Event Title
The Electric Bass: Its Origins and Influence on the Evolution of Jazz and the Development of Contemporary Music
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Music, Anthropology
Mentor Information
Timothy Froncek
Department
Music
Location
Kirkhof Center 2270
Start Date
11-4-2012 2:30 PM
Keywords
Arts, Creativity/ Innovation, Historical Perspectives, U.S. Diversity
Abstract
The electric bass was an idea of the late 1930s, when jazz bands were getting larger and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hear an upright bass. In 1951 the first electric bass was first available for mass distribution. After this instrument's acceptance, the position that the bass held within an ensemble changed. The original function of the bass was to outline the rhythm and harmony of the tune. After the '70s, solo bass became more common, and jazz diverged with new innovations that continued to push boundaries. Today the electric bass is accepted as a solo instrument. This presentation shows how the perspective of the bass has changed since the introduction of the electric bass guitar, and how this change was facilitated by differences between it and the acoustic bass. It uses interviews, research, and recordings to contrast bass lines from before and after the introduction of the electric and to show the difference that this instrument has made in modern jazz music.
The Electric Bass: Its Origins and Influence on the Evolution of Jazz and the Development of Contemporary Music
Kirkhof Center 2270
The electric bass was an idea of the late 1930s, when jazz bands were getting larger and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hear an upright bass. In 1951 the first electric bass was first available for mass distribution. After this instrument's acceptance, the position that the bass held within an ensemble changed. The original function of the bass was to outline the rhythm and harmony of the tune. After the '70s, solo bass became more common, and jazz diverged with new innovations that continued to push boundaries. Today the electric bass is accepted as a solo instrument. This presentation shows how the perspective of the bass has changed since the introduction of the electric bass guitar, and how this change was facilitated by differences between it and the acoustic bass. It uses interviews, research, and recordings to contrast bass lines from before and after the introduction of the electric and to show the difference that this instrument has made in modern jazz music.