Pre-War R&B

PRE-WAR R&B
Student's Name
Course
Date
Introduction
Pre-war R&B was a style of music that emerged in the 1920s and 1940s and was the precursor to modern rhythm and blues. It combined African American musical styles such as blues, jazz, sacred, and folk music. The music was characterized by its up-tempo swing and bluesy sound, and often featured various instruments, including horns, drums, and piano. The style also included prominent call-and-response vocals, in which a lead singer would sing a line, and the band or other singers would respond with their phrase or line. This call-and-response style was used by many of the early R&B singers and was a defining feature of the genre. The lyrics of pre-war R&B were lighthearted and featured themes of love, relationships, and good times. The music featured a lot of improvisation, and the singing was mostly in a blues style. In terms of instrumentation, the music was usually heavily syncopated and featured a lot of horns, drums, and pianos. The sound was upbeat and energetic, and the lyrics featured bold, punchy rhymes.[Abbott, Lynn, and Doug Seroff. Out of sight: The rise of African American popular music, 1889-1895. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2009.]
Use of Horns, Saxophones, and Pianos
The use of horns, saxophones, and pianos was a defining feature of pre-war R&B. These instruments provided the foundation of the sound, providing a driving rhythm and melodic accompaniment. Horns and saxophones typically took the lead in the ensemble, providing a strong presence that could be heard over the other instruments. Meanwhile, the piano typically provided a more subtle accompaniment, often taking the form of a steady, rolling rhythm. The use of horns and saxophones in pre-war R&B was characterized by what is known as "call-and-response" playing. This is a style of playing in which one instrument takes the lead, and another follows, taking the same melody but with a slightly different rhythm. The lead instrument would play a short riff or phrase, and then the responding instrument would repeat the exact phrase but with a slightly different rhythm. This call-and-response style was employed to create a lively, energetic feel that was typical of the pre-war R&B sound.
In addition to using horns, saxophones, and pianos, pre-war R&B was characterized by using blues-based chord progressions and rhythms. These chord progressions mostly featured the use of seventh chords, which provided a jazzy feel to the music. The rhythms used in pre-war R&B were often influenced by African-American music, such as blues and gospel, and typically featured a strong backbeat. This backbeat provided a strong foundation for the horns and saxophones to play over. Starr and Waterman contend that black and white artists prominently represent the countryside and the R&B sides where such instruments are prevalent.
An excellent example can be heard in Louis Jordan's classic "Caldonia." In this song, the horns, and saxophones trade-off in a lively call-and-response pattern, while the piano provides a steady, rolling rhythm. Another example of this style can be heard in Big Joe Turner's "Roll 'Em Pete," in which the saxophone and piano both take turns in a call-and-res...