The term, "chops" as referenced to a jazz musician's abilities, is referenced to the great Louis Armstrong, who may not have originated the term but as with so many other jazz terminologies and techniques such as "Skat Singing" certainly popularized the term.

"Chops" refers to Horn Players first and foremost, and is a slang term used to describe the strength and abilities of a horn player's mouth and facial musculature in addressing the instrument. The classical musician's term for this is "embouchure" from the French (pronounced, om-boo-shure).

Chops also refers to the horn player's ability to play and keep on playing for long lengths of time, such as would be the case on a four or five set gig. The mouth and facial muscles, being well, muscles, it takes time and plenty of repetition exercises to get to the point where a wind instrument player can keep making sounds that long. Or, as we sometimes say, "Iron Chops".

It soon became customary for instrumentalists other than wind instrument players to adopt the same hip sounding terminologies.

Guitarists, keyboardists, vibraphonists, even singers and drummers will use the term "chops" in the exact same fashion as horn players, even though we are referencing the use of different muscle groups.

For another example along the same lines, you might hear a jazz guitarist speak of "blowing a good solo" - again, the term, "blowing" comes from the horn players but has been adapted as meaning a a cool way to say, "playing".

Dang, Aleck, you need to get out more. *grin*


--Mac

PGmusic FAQs, Tutorials and Updates! click here

You must be Audiominds.
www.audiominds.com