Musical Look: The Evolution of Jazz

Whenever I hear the music of Jazz, I think of the American past-time; the swinging music of the Roaring Twenties. This music is no-doubt an American creation of self expression, rooted with a cultural story. It's a fast-tempo style of instrumentation and improvisation that completely changed the scope of musical entertainment.

It grew from the Southern African-American communities, such as New Orleans, spread into Chicago, New York City, and Kansas City, and quickly became the defining music of our nation. I recently watched Ken Burns' Jazz Series, and grew all the more intrigued by this cultural movement that began in the 1920s. In this post I want to briefly outline the rise and evolution of Jazz.


Ragtime

Most of today's most iconic genres of music, such as the Blues, Rock and Roll, and even Hip-Hop emerged from the roots of Jazz. And these musical roots occurred in the south, during slave gatherings of musical dance and celebration. Following the abolition of slavery, many African Americans were able to work as musical performers in clubs and bars. By the late 1800s a new up-tempo piano style emerged on the scene, that became known as Ragtime. This music was quickly launched to popularity through the pianist Scott Joplin, and his famous hits "The Entertainer" and "Maple Leaf Rag". A new musical style was thus born in the south.

Dixieland

New Orleans was the party jewel of the South, and a melting pot for African-American and Creole musicians. Through the use of street parades and big marching bands, New Orleans created a fun celebratory music known as Dixieland. Big names such as Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton introduced this style to the night scene, and eventually brought it to bigger cities such as Chicago and New York City. However it was a young trumpeter named Louis Armstrong, with a unique raspy voice, who was able to turn this new music into a sudden popular sensation throughout the country.


The Jazz Age

By 1920, with the start of the Prohibition, Jazz musicians took center stage at the growing number of speakeasies. The musical entertainment of these underground night clubs, created a festive atmosphere of flashy music, singing, and dancing. Jazz thus introduced a new and rebellious music for the younger generation, and defined the booming economy of the Roaring Twenties. Although segregation was still quite at large, artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday were able to use their music as an early racial bridge. By this point all races, genders, and classes were on board with the widespread trend of Jazz Music. It ranged from big band swing music to classy compositions such as George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue".

Swing

By the 1930s, jazz musicians had achieved worldwide fame, and began a new style of Big Band Swing made popular by clarinetist, Benny Goodman. Goodman became known as the "King of Swing" and was joined by many other popular bandleaders such as Artie Shaw, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller. These bands consisted of various sections of rhythm, brass, and woodwind, and were directed by a bandleader. Even during the Great Depression, people found a reason to dance and get away from their problems. These big bands were able to fill ballrooms with happy swinging music that inspired all sorts of new dances; from the Charleston, the Lindy Hop, the Balboa, and the Jitterbug. The term "swinging" became used as an adjective to describe a catchy tune or rhythm.

Sub-Genres

After WWII, Jazz began to die down in popularity, and was eventually replaced by Blues and Rock-n-Roll. The music shifted from commercial dancing, into more of an expressive art-form. It began with European variations that introduced string compositions, guitarists such as Django Reinhardt created a new style of up-tempo Gypsy Jazz. In the United States, a form of Be-pop was created with a heavy emphasis on harmony and sheer improvisation. Artists such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk once again furthered the scope of jazz music. In 1950s a trumpeter named Miles Davis, introduced another style, that became known as Cool Jazz. And from this came all sorts of other sub-genres such as Hard-Bop, Modal Jazz, Free Jazz, Latin Jazz, Soul Jazz, Jazz Fusion, and many others.

Few of my Favorites

• Louis Armstrong (Dinah, What a Wonderful World)
• Duke Ellington (Don't Mean a Thing if it Aint got that Swing)
• Billie Holiday (Am I Blue, Them there Eyes)
• George Gershwin (Rhapsody in Blue, They Can't take that Away from Me)
• Ella Fitzgerald (Fine Romance)
• Benny Goodman (Stompin at the Savoy, Moonglow)
• Glenn Miller (Moonlight Serenade, Pennsylvania 6-5000)

An American Heritage

The music of Jazz is rooted with a unique character, that tells a story through music. It's an inspiring form of self expression and creative innovation that can be enjoyed by all people. Whether it's the loud flashy marching bands of a Dixieland parade, or the smooth improvisation of a saxophonist, this music truly captivates the listener. To hear the many forms of Jazz music, is to experience the evolution of American culture.