MOSCOW LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITY (Moris Torez, korotche)

English Department Chair of Lexicology

TERM PAPER

by Oleg “Mister Twister” Ousmanov

MUSIC SLANG

Head of Chair Asst Prof. Z.V. Semirecova

Scientific Adviser Asst Prof. L.A. Uralova

МОSСOW 1991

INTRO

ACRONYMS
45 (n) =single, single record 45 RPM "сингл", "сорокопятка"
78 (n) a record revolving at 78 repeats per minutes
FOH (front of house) power amplification колонки основной звукоусилительной системы, "порталы"
EP (n) extended play record=minialbum=maxisingle "миниальбом"
LP (n) long play record, album "гигант", "альбом"
PR (n) public relations person, spokesperson, press agent "пресс-агент", "пресс-атташе"
PA (n) public adress system, power amplification, sound amplification "концы"
________________________________
air-check (n) an actual radio or television performance caught on tape; as opposed to a work done in a recording studio 

(all) shook up (adj) excited, disturbed, upset

amp (n) guitar, bass or keyboard amplifier joined with a loudspeaker(s) placed in a case of special design for stage or/and studio play "комбик"
I'm crazy about vintage tube amps. 

(Big) Apple New York City.
Scrapple from the Apple.

axe (n) guitar, bass or any musical instrument "палка","весло","балалайка", "лопата"
Man, what do you think of my new axe?

barn burner (n) Frank Sinatra's slang for a classy "doll" (woman). Today, it's applied to anything good.
"My doll is one real "Barn Burner."

barrelhouse (n) colloquialism describing the 'low' saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. "Barrelhouse music" the type of piano music (also called 'Fast Western') played in those cabarets.

beat (n) the time or timing.
The band played with a solid beat.
beat (adj) exhausted or tired.
I'm beat. We've been gigging since dawn.

blow (v) a jazzman's term for playing an(y) instrument. Play, sing a tune in a hot, excited way "нарезAть"
to b. a song (tune)
'Satchmo' really blows.

blue notes (n) flatted 3rd and 7th notes are the definition of the "blues scale"

booking agency company dealig in engaging acts (artists and bands) for shows
booking agent person arranging such engagements

bottleneck (guitar) (n.,adj.) guitar played with the bottle neck

bread (n) money.
You come up with the bread; we'll make the gig.

burn (v) a sideman's technically excellent - and emotional - solo.
Ziggy Elman's solo was burning.

cans (n) headphones "уши"
Turn up the piano in the cans for me to intonate better.

cat (n) man, cool enough to play or dig music; jazzman or person who loves jazz"чувак"
Man, them "cats" are really blowin' up a storm.

changes (n pl) black musicians' term for chord progressions.
chord c.
Say man, do you have the changes for "Stardust".

charts arrangements or sheet music аранжировки, ноты

chop(s) (n) any instrument phrase, passage, particular way to perform it, a bit of playing, an element of technique. Originally, used by black hornplayers to describe the state of their false teeth or lips. Generally speaking, it refers to the musician's technical skill. "ход", "полив", "проходка"
Wow. That Ziggy has great "chops".
My chops is beat from all those high C's tonight.

click (n) metronome "клик"
c. track
Who needs this click track? I can do without it. Turn on the metronom and feed it into my cans.

clone (a) perfect replica "копировщики"
c. band
Everybody hates clone bands.

cockup (n) a particularly poor spot of vocal performance "петух"
The group heard all their cockups on the tape.

coffin (n) hard guitar case "чемодан"
They had coffins full of dough.

clams (n) oft pl goofs by a sideman.
Man did you hear all his "clams" on that tune.

clinker (n) wrong note. (derived from burned-out chunk of heating coal)
That was some clinker he had in the 2nd chorus.

combo (n) the diminutive for "combination"; a small group.
Goodman's small combos are sensational.

cool (adj) originated in West Coast (1950s). Describes a restrained intellectual, rather than emotional, approach to music.
Stan Getz plays some real cool jazz.
Now a widely used superlative. "клевый"
He's one cool cat.

cut (v) record "нарEзать"
to c. a record (song,demo)
They cut their first single at 1961.
cut (n) piece of recording запись
The final cut.

deejay, dj (n) disc jockey диск-жокей
demo (adj) demonstrational
d. tape "демо-запись", "демо-лента", "демокассета"
A demo tape was wrapped in the paper which looked as if somebody ate fish off it.
demo (n) a demonsrational recording "демо"
Her first demo was released as a single.
demo (v) to make a demorecording записать "демо"
They demoed the songs at home.

frontman (n) the leader of the band standing in the front and getting the most of spotlight 
How does it feel now to be a frontman after years as a sideman?

gangbusters (n) powerful
Man, did you dig Benny wailing last night. He came on like 'Gangbusters'."

gear (n) equipment for sound amplification "аппарат"
The punters waited the band to load the gear onto the van.

get down (v) (mus) superlative playing
He really gets down on that horn.
(sex): Baby, let's amble on over to my pad and we'll get down.

gig (n) a one-time paying job, engagement концерт, "игра", "работа"
to land a g., to get a steady g.
I've got a "gig" next Monday night.
gig (v) to play a job, to play gigs 
to g. around
I'll be gigging at the club saturday night.

gospel bird chiken served on Sunday

groan box(n)=squeeze box=accordion аккордеон

groove (n) smth pleasant or cool; result of a sitaution when all band members are interacting and getting common vibes producing the music of unbelievable quality (particularly in rhythm terms)
to hit the g.
Then something clicked and they hit the grove.
in the g. 
Benny's solo was really in the groove!

groupie (n) (usually) young woman who follows a band seeking romance, etc. with band members
There was a famuos groupies, the are alike as two peas.

harp (n) =mouth organ=harmonica губная гармошка
They're the two best harpers in town.

hepcat (n) (originally) a musician in a swing band. Now, anyone who likes swing music.
Satchmo is one hep cat!
That hepcat loves to jive.

hip (adj) to know; to understand, be cool enough to dig.
Man, he's one hip cat. (Understands the music)
I'm hip to your bluff. (understands a ploy.)
You're too hip - I gotta go

hipster (n) someone who knows and loves swing music.
The hipsters really packed that concert hall.

hit (n) success, something that meets with approval "хит"
hit (a) "хитовый"
h. single (song,album)
He knew head a hit on his hands.

horn(s) (n) wind (usually a brass or reed) instrument "дудка", "дудки"
h. section 
Man, he blows a mean horn.
They've got the horns!

hot (adj) originally, the Chicago style of Dixieland jazz was called 'hot jazz' due to it's driving character vs the easy going ensemble New Orleans style. In the 1950s, the term "cool" jazz came into common use to denote music that was more intellectual, rather than emotional.
That cat blew one hot solo on his break.

house (adj) "местный", "штатный"
h. band (bassman, musician, producer)
Wiilie Dixon was a Chess house bass player and producer.

ivories (n) pl piano keys. (derived from ivory which they were originally made of.)
to tickle the i.
Jerry Lee Lewis started tickling the ivories really early.

jam (v) to play hot. Usually to improvise
That band was "jamming" tonight.

jam session spontaneous get-together (often after hours) of sidemen freely improvising on pop tunes - just soloing on "head" arrangements.
There's always an after hours jam session there.

jazz (n) Originally, black man's slang for sexual intercourse. Then, expressing the "jazzing" (improvisation) of any music. Strictly applied to the "Dixieland" music of, first, "New Orleans", and then "Chicago". Now applied to almost any contemporary popular music.

jazz box jazz guitar
Joe's favourite jazz box has always been "Gretsch".

jitterbug (n) 1940s description of "jittery", swing dancers.
Watch those jitterbugs doing a mean lindy hop.
jitterbug (v) dance the jitterbug
They were jittebugging like mad.

jive (n) 
1.odd form of speech.
2.style of ballroom dancing close to swing (in Europe also called boogie woogie)
That jive doesn't fool me.
You can often see this step in the international jive and rhumba.

jive (v) fool someone.
Stop jiving me, will you.
jive (adj) phoney, fake, not profound.
He's one jive dude. It's jive talking
Perjorative. Someone not well liked.
JAMF=jive ass mother****er.

Joe Below musician who plays for less than Union scale pay.
How can you 'turn a buck' when Joe Below plays almost for free?

jump (v) to have a good time "скакать"
The joint was really jumping last night.

lame=lamer (n) something, or someone that doesn't quite 'cut' it.
Those cats were layin' down some lame music.
That lamer just can't cut it.

lay down (v) play music (or sincere talk).
I was listening to Benny laying down some hot licks on "Jersey Bounce".
lay d. a track (sax ,guitar, keyboards) record a part "записать партию,дорожку" 
We first lay down the basic tracks - bass&drums.

lick (n) any instrument phrase, passage, particular way to perform it, a bit of playing, an element of technique"ход", "полив", "проходка"
hot l.
I really got my licks in on that tune.

licorice stick (n) clarinet
Benny Goodman knew what to do with his licorice stick.

lineup (n) a particular combination of players on particular instruments; a band for the moment "состав"
current l., to change l.
The band went through several lineup changes.

live (adj) not recorded in advance"живой", "живьем"
l. show (album,video)
I prefer to lay down the basic tracks live, we do drums, bass and guitar.

long hair (n) lover of classical music.
He doesn't dig Benny. He's a "long hair."

luthier (n) guitar craftsman гитарный мастер
Brian introduced his luthier.

main squeeze favorite girl-friend
Linda's my main squeeze.

master (tape) recorded tape used for cutting a record "оригинал", "мастер-тейп"
The producer is in charge for getting the master to the record lable.

mic, mike (n) microphone микрофон
m. setting
The singer almost bit the mike.

mike (v) to pick up sound with microphone(s) "звучить"
How do you mike the drum set?

Mickey Mouse orchestra that uses some sort of gimmick to attract listeners. Music played by such a band.
The band didn't jump, they played Mickey Mouse.

monitor (n) loudspeaker helping the musician to hear himself on stage. Fills - sound monitors "мониторный тракт"
monitor wedge фpонтальные монитоpы 
drum fill, drum wedge мониторы для барабанщика
sidefill(s) (n) боковые монитоpы, "пpостpелы"

muzak (derogative) easy listening music for hotels, supermarkets and such public places
It's muzak to my ears. 

off-beat (adj) originally, a weak or un-accented beat. Now also used to describe something out of the normal, strange, unconvenient 
His playing of the song was really off-beat.

one-night stand performance lasting only one night 
Every dreary one night stand 

outfit (n) - group, band, ensemble "состав"
heavy metal o., jazz o., classical o.
He is fronting his new 6-peiece neoswing outwit.

picker (n) guitar player
He's one hell of  a picker.

pick (v) to play guitar (especially with fingers)
Now start picking.

pick (n) plectrum "медиатор", "смычок"
And ther's a place for a pick holder.

fingerpick (v) to play guitar plucking te strings with one's fingers
The rockabillies were fingerpicking.

pro (a) professional "профи"
p. player
The guy turned pro at the age of 12.

punter(s) a music fan digging particular band(s) or style "тусовка"
 
reeds (n. pl) saxophones, clarinets and other instruments that use a bamboo 'reed' to make sound.
And now the reeds, please!

riff (n) two- or four-bar musical phrase. Riffs really define swing and later rock. "рифф"
So you're saying you can't remember the opening riffs??!

rig (n) set of equipment put together for a special purpose "набор"
stage r., amp r.
His stage rig is simplicity itself.

righteous (adj) 'real' jazzman, very good musician.
Benny Goodman, the righteous King of swing.
Bix Beidebecke, a righteous cornetist.

road pertaining to touring
road crew team of sound&lighting men "постановка"
The road crew haven't started setting up the stage yet.

on the road on tour "на гастролях"
And a pair of old shoes as a symbol on the road.

hit the road begin to travel on the road "поехать в турне"
Hit the road, Jack!
 
get the show on the road get (something) started

roadie=roadster (n) person who helps the band set up for performances
This manager used to be a roadie for a third rate band.

sax (n) saxophone "сакс"
While others were listening the cat started wailing his sax.

scat (n) nonsense syllables used by a singer in place of lyrics while improvising.
Ella Fitgerald was the scat singing queen.

schmaltz (adj, n) extreme sentimentality, corny sweetness "сладкий", "сопливый"
Oh yeah, he wound up playing schmaltz with Sinatra.

scratch (a) done, made with whatever is available "черновой"
s.bass (guitar, part)
Let's lay down a scratch vocal and guitar first!

screw the pooch make a series of bad mistakes while playing.
He was really screwin' the pooch on "Stardust" last night.

See you later, alligator  teasing way of saying goodbye which is answered with the complementing part of the pattern After awhile, crocodile;¶

session (n) "сеcсия звукозаписи"
recording s.
Those sessions happened in winter.

session (adj) "сессионный"
s. man (musician, player)
He was the most sought after session steel guitar player in the 50s.

showbiz (n) музыкальный бизнес
There's no business like showbiz.

to sit in (for the set) играть как приглашенный музыкант, подмеиять
With typical generosity he let him sit in for the set. 

sideman (n) one of the musicians in the band unlike the leader 
The sidemen were cheering.

smoke (v) to put one's heart and soul into playing.
Elman was really "smokin'" that night.

Sounds killer, man it sounds very good
'Sounds killer, man', she said sheepishly.

spank (v) slap with the palm играть всей ладонью
in that bar you have to spank the strings harder.

slap (v) играть "слэпом"
s. bass
"What are you doing?" - "Slappin' that bass!"

speaker (n) device for transforming electrical signals into sound "динамик"
tweeter (n) hi-range loudspeaker "пищалка"
driver (n) mid-range loudspeaker "драйвер"
woofer (n) low-range loudspeaker

spot (n) place, a venue, a job "место", "точка"
to get a s., a guest s.
The deejay helped the band to secure a guest spot on the show.

tech (n) technician техник
guitar t.
Now we can't afford guitar techs.

top the bill возглавлять афишу
By midsummer they were topping the bill.

train wreck the moment when one of the sidemen gets "lost" in the middle of a tune.

treatment (n) some kind of "effect", electronic device for changing sound, such as reverberator, compressor, etc.
I don't wanna you to use any treatment other than slap echo.

two's and fews' small change, very little money
Man, I only had some two's and fews' on me.

wail (v) to play extremely well.
to w. on the tune, to w. a sax 

walking bass (walking rhythm) a 4-beat bass rhythm pattern characteristic to jazz. Often called "Kansas City walking bass".
Don't make the bass line too pop, just try walkin' bass!

wing (v) to do smth extamporaneously, play by ear, improvise сыграть "на шару"
Jimmy Page said he winged his solo on 'Stairway to Heaven'.

stage hog (n) person who commands all stage presence (attracts stage attention) regardless of fellow musicians(actors)  тянуть одеяло на себя
He'd sometimes sing whole songs himself, but he was hardly a stage hog

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Richard A. Spears NTC'S DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN SLANG¶
Richard A. Spears NTC'S AMERICAN IDIOMS DICTIONARY¶
A.S.Hornby OXFORD STUDENT'S DICTIONARY OF CURRENT ENGLISH
Thanx to those who sent more words:
Brent De Young

Други! В смысле коллеги-англопереводящие. Пользуясь случаем, спешу… смотри словарь. Он всего лишь жаргонный и не освобождает от обязанности листать простые толстые словари, чтобы исключить лажу и казусы. Например, booking agent — это не книжный агент, а концертный администратор, работающий в booking agency (концертном агенстве) . А глагол to book в нашей теме означает ангажировать или приглашать. Однако он не является жаргонным и поэтому легко отыскивается в обычном словаре. Школьные и карманные словарями не считаются.
И еще. Если ты уверен, что знаешь слово и даже не сомневаешься, но в каком-то контексте словосочетание, фраза или предложение непонятны, смело считай себя неучем и шелести страницами — есть гарантия, что знакомое слово имеет еще десяток (новых для тебя) — значений. Со мною это происходит не так уж редко, особенно при письменном переводе.

01.09.96 С уважением, студент-автор курсовика