HOW DO I JAZZ???

[Subsonic_Noise]

So, I kind of was invited to a music compositon contest from a quite well-known german big band.
I, of course, agreed, because I figured it would be some good practice and the winner would get his music recorded and played live as well as 3000€.
The problem is: HOW DO I JAZZ?
My bass teacher already gave me some quick lessons on jazz theory, and I already got my first chords progression (d⁷ G⁷ Cmaj⁷ F^maj7 F#⁰ B⁷ E⁷ E⁷, in case you where intersted, which you probably wheren't)
but what makes Jazz sound like Jazz? Any typical rythms, melody forms, etc?

[winkio]

Lay down some jazzy licks, baby

My recommendations are light drums, speedy runs of notes, well placed rests, and lots of syncopation (with accents if you can).

[Subsonic_Noise]

Lay down some jazzy licks, baby

My recommendations are light drums, speedy runs of notes, well placed rests, and lots of syncopation (with accents if you can).

That's something I can work with, thanks! Already got the light drums (was a bit tricky concidering the 7/4 time signature and the swing feel), but I'll work on te rest now.. but accents might be difficult, since I don't really know where to set them in this time signature.
7/4 is basically a 4/4 and a 3/4, right?

[winkio]

yeah, that's a good way to do it, but it can be in either order (3/4 then 4/4, or 4/4 then 3/4)

[Subsonic_Noise]

yeah, that's a good way to do it, but it can be in either order (3/4 then 4/4, or 4/4 then 3/4)

Ok then, thanks. I think it's the first one in my case, judging from the drums. Now I just need to work out some nifty brass, lol.

[Blizzard]

I remember one thing that should help you.

In Jazz you often have two instruments "talking" to each other. You play a few tunes with one instrument, then a few with the other, again a few with the first one and so on.

[Subsonic_Noise]

I remember one thing that should help you.

In Jazz you often have two instruments "talking" to each other. You play a few tunes with one instrument, then a few with the other, again a few with the first one and so on.

Yep, helps, too. Now I just have to work out some good brass melodies. It's a bit hard with those chords abd the 7/4 time signature, but I think it might work out well. Already sounds quite jazzy right now xD