Jazz Music: Origins, Characteristics, and History
Jazz Music: Origins and Characteristics
Jazz is a type of music that originated among Black Americans, characterized by its rich and varied rhythms, influenced by both African and European musical traditions. It’s clear that Jazz arises from a union of elements of Black origin, like rhythm, and Euro-African elements, such as melody and harmony.
Formal Qualities Defining Jazz:
- Use of Syncopated Rhythms: Jazz features relentless, syncopated rhythms. Sometimes, several different rhythms can be heard simultaneously.
- Melodic Scales: Melodies are formed using major, minor, and pentatonic scales. These are augmented with varied notes, sometimes approaching atonality.
- Harmony: Harmony is a later addition to Jazz.
- Instrumentation: Jazz is interpreted by ensembles ranging from a minimum of three instruments to large orchestras.
- Improvisation: A crucial element of Jazz is improvisation. One or more soloists, supported by others, create “variations” on various themes or works.
Elements Integrated into Jazz:
Jazz is a synthesis of several variants or facets of African American song, including:
- Negro Spirituals: Liturgical songs created by enslaved people and their descendants who found solace in Christianity.
- Blues: Melancholy songs that narrate the social and economic difficulties of Black life.
- Plantation Songs: Songs sung by enslaved people to make their arduous work more bearable.
- Ragtime: Music that seemingly originated from Black pianists’ attempts to emulate bands.
History of Jazz
The history of Jazz begins when Black Africans were forcibly taken from Africa to America and used as slaves, during part of the 17th and 18th centuries. They brought their traditions to America, where music was of crucial importance, primarily music based on rhythm, the most important element of Jazz.
Jazz emerged in New Orleans, a city full of salons. Black musicians began to acquire instruments and create music from their experiments. The first famous band, Buddy “Kid” Bolden’s, arose in this city.
Chicago, Kansas City, and New York
In 1917, the salons were closed, and Jazz musicians were forced to emigrate. Chicago became one of their destinations. One of the greatest performers of all time emerged there: “King” Oliver. He soon created his orchestra, which included another great genius of Black music: Louis Armstrong. A significant Jazz colony appeared in Kansas City, notably featuring “Count” Basie and his orchestra. Finally, the Black neighborhood in New York became another major Jazz center, with “Red” Nichols and his Red Heads gaining prominence. Jazz experienced a crisis with the Wall Street stock market crash, but afterward, high-caliber performers emerged, including Fletcher Henderson and “Duke” Ellington.
New Trends in Jazz
New styles quickly arose in Jazz, the most important being Swing, Bebop (Bop), Cool Jazz, and Progressive Jazz. Swing was created during a period of evolution in Jazz.