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History of Jazz

The period in history between the end of World War I and the beginning of the Great Depression is known as the jazz age. This age not only saw the rise and birth of different forms of music and literature; but is also characteristic of modernist ways of living.

History of jazz Music: The enslaved Africans in U.S are largely credited with the birth of the jazz music. This music is said to be largely influenced by West African culture and musical traditions which was spread about by the black magicians of that age. Jazz Music is said to be a unique juxtaposition of all that is simple and complex. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis reiterates this notion about jazz music and attributes the blacks of the 1920’s with the invention of this style of music.

Jazz Musicians and Jazz Instruments: As per the history of Jazz, the jazz musicians used the European styled instruments that were used in marching bands and dance band music. These instruments include brass, reeds, and drums.

New Orleans Jazz: the black musicians who led the funeral processions in New Orleans brought about the spread of jazz music. They travelled across black communities in the North and the South and brought about an awareness of the jazz music. Most of these musicians were self-taught. However, with passage of time formally trained musicians also embraced this new style of music. These new age jazz musicians include Lorenzo Tio and Scott Joplin. They are largely attributed with preserving the history of jazz.

Improvisation in Jazz Music: while improvisation is the key to growth of any kind of music, the focus of jazz is to give birth to something new. It does not restrict the musician from changing anything, be it the melody, the harmony or even the time signature. Later style of jazz music set the composers free from any kind of constraints and let them improvise without the strict notion of chord progression. The new age jazz musicians even propagated complete abandon of chords, scales, and rhythmic meters.

Therefore, the jazz age saw the birth of a new kind of music that has stood the test of time and is enjoyed till date by the young and the old alike.