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Jazz
Jazz, the music genre that changed a nation and empowered the African American community is not only a form of music, but a form of power. From the late 19th to early 20th century, jazz rocked every corner around the nation, starting with Jazz clubs in New Orleans. This genre gave birth to so many different subgenres that many have a difficult time defining it. Big band, swing, and bebop are only a handful of subgenres that stem off of jazz, but each has their own unique flow.
Big band could be considered the first sub genre for jazz the form of playing music in an Orchestra but rather than a classic tone, add in the jazz rhythm. In the 1920s, Paul Whiteman was credited with for the creation of this “Symphonic Jazz” and was meet with heavy criticism from classic and jazz fans alike. However, this did not stop him from being successful with songs like “Happy Feet” (1930) that he and his orchestra performed, big bands differ from other forms with the large quantity of members in the band, averaging with 12~25 musicians. Another specialty to big
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bebop was a music formed out of spite, but if it wasn’t for bebop we’d never have expanded the use of all the rhythmic sections. The first (believed) example of bebop was in Mckinney’s Cotton Pickers “Four or Five Times” (1928.) A man by the name Dizzy Gillespie believed the term ‘bebop’ was coined based on his scatting, deriving from his scatting of numbers as ‘bebops’. Yet the first recorded example of this musical form was in the 1939 “Body and Soul” records by Coleman Hawkins who strayed, only a bit, from the ordinary resolution of musical themes. Even if it was small this record led to hit bebop tracks such as “Devey Square” by Charlie Riker and “Groovin’ High” by Dizzy Gillespie. A nonsense tune that sparked nonsense joy, bebop was a revolution influenced by the youth of the
Developed in the early 1940's, Bop had established itself as vogue by 1945. It's main innovators were alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. In this stage in jazz, improvisation differed immensely. Bebop soloists engaged in harmonic improvisation, often avoiding the melody altogether after the first chorus. Usually under seven pieces, the soloist was free to explore improvised possibilities as long as they fit into the chord structure. Popular and influential jazz artists include: Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, & Cannonball Adderley. Armstrong is most known for his involvement in hot jazz as a trumpeter, but is especially renowned for his improvisation capabilities. Louis Armstrong, born August 4, 1901 right in the beginning stages of the jazz movement, was originally from New Orleans. Armstrong was a bandleader, soloist, comedian/actor, and vocalist. Another famous, Miles Davis, is what some consider to be the best trumpeter of the era. Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. One unique thing about Davis was that he was taught to play without vibrato, which was incredibly contrary to the popular way of
Jazz music of the 1940’s and 1950’s was defined by a history of change since its beginning at the dawn of the 20th century. Almost every decade brought a new flavor to the movement, and by the 1940’s jazz had developed into a mature, complex form of music, with many nuances and avenues for continued change. It is important to trace the early movements in jazz to better understand the innovations of the Bebop and Cool jazz eras of the 40’s and 50’s.
By the end of World War I, Black Americans were facing their lowest point in history since slavery. Most of the blacks migrated to the northern states such as New York and Chicago. It was in New York where the “Harlem Renaissance” was born. This movement with jazz was used to rid of the restraints held against African Americans. One of the main reasons that jazz was so popular was that it allowed the performer to create the rhythm. With This in Mind performers realized that there could no...
Jazz is an American genre that developed from ragtime and blues in the early twentieth century in urban areas of the U.S. This genre is characterized by strong, prominent meter, improvisation, distinctive tone colors, and performance techniques. The development of Jazz made a postive, lasting impact after World War One ended. It became a way of bringing young people together. Jazz became the basis for most social dance music and provided one of the first opportunities for public integration. Subcultures like the gangs of New York and Chicago encouraged the subjugation of the black artists to the white man’s economic and social power, often resulting in gang leaders having complete control over
Jazz also produced noted trumpeter, Louis Armstrong. Talented black artists were looking for an identity and something that was different from the pop culture of Rock and Roll and Jazz was the answer. Jazz became prominent during a period of comprehensive artistic and political uproar among African Americans. The by-product of Jazz was Bebop. Bebop is a style of jazz characterized by a fast tempo, instrumental virtuosity and improvisation based on the combination of harmonic structure and sometimes references to the melody. Bebop music was a form of jazz that for African Americans was art. Bebop was a conscious attempt to provide new channels of creativeness for African Americans. Famous artists such as Dizzy Gillespie became the icons of Bebop and are still celebrated to this day. Jazz truly shaped the African American life.
The word “jazz” is significant to America, and it has many meanings. Jazz could simply be defined as a genre or style of music that originated in America, but it can also be described as a movement which “bounced into the world somewhere about the year 1911…” . This is important because jazz is constantly changing, evolving, adapting, and improvising. By analyzing the creators, critics, and consumers of jazz in the context of cultural, political, and economic issue, I will illustrate the movement from the 1930’s swing era to the birth of bebop and modern jazz.
Imagine you are walking the streets of New Orleans. You are standing right where jazz was established in the United States of America. Jazz wasn’t just about music, it also affected the culture involving social, economic, artistic and jazz leaders.
Jazz is one of the only uniquely American forms of music. Its roots date back all the way to the Atlantic slave trade. Jazz is still alive and well today. This paper will walk you through Jazz’s rich history. We’ll start with the basics of African music and its influences. Then we will take you through the decades leading to modern Jazz.
To understand the genesis of Jazz one must also understand the setting of its origin, New Orleans. The city was founded by the French in 1718, then in 1763 the city ceded to Spain and remained under Spanish control until later being returned to the French in 1803, and then was immediately sold to the United States under the Louisiana Purchase. New Orleans was also heavily populated by African slaves making up 30% of the total population of the city at this time; so New Orleans was experiencing a lot of cultural diversity and was being shaped and molded by the many different fashions of people who lived in the city. These different social groups along with their culture also brought with them their deep rooted musical traditions, the fusion and combination of these traditions would give rise to what we know today as modern day Jazz. Jazz is a genre of music that could only have formed in America; it draws from many different cultures and art forms creating a cocktail of traditional European and African music, mixed with a blend of Spanish tinge, with a strong base of blues filtered through the American experience.
Jazz music prospered in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Jazz was created by African Americans to represent pain and suffering and also represented the adversity that racial tension brought. (Scholastic) African American performers like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie “Bird” Parker came to be recognized for their ability to overcome “race relati...
Jazz is referred as “America’s classical music,” and is one of North America’s and most celebrated genres. The history of Jazz can be traced back to the early era of the 20th century of the U.S. “A History of Jazz” presents From Ragtime and Blues to Big Band and Bebop, jazz has been a part of a proud African American tradition for over 100 years. A strong rhythmic under-structure, blue notes, solos, “call-and response” patterns, and
Now a days, many believe that jazz is not that important of music genre, but with our history, jazz plays a big role. “Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but it is a gift that America has given to the world.”, quoted by Ahmad Alaadeen. Jazz in the 1920’s opened the eyes of whites and invited them into African American culture; it evolved Americans to where we are today since it brought a change to the music scene, an acceptance of African Americans, and a change of lifestyles.
What is jazz? Infamous jazz musician Louis Armstrong once said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” It is possible to discuss jazz objectively; however, jazz is undoubtedly the most abstract and creative form of music ever developed. There is no concrete definition or description. Jazz is referred to as “America’s Music” and has played a huge role in the cultural development of the United States. Originating in New Orleans, Louisiana, people from several cultures influenced the creation and evolution of jazz. The outcome is now appreciated by people all over the world.
a unique sincerity and magnetism that has withstood the test of time. From its humble beginnings in New Orleans, jazz quickly spread throughout the United States and soon became an illustrious component of American culture. This art form not only offered a distinct and musically euphonic prospect, but also gave voice to the African American community. The development of jazz tore down barriers and confines forever shaping music and culture around the world.
Andrews, John. (1998). What bebop meant to jazz history. A review of Scott Deveux’ book “The Birth of the Bebop: A Social and musical history.”