Standards Vs Jazz Standards
Understanding the distinction between 'The Great American Songbook' and compositions by jazz musicians.
Originally published on RealBookSoftware.com
What Is a 'Standard'?
Broadly, a standard is a song from the first half of the 20th century that originated on Broadway or in Hollywood films. These were popular songs written by 'professional' songwriters like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers.
The Jazz Standard
A 'jazz standard' is a composition written *by* a jazz musician for jazz musicians. These tunes, like Monk's 'Round Midnight' or Shorter's 'Footprints', are built with improvisation in mind from the ground up.
The Contrafact
Bebop musicians often bridges the two worlds by writing 'contrafacts'—new jazz melodies over the chord changes of popular standards. For example, Charlie Parker's 'Ornithology' is a contrafact of 'How High The Moon'.
Why the Distinction Matters
Understanding whether a song started as a vocal ballad or a complex instrumental exercise helps a performer choose the right approach to phrasing, tempo, and ornamentation.
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