Trad

Trad jazz, or as it’s otherwise known ‘traditional jazz’, is essentially a term for revivalist bands reproducing the early 20th century proto-jazz of King Oliver, Louis Armstrong and their New Orleans contemporaries. It was mostly based in Britain and it lasted from the 1950’s to the 1960’s, with another very brief return a few years later.

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Trad generally features the same instruments as is earlier counterpart, e.g. Lots of clarinet and trumpet taking the melody, low-pitched instruments such as the double bass or even the trombone and tuba took the bass, and for accompaniment string instruments like the banjo, and drums/other percussive instruments keeping the rhythm, as well as the addition of vocals which is quite commonly heard in this style, and that's not even all. Trad players even went as far as to wear the same clothing that they would've donned in 40 years earlier.

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Tuba Skinny

An example of an trad jazz ensemble is 'Tuba Skinny'. They're a traditional jazz street band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their instrumentation includes cornet, clarinet, trombone, tuba, tenor banjo, guitar, frottoir, and vocals. The ensemble draws its inspiration from the early jazz, ragtime, and blues music of the 1920's and 1930's and have released 10 albums. Even though they were formed in 2009 instead of the 1950's, they still qualify as a trad jazz band. 

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Song Analysis

Here's an analysis of Tuba Skinny performing their song 'Gimme Some' on the streets:

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Pitch

• Sousaphone, Bass Drum and trombone play at a lower pitch

• Trumpet, Clarinet, Frottoir and Guitar play higher pitches

Duration

• Quadruple meter

• Staccato

• Generally crotchet pulse coming from drums

• Call and response

Texture

• Vocals, Clarinet, Bass Drum, Frottoir, Guitar, Trombone, Trumpet, Sousaphone

Structure

• Intro, Instrumental, Verse, Trombone Solo, Clarinet Solo, Trumpet Solo, Instrumental 2, Verse 2, Guitar Solo, Sousaphone Solo, Frottoir Solo, Instrumental 3, Outro

Tone Colour

• Lively

• Marching beat

Dynamics and Expressive Techniques

• Solos

• Soloing instrument is always the loudest