TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Jazz left an indelible mark on rock music. Take The Beatles’ “Something.” George Harrison’s use of rich jazz chords and a melodic, walking-style bassline shows how jazz progressions can inform songwriting.
Van Morrison’s “Moondance” (1970) is a jazz waltz turned pop hit, complete with swing feel, walking bass, and jazz-inspired solos, blending sophistication with accessibility.
Led Zeppelin incorporated jazz phrasing in songs like Black Dog.
Progressive rock acts like Yes and Genesis used complex time signatures and chord changes inspired by jazz.
Weather Report’s fusion pieces, later adapted by rock bands, brought sophisticated harmonies and rhythmic interplay into the rock idiom.
Jazz gave rock a new palette, expanding its musical vocabulary and creative freedom.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.