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The impact of jazz on american history
African American influence on jazz music
The meaning of jazz in african american culture particularly
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Ken Burns’ Jazz Episode One shows us how the history of Jazz is unique and revealing, with as many twists and folds as a piece of Jazz music itself. With influences from the various cultures prominent in the region at the dawn of its creation, Jazz is the ultimate melting pot of musical style and cultural influences. It has features from African music, Caribbean music, and European music, among many others. Jazz takes the best features of the cultures which influenced it and created something that was more than the sum of its parts, in this way, Jazz is uniquely American. Jazz was heavily influenced by the multitude of cultures found in and around New Orleans during the late 19th century.
Politics had a great deal of influence on the creation
Such greats include the likes of Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton. Buddy Bolden is credited with no less than the creator of Jass music itself. A talented cornetist, Buddy blended the blues with ragtime among many other influences in order to create New Orleans Jazz. Bolden eventually developed psychosis, and spent the last years of his life in an insane asylum. Jelly Roll Morton was a pianist who is credited with being the first Jazz musician to write his music down. Morton also brought a great amount of French influence into his music through his Creole roots. It is no secret that Jelly Roll Morton got a start on his musical career at the age of fourteen, when he worked as a pianist in a brothel. He got away with his employment in a house of ill repute by telling his mother he was working as a night watchman. In reality the only watching he did was through a peephole to coordinate the music to the
The narration was incredible, and the commentary from professionals and academics was very fitting for the way they presented the information. The enthusiasm for the music was incredibly apparent from all who were involved in the production of the film, from the panelists to the editors. There was a great deal of details that never would have made it into in a more sugar-coated account, some of great controversy and scandal. This very serious, yet still lighthearted approach to presenting the facts managed to make history seemingly come to
The first appearance of jazz was at the turn of the century in New Orleans and is called “Dixieland Jazz,” or “Classic Jazz.” It developed out of music for street parades in the black community. It also had deeper roots in a style of music called “Blues,” which was used to express the daily experiences of the community (History). Other influences include the combination of West African folk music with the popular classical music of Europe, developing into syncopated rhythms and chord variations on classical pieces (Passion).
In New Orleans, where the jazz music started, music was not a luxury, it was a necessity. Ethnicities represented in New Orleans were as follows: French, Spanish, and African, Italian, German, and Irish (Herbert Asbury, 1938). This unique combination provided a unique mix of cultural influences which gave birth to such unique styles of music: ragtime, blues, spirituals, marches, and of course jazz. The workers needed the music as a way of communication, relief, and hope for freedom, during the mind-numbing labor.
The music of jazz became an important aspect of American culture in the early 20th century. The crisp syncopation of ragtime and the smooth tunes of the blues seeped into American mainstream music through dance halls and saloons and later through ballrooms. Instruments like the piano, trumpet, trombone and clarinet became important and symbolized the “swing-feel” of jazz because of their capability to syncopate and improvise precisely. With the help of the booming recording industry, musical geniuses were discovered and their talent and contributions to the emergence of jazz spread throughout the entire country. Such musicians include composer, arranger and pianist Jelly Roll Morton who heavily influenced the development of early jazz by his unique piano style, his “invention” of musical notation for jazz, and his compositions that have become the core in the jazz repertory. Because the style was new and different and so successful in drawing in large audiences, musicians around the world tried to mimic it. Furthermore, Morton’s masterpieces were the first to show notation for complicated jazz music and thus, formed the basis for standard notation in jazz compositions today.
When it comes to jazz music, there is one name that everyone knows, whether they’ve never listened to jazz before or if they’ve listened to it their whole lives. That name is Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was one of the pioneers of jazz music, from his humble beginnings in one of New Orleans roughest districts, “the Battlefield”, to playing concerts for sold out crowds in Chicago and New York City, Louis left a massive impact on the way America listened to music for a long time. One of his premier tracks, “West End Blues”, left an impact on jazz music, which other musicians would try to emulate for years.
All types of music require musicians. In the H.R (Harlem Renaissance), there were many who contributed to this new style of music known as jazz. These musicians all have their own style and form. Each of these styles has in some way influenced the evolution of jazz. Louis “Sachmo” Armstrong is recognized as the most famous trumpet player of this time. His “hot bop” style was heard in places like the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theatre. Everyone from all over the country would come to see him. Armstrong recorded such works as I’m in the Mood for Love, and You Rascal you (http://library.thinkquest.org/26656/english/music.html). Another famous person during this era was Coleman Hawkins, a saxophone player. Hawkins is recognized as the first great saxophonists of Jazz. His most famous work was a piece named Body and Soul (http://library.thinkquest.org…). Hawkins has also recorded with artists such as Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. Other people such as Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, and “Dizzie” Gillespie have also made many contributions to the development of Jazz.
Overall, the score was beautiful and appropriate, adding suspense and mystery at all the right times. The sound effects added psychological flavor to the story without drawing too much attention to it.
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.
The cool jazz style arose after WW2. This new style of jazz was created by the great Miles Davis he is credit for this because of his Birth of Cool recording but in fact Lester Young is the face of cool Jazz. In spite of the fact that there were many other artists who made the cool jazz sound, a standout amongst the most compelling was Lester Young. This was a young saxophone player who had a more casual style than huge numbers compared to his peers, with an attention on smooth playing and an inclination to fall simply behind the beat as opposed to pushing it ahead. He was additionally more centered around investigating and creating tune, while bebop artists were more inspired by investigating and surprising rhythms. Another big standout amongst the most well-known figures in the early cool jazz development was trumpeter Miles Davis. Davis set the cool jazz kind via looking for a lighter, expressive, and more casual sound. He did a progression of recordings in 1949 and 1950 to explore different avenues regarding this sound, and these recordings, later
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...
Louis Armstrong, born August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, was a jazz musician with gifted performing skills ranging from playing the trumpet and composing music to singing and occasional acting. His career was most prominent from the 1920s through the 1960s playing songs such as “What a wonderful world” and “Hello, Dolly”. Armstrong had multiple nicknames such as Pops, Big Papa Dip, and Satchmo his extraordinary jazz performances not only influenced jazz but American culture and the world as a whole. His perfect pitch and rhythm spread throughout America like a freight train. His music supplied such revolutionary vocabulary it soon became commonplace, like forks and knives. Armstrong once said “If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know”.
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
Recognized by his puffed-out cheeks and unusual trumpet, Dizzy Gillespie was one of the key figures in the birth of bebop jazz. Gillespie is known for his "swollen cheeks and signature trumpet's bell and got his start in mid-1930s by working in prominent swing bands, including those of Benny Carter and Charlie Barnet. He created his own band and developed his own signature style, known as "bebop", and work with musical greats such as Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Earl Hines, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellinton. His best known compositions were "Oop Bob Sh' Bam", "Groovin' High", "Salt Peanuts", "A Night in Tunisa" and " Johnny Come Lately. He died
What is Jazz? According to the dictionary, jazz is defined as, "A kind of syncopated, highly rhythmic music originated by Southern blacks in the late 19th century" ("Jazz" 232). But, everyone should at least agree that jazz is the mother of all music, and is referred to as the only art form originating in the United States ("History 101" 2). America was home to immigrants from all over Europe and beyond who wished to build a new life, or just needed to escape from the old. These people, often thought of as second-class, brought their culture with them to America, expressed it musically, and changed the music world as we know it today.
Influence of Jazz on American Culture Nowadays, many believe that jazz is not that important in the 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 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. Jazz began affecting American culture from the beginning of its conception.