Jazz- a type of music that has a strong rhythmic background and syncopation, with accent on

other than the beats usually stressed.

Brief History of Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th
century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of
African and European music traditions. The style's West African pedigree is evident in its use
of blue notes, improvisation, polyrhythm, syncopation, and the swung note.
From its early development until the present, jazz has also incorporated music from 19th and
20th century American popular music. The word jazz began as a West Coast slang term of
uncertain derivation and was first used to refer to music in Chicago in about 1915.

Jazz has, from its early 20th century inception, spawned a variety of subgenres, from New
Orleans Dixieland dating from the early 1910s, big band-style swing from the 1930s and 1940s,
bebop from the mid-1940s, a variety of Latin jazz fusions such as Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz
from the 1950s and 1960s, jazz-rock fusion from the 1970s and late 1980s developments such
as acid jazz, which blended jazz influences into funk and hip-hop. As the music has spread
around the world it has drawn on local national and regional musical cultures, its aesthetics being
adapted to its varied environments and giving rise to many distinctive styles

Types of jazz music

The varying styles of jazz include the "Work Song." This is mainly a rhythmic song which could
be referred to as making hard work easier and to go by faster. These are usually unaccompanied
upbeat rhythm songs that are usually repeated over and over, a sort of chanting, to make the
time go by faster on the job.

Another style is the "New Orleans." This style began in the 1890's as brass band performances
of gospel songs and marches with this came along the formation of the big bands, such as the
great jazz pianist and bandleader William Basie. Mr. Basie's band, known as the Count Basie
Orchestra, was famous for the driving beat considered to be the epitome of the swing feel. This
style of jazz still exists today and is normally referred to as the original style of jazz. This
style is also considered to be ensemble jazz and is known for its polyphonic texture.

The "Chicago Style" of jazz music evolved after 1917. Chicago then became the home of jazz
music because of the prohibition in the south. Unemployed musicians moved to the Chicago area
playing new sounds and searching for places to play the new, exciting style of jazz. With this
style the musicians play popular songs with a more homophonic sound. This is the era when the
piano is introduced into the background accompaniments.

"Bebop" came about through and after World War II. Due to an opposition of white
establishment, jazz took a turn. It became a fast, but upbeat use of tempos, using elaborate
melody and rhythmic patterns. With Bebop, the beat of jazz became lighter. During the later
1940's, Bebop combined dissonance and abstract chording with traditional jazz. This style
showed more emphasis on the solo performer.
Later came the style known as "Fusion." This style of jazz reflects back closer to the jazz
tradition. Only now the use of electrical and acoustic instruments gives a more modern sound.
Jazz popularity grows at this time to a time high due to the use of electrical instruments and
the formation of jazz clubs and festivals, directed toward the youth of America.

Jazz music has and will always reflect the artist of the time through the different styles this
form of music has taken. Through the years jazz music has changed to meet the needs of
changing times and the people's changing taste of music, and for the people's listening
enjoyment. Jazz has introduced new sounds and styles to stay afloat in the ever-changing
modern world.

The core of jazz music has not changed that much since it began all those many years ago. The
framework is still there and always will be. However, the surface will change, as in the different
styles that have evolved over the years. The deep down earthy tones, melody and rhythm have
made jazz music what it is today and has enlisted memories in all of what it once was.

Some Famous Jazz artists

Louis Armstrong was born in 1900 and died in 1971. He was well-known for playing 2nd cornet in
King Oliver band on early recordings from 1923. However, he left the band in 1924. His music
from this time is traditional New Orleans style, polyphonic, emotional and denotative. Louis
Armstrong soon became a soloist at the time he performed with the band of Flecher Henderson.
He finished recording "Hot Five" and "Hot Seven" in 1952 and shifted from the cornet to the
trumpet. His music style was very unusual, building solos to the highest point and holding very
bright clarity and shakes and vibrato. Louis Armstrong was an excellent musician of his time.

Chuck Mangione, who was a composer and flugelhorn player in Latin Jazz of 70s, created several
songs and was highly admired. He was given several awards for songs such as "Hill where The
Lord Hides", "Children of Sanchez" and "Bellavia". Moreover, Chuck Mangione performed Jazz
with Art Blakely and The Jazz Messengers during his career in jazz.

Freddie Hubbard, who played the trumpet, was a famous musician of pop jazz. He began his
career in Indianapolis and moved to New York to replace Lee Morgan in The Jazz Messengers,
The Jazz Messengers. Although he began as a bop player, turned into one of the dominating
influential trumpet players of today and is well-known as a very creative and artistic ability
player. The widely known albums that he recorded were "Ole" and "Red Clay".

Charlie Parker, a saxophone player, was born on 29th August 1920, in Kansas When he was
growing up as a jazzman at the 1930s; swing was at the peak of jazz Popularity. During the
1940s and 1950s, he created and established the bebop from of modern jazz, which is till a
common style used today. His new style of music featured complex. Melodies, harmonies,
rhythms, and tempos spotlighted sections that focused on intense ad-lib playing. Therefore, his
intense performances with incredible rhythm amazed the crowd. It is often said that no one has
ever matched his outstanding solo skills. Moreover, his extreme performances on stage were the
direct reflection of his addiction to drugs. His addictions eventually led to his death on March
12th, 1995 at the young age of 34.
Sarah Vaughan, She was born on March 27, 1924. At a young age of seven, Sarah started
taking piano lessons and used to sing in the church choir. She took keen interest in music since
childhood. She soon started performing in various clubs. She was an excellent pianist and a
gifted singer. She holds the record of being a three-time Grammy Award winner. In 1989, she
received the NEA Jazz Masters Award. During the same year, she began keeping unwell. She
was diagnosed with lung cancer. She expired on April 3, 1990 while watching a television movie
that featured her daughter. She is remembered for her mellifluous voice and is a notable figure
in jazz music.

Sample of Jazz music