Listening: Jazz Violin and Piano

One of my students asked me, do violins play jazz? Yes! Using the same instrument as we use to play classical music and fiddle tunes, there are all sorts of jazz violinists out there. Regina Carter is a leading jazz violinist, heard here in this video with the Ray Brown Trio (piano, drums, bass). When you listen, how can you tell this is jazz music?












Because jazz has so many different styles, there are also numerous styles or ways to play jazz violin. Here is a link to gypsy jazz, or "jazz manouche," that largely started in France influenced by the Roumanian gypsy population. Notice the different sound -- here the guitars get a real workout because they provide the rhythmic drive or pulse. If you compare this to the Regina Carter recording above, can you tell which two instruments are missing here? I'll give you a clue -- in this recording there are three guitars, a violin, and a bass.