Question

Jazz music had many different aspects, as we have learned. Find three jazz composers on the internet and write a brief essay about their lives and their music. Include their most prominent works and why they were the dominant figures in the jazz era.

Answer 1

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington was born in 1899 in Washington, DC. He was a prominent composer, pianist, and bandleader. He was well known for his contributions to swing and big band music. His illustrious jazz career spanned over 50 years, earning him 12 Grammys and numerous other awards. His compositions and stage presence helped elevate swing to era-defining heights. Together with his band, he composed and recorded over 200 albums. One of his most famous songs was Satin Doll that he wrote with Billy Strayhorn.

Miles Davis

Miles Davis was born in 1926 in Illinois. He is considered one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. He was involved in not just cool jazz but was also at the forefront of bebop, jazz rock, and other subgenres of jazz. He started as a bebop musician and soon evolved the music into what would be come to be known as cool jazz. He was one of the first innovators of jazz rock. He was most famous for his trumpet play and composition, and was also an acclaimed bandleader. He was also noted for playing the flugelhorn, piano, organ, and synthesizer. Boplicity was one of his finest works in cool jazz; the album was included in the Smithsonian collection. His other famous album In a Silent Way led the wave for the development of jazz rock.

John Coltrane

John Coltrane was born in 1926 in North Carolina. He was a saxophonist and composer. His early works were influenced by the bebop style, but later his compositions gravitated toward free jazz. His free jazz style saxophone has influenced many jazz musicians, and he is known as one of the greatest saxophonists in music history. Coltrane invented the use of modes in jazz, and played as a sideman to many famous jazz masters including Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. Coltrane had a large and powerful tone with higher than normal range and superfast arpeggios. Coltrane's works used drone accompaniment that was influenced by Eastern music. His most famous work Giant Steps was a masterpiece of chord progression that followed unusual key changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

This is the example answer from PLATO/Edmentum, hope it helps.