Definition of Jazz
Jazz is composed primarily of four musical elements: melody, harmony, rhythm, and tone color. The word, “jazz” began as a West coast slang term that was first used to refer to music in Chicago, in about 1915. In Jazz, the skilled performer will interpret a tune in individual ways. The same composition would never be played exactly the same way twice. A jazz musician can alter melodies, harmonies, or time signature, depending upon the performer’s mood and experience. Jazz represented a break from western musical traditions.
The Jazz Age – The 1920’s
The Jazz Age was the decade that ran from January 1, 1920, to December 31, 1929. The 20’s was regarded as a period of economic prosperity, as it followed World War 1 and the Spanish Flu. The 1920’s was characterized by the rise of radical political movements. Prohibition in the United States, from 1920 to 1923, banned the sale of alcoholic drinks. Instead of problems, Americans in the 20’s loved excitement. A spirit of frivolity spread throughout the country. This was an era when popular music included current dance songs, and show tunes. Jazz songs somehow seemed uncivilized, therefore attracting the young generation. Women began cutting their hair at ear level, and hemming their dresses to knee level. Cloche hats, silk stockings, fake jewelry, and bobbed hair replaced the plumes, hobble skirts, and flowing tresses. More college boys owned automobiles, and were parking them on dark roads to “neck” with their dates. Citizens began dancing the Charleston. Jazz started to get a reputation as immoral, and elders saw it as threatening to old values in culture. Morals were undergoing a revolution.
Origins
When the Civil War ended in 1865, one outcome was brass band instruments.
The history of jazz began in the late 1800’s. Jazz music grew from a combination of influences, including Black American music, African rhythms, American Band tradition, and European harmonies and forms. Much of the best jazz is still written in the United States. African Americans and Creole musicians were the first to play Jazz. Charles “Buddy” Bolden is considered to be the first real jazz musician. His band, “The Bolden Band,” started playing around 1895, in New Orleans’s parades and dances.
New Orleans
The music of New Orleans had a major effect on the creation of early jazz. The “New Orleans” style began in the 1890’s as brass band performances of gospel songs and marches. This style of jazz still exists today and is normally referred to as the original style of Jazz.
Jazz music consists of many different styles including: Ragtime, Swing, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, Modal Jazz, Free Jazz, Latin Jazz, and Soul Jazz
Ragtime
Abolition to slavery led to new opportunities for the freed African Americans. Although segregation limited the job opportunities for blacks. However, blacks found work in entertainment. Black musicians provided entertainment in dances and marching bands. As ragtime developed, Black pianists played in bars, clubs and brothels.
Swing
Swing is the style that emerged in the 1930’s, and emphasized big bands. Swing was also dance music. It was broadcast on the radio ‘live’ nightly across America for many years. Although it was a collective sound, swing gave individual musicians a chance to improvise melodic solos.
Bebop
Bebop arose in the early1940’s. Bebop was meant to be listened to, not danced to. It used faster tempos and the style of drumming was more explosive. Beboppers often used altered chords, and the dissonant tritone.
Cool Jazz
Cool Jazz emerged in New York City, by the end of the 1940’s as a mixture of white jazz musicians and black bebop musicians. Cool jazz had a calm tendency that favored long, smooth, linear melodic lines.
Hard Bop
Hard Bop is an extension of bebop music. It emerged in the mid-1950’s. Hard Bop music uses rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues, especially in saxophone and piano playing.
Modal Jazz
Modal Jazz arrived in the late 50’s. In modal Jazz the soloist creates a melody using one or a small number of modes. The emphasis shifts from harmony to melody.
Free Jazz
In Free Jazz there is a “free tonality” in which meter, beat, and formal symmetry all disappeared. Free jazz gave players a loose harmony and tempo.
Latin Jazz
Latin Jazz combines African and Latin rhythms played on conga, timbale, and claves, with jazz and classical harmonies played on normal jazz instruments.
Soul Jazz
Soul Jazz developed from hard bop, and emphasized repetitive grooves and melodic hooks. Improvisations were much less complex than in other styles of jazz. Often soul jazz was played using a Hammond Organ player, a drummer, and a tenor saxophonist.
Louis Armstrong can be considered one of the most influential jazz players of all time.
Impact in History
One of the most important things that jazz did for the United States was that it taught us the integrity of “The Artist.” During times of conflict jazz taught people how to improvise and create something artistic. In times of segregation, black musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong reflected black pride and their struggles for freedom through their music. Without jazz music there would be no Charleston, no Jitterbug, and no Foxtrot. Jazz has introduced new sounds and styles that stay alive in the constantly changing modern world.
Hopefully jazz will remain around forever. It is a wonderful musical art form, and should never be forgotten.
Sources:
http://hilobrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/armstrong-louis3.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/New_Orleans_view_1873.jpeg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz
Links to pages dedicated to jazz:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/
http://www.apassion4jazz.net/
http://www.thejazzwebsite.com/
http://www.redhotjazz.com/
