be gigging at the club saturday night.

Gimme some skin Shake hands. (aka: Skin me!)

Glims The Eyes. Also 'to look' (aka: Glom)
ex: Glim this sheet of music.
ex: That frail has great glimmers

Gone Another Jazz superlative.
Ex: He's one "gone" cat.

Have one's boots on Hip; wise; know what's happening
Ex: That cat has his boots on.

Groovy Denotes music that really swings.
('Groove' is a Musician's term for Rhythm)
Ex: Man, dig that "groovy" beat.

Gutbucket Two meanings.
1. Barrelhouse
2. Crude Bass made with upturned washtub
using a stick, with one string,
attached to the bottom end.

A. A Barrelhouse was a low type saloon
used where drinking and dancing were
the main attactions.

B. A rhythmic style of Jazz or Blues.
(Listen to the early Dixieland tune
"Gutbucket Blues".)

Ergo: A style of music associated with
saloons and other low
establishments.

Hame A Job not in the Music Business.

Hand me some skin To Shake Hands
Ex: "Skin" me Gate.
Ex: "Hand me some skin", gate.

Head Arrangement An unwritten "arrangement". The band's
sidemen just agree on the Chordal
progression (Changes) and order of music
and solos.
Ex: The band sounded choppy because it was
a "Head".

Heat Solo space.
Ex: Hey, gate, give me some "heat" on
'Jersey Bounce'!

Hepcat Originally a musician in a Swing Band.
Ex: Satchmo is one hep cat!
Now, anyone who likes Swing music.
Ex: That "hepcat" loves to jive.

Hip To know; to understand.
Ex: Man, he's one "Hip" cat. (Understands the music)
Ex: I'm hip to your bluff. (understands a ploy.)

Hipster Someone who knows and loves Swing Music.
Ex: The "Hipsters" really packed that
concert hall.

Hop Opium
Ex: I knew that cat was a real 'hop head'.

Horn Usually a brass or reed instrument.
Ex: Man, he blows a mean "horn".

Hot Originally, the "Chicago" style of
Dixieland Jazz was called 'Hot Jazz' due
to it's driving character vs the easy
going ensemble New Orleans style. In the
1950s, the term "Cool" Jazz came into
common use to denote music that was more
intellectual, rather than emotional.
Ex: That cat blew one "Hot" solo on his
break.

A Hot Plate A "Hit" recording.
Ex: RCA has a real "hot plate" with that
record.

I'm Booted Hip; Understand.
Ex: Gotcha, daddy-o, "I'm booted."


In the Groove Really Good!
Ex: Benny's solo was really "in the groove!"

In the Mix The group; The happening.
Ex: With that cat "in the mix", we can't
fail.

In The Pocket When a band's rhythm section really grooves.
Ex: They were really "in the pocket",
tonight.

Ivories Piano Keys. (They were originally made of
Ivory.)
Ex: Listen to that cat tickling the Ivories.

Jack The Diminutive of "Jackson". A person. The
Jazz equivalent of "Mac" or of "Bud".
(Sometimes used in a negative manner.)
Ex: Hey "Jack", don't dominate this gig.
Ex: Hit the road, "Jack."

Jackson A Male friend
Ex: I Dig Ya Jackson.

Jake Okay.
Ex: That's "Jake" with me.
Ex: He's "Jake" with me.

Jam Playing (hot). (Usually: to Improvise.)
Ex: That band was "jamming" tonight.

Jam Session A spontaneous get together (often after
hours) of sidemen freely improvising on
pop tunes - just soloing on "head"
arrangements.
Ex: There's always an after hours "Jam
Session" there.

Jazz A very little understood term.
Originally, Black man's slang for sexual
intercourse. Then, expressing the
"Jazzing" (improvisation) of any music.

Strictly applied to the "Dixieland"
music of, first, "New Orleans", and
then "Chicago".

Now applied to almost any contemporary
"Popular" music.

Jazz Box A "Jazz guitar".
Ex: Les Paul's "Jazz Box" is usually a
Fender.

Jitterbug A 1940s description of "jittery", Swing
dancers.
Ex: Watch those "Jitterbugs" doing a mean
Lindy Hop.

Jittersauce Alcohol (drinking -not rubbing- variety)

Jive May be used as a:
Noun - an odd form of speech.
Ex: That "Jive" doesn't fool me.
Verb - to fool someone.
Ex: Stop "Jiving" me, will you.
Adjective - phoney or fake.
Ex: He's one "Jive" dude.
Perjorative. Someone not well liked.
JAMF - Jive A-- Mother F----R.

Joe Below A musician who plays for less than Union
scale pay.
Ex: How can you 'turn a buck' when "Joe
Below" plays almost for free?

Jump To have a good time.
Ex: The 'joint' was really "jumping" last
night.

Junk Heroin (or any other debilitating drug).
(Also see: "Muggles")
Ex: He's looking for some "Junk".
Ex: Here comes the "Junkman" (drug peddler).

Kicking the Gong Using drugs (usually opium).
Ex: Cab Calloway's hit - "Minnie the
Moocher" lyric.
"There was Minnie, - "kickin' the gong around."

Kicks Pleasure.
Ex: I get my "Kicks" listening to Goodman.

Kill Sheer delight.
Ex: You "kill" me, man.
(Also, You "Slay" me man.)

Kill it stop (doing something)
Ex: That sounds terrible, "kill it".


Killer 'Red Hot' musician, dancer, or music fan.
Ex: Man, Dig "Killer" Joe's dancing.
Ex: He's a 'Killer'.

King Kong Cheap Moonshine (whiskey)
Ex: Slip me 3 fingers of that 'King Kong'.

kopasetic Nice. Good.
Ex: The Count's solo was Kopasetic.

Lame or Lamer Something, or someone. that doesn't quite
'cut' it.
Ex: Those cats were layin' down some
"lame" music.
Ex: That "Lamer" just can't cut it.

Latch On To "Dig". Catch On. Join in.
Ex: He "latched on" when Benny started wailing.

Laying Down Playing music (or sincere talk).
Ex: I was listening to Benny 'laying down'
some 'hot licks' on "Jersey Bounce".

Licks, hot licks A musical phrase or solo.
Ex: That cat can 'lay down' some "hot
licks."
Ex: I really got my "Licks" in on that
tune.

Licorice Stick A Clarinet
Ex: Benny Goodman knew what to do with his
"licorice stick"?

Light Up Smoke marihuana
Ex: Here's something you can 'light up' on.


Lindy Hop THE dance of the Swing Era, and of the new
Millennium also. Originally, the dancers
did "hop" to the music, but later, it was
refined somewhat. Some very wild gyrations
were added, including precision pairs
dancing; "splits"; throwing one's partner
in the air; and others. The dancers were
later nicknamed "Jitterbugs".

Long Hair Lover of Classical Music.
Ex: He doesn't dig Benny. He's a "long hair."

Main Squeeze A favorite girl-friend
Ex: Linda's my 'main squeeze'.

Mellow Feeling from Smoking Marihuana
Ex: He 'light up' and got real 'mellow'.

Mezz The Best (Marijuana)
Ex: His stash was 'the mezz'.

Mezzroll Fat Sticks of handrolled Marihuana
Ex: He passed the 'mezzroll' to the cat.

Mickey Mouse Term to describe an Orchestra that uses some
sort of gimmick to attract listeners. Also used to
the music played by such an orchestra.
Ex: The band didn't 'Jump', they played Mickey Mouse.

Muggin(g) Playing around. Having fun.

Muggles Marijuana cigarettes.
(Armstrong has a song entitled "Muggles".)
Ex: Man, my nerves are shattered; got any
"muggles?"

Murder Superdooper. Excellent,
Ex: She said 'Let's dance.' I said "Murder!"
Ex: His solo was "solid Murder!"

Nicksieland A New York City Colloquialism, - now totally
obsolete. It was used in reference to the music played
by the small groups at a club called "Nick's" (in the
Greenwich Village are of New York city.

Noodlin' Just playing notes and phrases with no
particular meaning
Ex: Stop "noodlin" around man. Let's get
working.

Ofay A White Person (a Black man's terminolgy)
(from pig latin for "foe")

Off-Beat Originally, a weak or un-accented beat. Now also
used to describe something out of the normal.
ex: His playing of the song was really "off-beat".

Off-time Jive Incorrect
Ex: That story sounds like "off-time Jive" to me.

Out to Lunch Absent Minded; Not paying attention.
Ex: He's was "out to lunch" that night and
played poorly.

Pad Usually just a sparsely furnished
apartment. The expression was coined not
by musicians, but by the "Hippie"
generation. The early 'hippies' would rent
a room with no furniture; throw a Futon -
a "pad" - on the floor, where they would
sit and sleep and eat on it. (See also "Crib"
above.)

Ex: Some of the cats will be jamming at my
"Pad" tonight.

Peck Horn Tuba


Plant you now and dig you later "Gotta" Go
Ex: Plant you now and dig you later, Gator!


Popsicle Stick A sax player's reed.
Ex: I used a great "popsicle stick" at
that gig.

Queen A Pretty lady.

Reeds Saxophones and Clarinets and other
instruments that use a bamboo 'reed' to make
sound.

Reefer Marihuana cigarette
Ex: That cat brought the 'Reefers' with him.

Ride A Hot Solo part.
Ex: Joe, - you take the 2nd chorus ride.
Ex: Did you hear Joe Riding during the chorus?

Riff A 2 or 4 bar musical phrase.
(Riffs really define Swing.)

Righteous A 'real' Jazzman. A very good musician.
Ex: Benny Goodman - the 'Righteous' King of Swing.
Ex: Bix Beidebecke: a righteous Cornetist.

Rock Another superlative.
Ex: Basie "rocked" on One O'Clock Jump.
Ex: "Rock Me" with the old time rhythm.

Rock and Roll Describes the old 1950's music, but
originally slang for sex.
Ex: Baby, stop jivin' me, -let's "rock and
roll."

Rug Cutter Swing dancers - Jitterbug.
Ex: That cat is one cool Rugcutter.

Sackbutt A trombone. Actually very early (Middle
Ages) instrument from which the modern
trombone derives. (Sackbutt, Psaltery and
Dulcimer) The expression was still used in
New Orleans (1900s) where "A New Orleans
funeral procession ain't nothin' without a
"sackbutt."

Salty Angry.

Scat Nonsense syllables used in place of Lyrics.
Ex: Ella Fitgerald was the "Scat" singing queen.

Scene A place.
Ex: Let's make the "Scene" at Birdland tonight.

Schmaltz (Actually the Jewish word for Chicken fat.)
In Jazz, a term denoting sweet -not hot - music.
Ex: That band doesn't jump, they're into "Schmaltz".

Screwin' the Pooch A series of bad mistakes while playing.
Ex: He was really "screwin' the pooch" on
"Stardust" last night.

Send to stimulate. (a good feeling)
Ex: Man, that cat really "sends" me.

Sharp High Fashion.
Ex: He's one "sharp" looking cat in his Zoot suit.

Shroud-Tailor Undertaker
Ex: The family called the local 'Shroud-tailor'.

Shuzzit Yet another expression for Marijuana.
Ex: Hey Man, -Shuzzit was that Cat's Bag.

shying A technique for 'cooking' opium
Ex: The cats were 'shying' in the back room.

sideman One of the musicians in the band.

Simpy Doped, Imbecelic
Ex: After the Muggles, he was kind of 'simpy'.


Skins The drums.
An animal's pelt was the original drum head.

Slip Me Some Skin Handshake.
Ex: "Slip me some skin" Jack.
Ex: Skin me, Jackson.

Slide Give or Hand one something or some information.
Ex: "Slide" me the score of that tune, Jack.

Sliphorn Musical slang for the Trombone
(aka: tailgate horn due to the sideman's position in
the early horse drawn wagons. aka: Slide horn)

Smokin' To Put one's heart and soul into playing.
Ex: Ziggy Elman was really "smokin'" that night.

Snap your cap Same as "Blow your top."
Ex: Calm down. Don't "snap your cap".

Solid Another swing-era superlative meaning
Good or great.
Ex: "Solid", jackson! (Good work.)
Ex: "Some of you cats
are not on the beam.
I know what's wrong, you've
been cooking with cream.
Now if you want a beat
that's "Solid" and hard, Then
Fry me mama with a can of Lard"
--(Bradley Orch. Tune Lyric)

Squeak Box Violin
Squeeze Box Accordion

Square An "Unhip" person. (One who does not "Dig")
Ex: That cat is real "square."

Stick of Tea Marihuana cigarette
Ex: Later, he gave him a 'stick of tea'.

Standard A Song that has become a "classic".

Sugar Band A "Sweet" music band, - with vibrato and
glissando galore.

Sweet Music Music which never deviates from the melody.

Swing The great music of the 1930s to 1940s, and
again in late 1998 and into the 2000 millenium. It
is symbolized by a sensational beat with the melody
usually played against a background 'Riff'.

Tag A tune ending; repeating the last phrase
three times.

Take Five Originally, a short five minute break.
Ex: OK everyone. Let's "take five."

Tea Marihuana
Ex: That cat had the 'tea' with him.

Teapad Place for smoking marihuana
Ex: His shack was a real 'tea pad'.
(Stash Records once released two disks:
Tea Pad Songs Vols 1 and 2)

The End A Superlative - (also see: 'crazy'.)
Ex: Man, that cat's the living, breathing "end".

Threads Clothing (Also see Drape/Dry Goods)
Ex:
Cat 1. Man, dig that cat's new Threads.
Cat 2. I dig the Drape.

Too much Another Jazz superlative.
Ex: Lee Wiley's singing is "too much."

Torch A song, or singer, expressing unrequited love.
Ex: "My Man" is a real "torch" song.
Ex: Peggy Lee was a real "Torch".

Train Wreck The moment when one of the sidemen gets
"lost" in the middle of a tune.

Truck A 'walking' figure in the Lindy Hop dance.
Ex: Let's "truck" on down to the ballroom.
Ex: Man! See that couple "truckin'" on the dancefloor.

Tubs The drum set.
Ex: Listen to Krupa pounding those "tubs.".

Two's and Fews Small Change, Very little money
Ex: Man, I only had some 'Two's and fews' on me.

Two Beat Four-four time played with a steady two
ground beats on the bass drum.


Viper Marihuana smoker
Ex: That cat was a real 'Viper'.

Wail Playing extremely well.
Ex: Benny really "Wailed" on 'Sing, Sing, Sing'.

Walking bass or walking rhythm A four-beat Bass rhythm
pattern. Often called "Kansas City Walking Bass".

Wax a disc Record a tune(s).

Wig, Wig out To flip
Ex: There was no reason; he just "wigged out."

Wild Astonishing or amazing. (also see: Too Much)
Ex: He plays a really "wild" trumpet.

Witch Doctor A member of the clergy. (A Truly Apt description.)

Wooden Kimono Coffin
Ex: We all chipped in to buy the 'wooden kimono'.

Woodshed (or Shed) To practice.
Ex: He was in the "Wood Shed" all night.

Wrong Riff Doing the wrong thing.
Ex: Man, - you're coming on with the "wrong riff".

Zoot A true Swing era expression describing
exaggerated clothing, - especially the
"Zoot" suit.

Interesting that this neat observation about a very specific segment of the American/English vocabulary comes from my articulate little friend to whom English is not his primary language.

NEAT and accurate!

Thanks,


Russ

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Taike:
Barrelhouse Colloquialism describing the 'low' saloons
at the turn of the century (19th) that
served whiskey straight out of the barrel.

Originally, "Barrelhouse Music" was the
type of piano music (also called 'Fast
Western') played in those cabarets.

[QUOTE]

Someone got this one slightly out of kilter.

The "Barrelhouse" of the old "Chitlin' Circuit" days described an ersatz bar or nightclub for the extremely poor, in which a rather crudely constructed wooden single-room "hall" was used for the partyhouse.

A metal barrel or drum was placed in the center of the hall, on concrete blocks or bricks, and a fire was built in the barrel to heat the hall.

It was a barrelhouse in which BB King almost lost his famous "Lucille" guitar. There was an altercation over a woman and the barrel with the fire in it was overturned, setting the wooden building on fire immediately. Everyone ran out of the place, BB included, and then he remembered that his guitar was still inside the burning building and he raced back inside to rescue that guitar.

He named his guitar "Lucille" after the woman about whom the fight started.

Barrelhouses were the nightclubs of poor black workers -- and some poor white workers as well -- throughout the south up and until the advent of laws and regulations designed to promote better public safety came into vogue.

And they were named such because of the fire barrel prominently located near the center of the open space that was used to provide heat during the colder nights.

it is my understanding that this one came about because of the ubiquitous use of two tin cans and a length of stretched string between the bottoms of each can that boys often used to create a "telephone" in that era.


--Mac

The late great jazz pianist, Vince Guaraldi, of "Peanuts" fame, but also a wonderful bebopper of giant proportions, having played with Nat Adderley and a small host of other greats, often described himself as, "Just a boogie-woogie pianist".

That was not exactly a bad description.

Analyzing what has become perhaps his most famous composition, "Linus and Lucy" -- we find that the LH in Ab is indeed nothing more than a slightly different take on the "boogie woogie bass" of the boogie pianists.


--Mac

The "Conk" was a hairstyle of that era in which black men suffered the pain of using chemicals such as lye (!) to straighten their hair.

Cab Calloway wore a conk for a long time.

Heavier cats like Dizzie Gillespie and Charlie Parker refused to get a conk.

Diz was fired from Cab Calloway's band for supposedly shooting spitballs at Cab's back during a performance. Years afterward, it was revealed that Diz was NOT the guy who shot those spitballs, but he did take the fall for the guy who did at the time.

Diz, of course, went on to be one of the inventors of a new form of jazz music, which he named -- Bebop. Playing "straightahead" from the nine forward over the changes.

False teeth?

Don't know how THAT got in there.

"Chops" = "Embouchure"

As used in the jazz slang, a person with "chops" is someone who can play all night long without showing signs of their lips tiring.


--Mac

According to none other than Quincy Jones, in his autobiography, it was Ray Charles who first used the term "Combo" to describe the "combination" he put together in Seattle, Washington that consisted of Ray on piano (typically his old tube-type Wurlitzer 100 at the time), Bass, Drums, Trumpet, Sax and Trombone.

Ray worked out a voicing for the horns that obviated the need for the entire bigband yet still approximated the sound.

In Quincy's autobiography, he describes Ray running across the street and dragging Quincy back to his apartment to let him hear his new discovery. The Combo, as Ray defined it.

Benny Goodman did indeed use a small combination onstage that preceded Ray, as a matter of fact it was the FIRST integrated jazzband to gather nationwide acclaim when Benny included Lionel Hampton on vibes in the lineup. However, there is no known description of that outfit as being a "Combo" prior to Ray Charles' coining of the word.

There were, however, articles to be found in "Metronome" and "Downbeat" - jazz afficionado magazines of the era, that did indeed describe Benny Goodman's quintet and sextet as "combinations" occasionally.


--Mac

Ahem.

See the Miles Davis album, "Birth of the Cool".

The term was actually lifted from the use of Air Conditioning becoming more prominent after WWII.

The stores, restaurants and bars of the day would feature a penguin with the slogan, "Come on in, its COOL inside!" - a promotional typically installed by the air conditioning installers at the same time, this signage was ubiquitous.

Along with Miles, Gil Evans and his wonderful arrangements on "Birth of the Cool" gets the credit for this laid back style that a musician must first master bebop to truly be able to play. "Swing hard at low volume" was the catchphrase of the day. Not. Easy. To. Accomplish. "Less is more" might also describe The Cool.

The term got ripped off by the Beat Generation and came to mean something entirely different, actually.


--Mac

Black musicians used to get together for a Jam Session and "Chop Heads".

This term referred to the ability to take a solo on the same instrument and "chop the other guy's head off" with your abilities.

Of course, "Cut" is synonymous.

"Head Choppin'" is the act of following someone's solo with a solo so profound that the poor cat who took the first solo must tuck tail and slink away.

This one likely points back to the "Cakewalk" of a time previous, BTW.