history of Jazz music
The early history of Jazz music is unclear and disputed due to its development among a marginalized people in society. Today Jazz music is one of the most prominent and persistent music genres of the twentieth century. Jazz music can be traced back to the eighteenth century in 1890. It has since evolved through three different centuries, and through its evolution, plenty of styles have come up. The origin of Jazz music is accredited to the change of twentieth-century New Orleans. Although changes related to Jazz music occurred almost the same time in other areas of North America such as Kansas City, St Louis and Chicago its roots are also accredited to West African music. Most premiering Jazz music was performed either in small tiny marching bands or by solo banjo and pianos. Jazz music became most popular in the 1920s to 1930s, whereby this form of music accompanied by dance gained Nationwide acceptance in the United States.
Among popular jazz styles including Ragtime, classical Jazz, gypsy jazz, bebop among others. In 1950 most American jazz singers spread worldwide either due to social, cultural and racial tensions in their home countries or search of cultural liberties assumed to exist in developed countries. Jazz music simply developed from an African American music genre into a global prodigy. In 1960, post wat crisis and disintegration of popular bands resulted in a focus on small bands and the liberation of jazz sounds. Improvisations made on jazz music gave Jazz a significant cache which was absent in other musical genres. In 1950, Jazz music faced great competition from different music genres. Television assisted the introduction of other influential music trends leading to decrease of Jazz music fanatics. In the mid-1960s, Jazz music suffered due to different music genres such as rock and roll and disco dance in early 1970s. As a result, most jazz musicians shifted to other music genres. Jazz music continued to evolve through many influences, such as its roots and styles. With an increasing number of young jazz artists, the much-needed enthusiasm for Jazz music has continued to develop. Significant changes in Jazz music have however not occurred overtime except in jazz-rap, M Base and European House choreography music. Jazz continues to remodify itself by borrowing from some of the most influential twentieth and twenty-first-century music such as Broadway, blues and pop music, among others.
Comparison of early Jazz music to other music genres
Early jazz music was influenced by traditional classical music and other popular sounds. The key components in jazz music include blues, syncopation and swing which appeared complex to most listeners. African Americans’ struggle impacted jazz music socially and musically. The two most unique features of jazz music include the improvisation and effort of remaining in the present. Despite influences from other genres, Jazz still maintains it’s identity. Jazz music was a type of music that was created by African Americans in the coffee plantations however how it was played made it very unique as it was the type of music that both whites and blacks could enjoy. Jazz, like other music genres, possesses Melody, harmony and rhythm. Improvisation, however, makes it different from other types of music. Improvisation, in this case, means that certain melodies and tunes can be made upon the spot and performers do not refer to any music while performing.
The central element in jazz music is the creativity incorporated while playing it. Early jazz music portrayed distinct differences compared to other musical genres. Although most genres such as pop had melodies in jazz music melodies were used to start a song, and other singers joined in playing all types of note from high to low. The non-soloist performers accompanied the rest of the performers silently in the background with melodies being restored at the end of every song. The approach to rhythm in Jazz also made it very distinct from other music genres. For instance, through swing musical style, jazz artists were able to switch back and forth between notes making some longer and others shorter. Jazz also borrowed from national, regional and local music traditions, thus resulting in the development of various styles. For instance, New Orleans jazz that began in 1910 mixed biguine, Ragtime and blues with collaborative contrapuntal improvisations. In 1930s Kansas City jazz, swing and gipsy blues came up. In 1949, Bepob style came upbringing calm and softer sounds.
Important historical events and opinions are given from different experts showcasing the historical impact on Jazz music.
Ragtime was greatly influenced by rhythms borrowed from traditional African music which were incorporated into cakewalk and jig bands music. All these variations evolved into Ragtime in 1895.
Classical jazz music was first attributed to new Orleans in 1900. Blacks, whites and Creoles performed traditional, modern Orleans jazz. It began with brass bands that played for local events in the late 1800s. Many instruments used had been acquired from the Confederate war. Classic Jazz put together ragtime syncopations with evolutions of famous melodies, hymns, work songs and blues. Bebop began in 1940 and was pioneered by Charlie Parker. Bebop jazz soloists often did harmonic improvisations doing away with melodies after the first chorus. Bebop quite different from swing departed form dance music. In the early days, bebop was viewed as a basic jazz style but has since become a base for all following innovations.
Among famous Jazz, pioneers include Sidney Bechet, Baby Dodds, Louis Armstrong and Pops Foster. Sidney Bechet was responsible for the quotation ” Treat it gentle”. Regarding this quotation, he narrates a story of 1912 and 1913 whereby there existed a club whereby Freddie Leppard was used to performing. He had left New Orleans with his band. Many critics and newsmen would ask him where he acquired his good Ragtime musical style.
Baby Dodds was responsible for the ” Baby Dodds story” whereby he describes an instance regarding Big Eye Louis Nelson, who lived downtown while Baby Dodds himself lived uptown. He describes a scenario whereby creole bands mixed with only good enough performers. Creole people assumed that uptown musicians were not skilled enough to join their groups as they failed to study music, whereas everyone in French town studied music.
Louis Armstrong, on the other hand, came up with ” Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans. He describes how sad funerals could get in New Orleans, especially during the lowering of the body. The band would then break out into good old songs such as ‘ Didn’t he rumble’, and people’s worries would be swept away especially when King Oliver performed the final chorus striking the highest notes. He states that once a band started playing it would impact people from all corners of New Orleans especially those who would follow these bands from the funeral known as ‘ the second line’ which were terms used to refer to anyone in the streets who wanted to listen to the music.
Pop Foster wrote ‘Pop’s Foster : The Autobiography of a New Orleans Jazzman’ in which he stares that from 1900, there were three types of bands that performed in New Orleans. He states that some bands played Ragtime while others played sweet melodies and others performed blues. For instance, John Robichaux’s band played only sweet music. In contrast, Frankie Dyson’s Eagle band would perform blues, and Magnolia bands would play Ragtime which was received with great enthusiasm by people in New Orleans.
Researched of early black people cultural ceremonies and activities debating the importance of cultural changes black people made which contribute to the form of Jazz music
Revisiting New Orleans history and cultural background during the colonial era is essential to understanding the events that led to the growth of New Orleans Jazz. The New Orleans’ culture was influenced by Europe and African people as well. In 1721 black West African slaves made up to thirty per cent of New Orleans population, and by the end of 1700s they made up more than half of New Orleans population. The many African Americans in the colony, in the beginning, working as slaves and later as liberated people in the uptowns of New Orleans greatly impacted New Orleans music with components of blues, spirituals and cultural dances. Black ethnicity made a huge contribution to the enthusiastic musical environment. One of the major early ethnic impacts to the form of Jazz music included the African dances and drumming culture. For instance, in the mid-eighteenth century, slaves gathered outside Congo square on Sundays, which is popular today due to its African dances and the preservation of African music and traditional components. Interests of music styles inspired by African cultures such as cakewalks and minstrel tunes grew widely. The roots of Jazz music can, therefore, be attributed to African American traditions although after jazz music gained recognition, it borrowed from many other ethnic communities in New Orleans.
Conclusion
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