Twenty questions, round 258

[damo666]

Male?

[Hominidae]

Born 1885 or earlier?

[cdngooner]

Primarily known as a jazz/swing musician?

As no musical genres have concrete boundaries, I am going to request clarification from QM as to what he defines as "jazz" and "swing", whether the answer is Yes or No, so please QM, I hope you will provide that clarification in your answer.

[Spartaculous]

Primarily known as a jazz/swing musician?

No. From Wikipedia: "Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation." Swing music is a subgenre of jazz music.

Male?

Yes.

Born 1885 or earlier?

Yes.

Primarily known as a jazz/swing musician?

As no musical genres have concrete boundaries, I am going to request clarification from QM as to what he defines as "jazz" and "swing", whether the answer is Yes or No, so please QM, I hope you will provide that clarification in your answer.

Wattsthematter is welcome to offer thoughts on this as well.

[cdngooner]

No. From Wikipedia: "Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation." Swing music is a subgenre of jazz music.

I apologize for being obtuse, but I still beg for clarification. "Swing is a subgenre of jazz" is clear. But by saying "the roots of jazz are in blues and ragtime", did you mean to INCLUDE blues and ragtime as part of jazz, or to DIFFERENTIATE between blues and ragtime as something different from jazz.

This is the problem with any question about artistic genres. There is never a bright line between two related genres. One always leads almost imperceptibly into the next.

I'll lay my cards on the table. I am trying to determine if Scott Joplin is within the possible pool. If the "No" to jazz still means a possible "Yes" to ragtime, my conditional guess is: Scott Joplin. If ragtime has been excluded, I will ask a different question in due course.

[Spartaculous]

No. From Wikipedia: "Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation." Swing music is a subgenre of jazz music.

I apologize for being obtuse, but I still beg for clarification. "Swing is a subgenre of jazz" is clear. But by saying "the roots of jazz are in blues and ragtime", did you mean to INCLUDE blues and ragtime as part of jazz, or to DIFFERENTIATE between blues and ragtime as something different from jazz.

I think that it is clear enough: saying that jazz has roots in blues and ragtime indicates that jazz is a distinct genre from the genres of blues and ragtime. I certainly wouldn't classify Scott Joplin as a jazz composer/musician.

I'll lay my cards on the table. I am trying to determine if Scott Joplin is within the possible pool. If the "No" to jazz still means a possible "Yes" to ragtime, my conditional guess is: Scott Joplin. If ragtime has been excluded, I will ask a different question in due course.

And you win! Congratulations! In honor of your homeland, here's the Maple Leaf Rag:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCxLAr_bwpA

[Wattsthematter]

I'd have to agree that ragtime and blues are not "jazz." Though there wouldn't be jazz without them!

[cdngooner]

I've been a Scott Joplin fan ever since "The Sting". Awesome move, awesome music.

Thanks Spartaculous. New one going up shortly.

[DrFidelis]

Now I feel dumb for not thinking of this one, of COURSE the guy who made the most recognizable ragtime music ever is a 20 questions target at some point.