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Roberta Flack - Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Jazz is a broad musical style, notoriously difficult to define, but with a general foundation of improvisation, syncopated rhythms, and group interaction. Considered a wholly American musical form, jazz originated during the late 19th century within black communities of the Southern United States. A jazz ensemble usually plays a predetermined tune, with each musician adding their own interpretations. This improvisation is the defining element of jazz, and is based on the mood of the musicians, the interaction of the group, and even the audience’s response to the music. Jazz performers try to create a unique and expressive tone for their instrument, also known as a voice. Skilled jazz musicians play and interact with a swing rhythm, a propulsive groove or beat that creates a visceral response of foot tapping or head nodding. These rhythms have roots in traditional African music, using the off beats of syncopated rhythms to create the groove.

Blues is a genre of music based on traditional blues chord patterns, scales, and emotive lyrics, often performed by a solo guitarist/vocalist... Blues scales contain blue notes, notes played at a slightly lowered pitch, which give the music a distinctive sound. The focus of blues music is usually the singer/guitarist, even when the performer is backed by a band. While improvisation is often a part of blues, there is rarely much deviation from the basic chord structure of the song.

Both types of music emerged in the American Deep South around the end of the 19th century and spread north and formed various sub genres. Jazz and blues are both characterized by the use of blue notes, swung notes, and syncopated rhythms. When blues musicians begin heavily improvising, the line between blues and jazz begins to diminish. In fact, mastery of blues style playing is considered part of learning to play jazz.


Roberta Flack - Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye
  • Written by: Leonard Cohen
  • First recorded on: February 26, 1969
  • Released on: June 20, 1969

"Roberta Flack was the first, and remains the only, solo artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year on two consecutive years, 1973 and 1974."

See previous Song of the Day

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