You Speak Jive?

It is true that jazz music is a language in its own right but is there literally a language for jazz?
Well maybe first you should watch the below video in order to decide...

Cab Calloway - "Mr. Hepster's Dictionary"

Apparently there is a language for jazz, or should we call it the "Jazz Slang" or "Jive"? Guess they are all the same coming from Harlem and dating back to the 40s. But how did it evolve?

The era following the first World War and the Great Depression was quite a unique period for the US. Everything was changing very fast, jazz music was highly popular and mostly dominated by the African-American musicians. Obviously behind the scenes (and sometimes on the scenes too) there were some crazy things going on... And these things needed to be somehow communicated. That's how "jive" appeared mostly among the people of jazz.
So it's sole purpose was not only to describe jazz or the jazz life but also to help to secretly communicate for certain acts that I mentioned above...

Cab Calloway, one of the leading jazz figures of Harlem has introduced the "Jive Talk" in 1939. The charismatic bandleader not only had a way with words, his love of them led him to compile a "Hepster's Dictionary” of Harlem musician slang. This dictionary initially featured 200 expressions used by the "hep cats" when they talk their "jive" in the clubs of Harlem. It was also considered the first dictionary written by an African-American.

You may click on the below link to have access to the whole dictionary.

Follow the Link for the Hepster's Dictionary

Here is another video that might be worth to look at on the topic.

Jazz Slang

That's it for this post hep cats, how about some mitt pounding for the great Cab Calloway... And don't forget who the real hepsters are especially when you see the dudes riding fixies with big beards and plaid pants...

Cab Calloway - "Minnie the Moocher"