Jazzology

Lyrics

[Scatting by Scatman John] Yeah The portrait of the jazz man can only be painted With the colors of the cats of the past Wynton Marsalis only blows what he blows Because Freddie Hubbard molded the cast So if you're into jazz and want to learn how to blow The study of jazzology's essential to know Young Herbie Hancock perfected his piano In the years that he was blowin' with Miles Cedar Walton did the same with Art Blakey's band Maybe we should rise and give our heroes a hand Jon Hendricks gave us somethin' precious as gold And I'm-a give it back now, right now, look out! [Scatting by Scatman John] Yo, baby Mulgrew Miller came after Cedar Walton And Coltrane came after Bird You know that Elvin Jones was an authentic cat And hearing Cecil Taylor amplifies that fact Ain't no one gonna last without the legends of the past Can't play like the birds with the legends unheard A lady named Ella could keep up with any fella Ever heard her scat "How High the Moon?" George Benson plays guitar, but more than that by far He could scat up a storm, set fire to a room So if you're into jazz and want to learn how to blow The study of jazzology's essential to know [Scatting by Scatman John] You've heard of Charlie Parker, the man they call "Bird" Played the greatest alto saxophone that anybody heard Bird's contribution became an institution He's the man that started be-bop she-bop (be-bop she-bop) So if you're into jazz and you want to learn to blow The study of jazzology is essential to know Piano's Bill Evans took us all to the heavens And who could play Tatum verbatim? Mel Tormé and Anita O'Day, hey! Everybody knows the trend they set for today And don't forget Sarah, that gentle little terror That sassy young lassy was classy [Scatting by Scatman John] The only thing I say if you wanna learn to play: You ain't gonna last without the legends of the past You can't fry eggs without the pan and the butter You wanna learn to scat, you don't have to stutter So if you're into jazz and you want to learn to blow The study of jazzology is essential to know, yeah