boogie-woogie

[ boog-ee-woog-ee, boo-gee-woo-gee ]

noun

, Jazz.

1. a form of instrumental blues, especially for piano, using melodic variations over a constantly repeated bass figure.

boogie-woogie

/ ˈbuːɡɪˈwuːɡɪ; ˈbʊɡɪˈwʊɡɪ /

noun

1. a style of piano jazz using a dotted bass pattern, usually with eight notes in a bar and the harmonies of the 12-bar blues

Word History and Origins

Origin of boogie-woogie¹

1925–30, Americanism; rhyming compound perhaps based on boogie

Example Sentences

His mother was an avid singer of spirituals and a next-door neighbor, Lucy Jackson, helped Jones learn to tap out boogie-woogie on the keyboard.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s the bluesy rock ‘n’ roll boogie-woogie that you can dance to.

From Seattle Times

After the group split, he founded the Brian Setzer Orchestra, a boogie-woogie, jump blues band straddling originals and jazzed-up covers.

From New York Times

He started with a boogie-woogie piano, tossing out melodic ideas that Carey would respond to with lyrics.

From Washington Times

He started with a boogie-woogie piano, tossing out melodic ideas that Carey would respond to with lyrics.

From Seattle Times