New to jazz? We can help you fit in a little better with some terminology to reinforce your "hipness." It's important to know the lingo when hangin' with the cats. Especially the hep cats.

Of course, you know words like Axe (instrument: Hey, Jack, bring your "axe" over tomorrow and we'll jam), Bag (person's particular interest: I'd like to play with your combo, dude, but your sound just ain't my "bag."), and Bread (jazzman's word for money: Alright, Jack, if ya want me to play, ya gotta come up with some "bread.")

Let's review some others:

• Clams --- Mistakes while playing music.
  Charlie is really layin' down some "clams" tonight.
• Down by law --- is to have paid dues; that is, to have earned respect for your talent or ability to "get down."
  Charlie Parker spent years on the road working a lot of dives to fine-tune his craft. He earned every bit of success and recognition he later received. He was "down by law."
• In the Pocket --- Refers to the rhythm section being really together as in...
  Those guys are really in the pocket, tonight.
• Schmaltz or Schmalz --- It's the Yiddish word for chicken fat, and has been a slang term in the U.S. since the '20s for anything sickeningly sweet or "greasy", especially music or poetry.
  That Lombardo guy is popular, but he sure plays a lot of "schmaltz."
• Screwin' the Pooch --- Really bad mistakes while playing music.
  Roscoe must've had a bad day, cause he's really "screwin' the pooch."
• Torch --- Used occasionally as a description of a song that expresses unrequited love.
  Nobody could sing "torch" songs like Peggy Lee.
• Woodshed (or Shed) --- To practice.
  Duke was up all night shedin' that untouchable lick.

For a more thorough list, dig the "All About Jazz" Website Article: Jazz Slang

Posted by Ted at August 22, 2006 5:56 AM