What is jazz and where did it come from?
Jazz is known as "America's Classical Music." It has evolved over the years to include many subgenres, such as fusion, jazz-rock and Latin jazz.
Jazz was developed around 1900 by mostly African-American musicians. Early jazz combined elements of African-American and European music to create a new, expressive sound.
Although jazz is loved and practiced around the world, it is difficult to define. Even the word "jazz" has disputed definitions and origins. Many say that it comes from the phrase "jazz it up" when asking musicians to get more creative and high-energy with their playing.
Jazz music is built from foundations of swing, syncopation and improvisation. Swing and syncopation are aspects of the rhythm section, which makes jazz great dance music. Improvisation is when a jazz player can compose and perform a song instantly without taking the time to write the music out. Even vocalists can improvise in jazz, often utilizing a tactic known as "scatting," where they sing repetitive nonsense syllables over the music.
New Orleans is considered one of the great centers of jazz culture, especially since prominent players such as "Jelly Roll" Morton and Louis Armstrong called it home. The city's location allowed for Caribbean and Central American music to influence jazz. Other big jazz cities include Chicago and New York, where "ragtime" piano songs were born.
Jazz is still alive and well today. Clubs in New Orleans, Memphis and Chicago still host live jazz concerts for old and young fans alike. Bands such as The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Royal Crown Revue helped start a swing revival in the late 1990s. This also helped ska music, which is a mix of reggae, Caribbean and jazz, to rise in popularity. Ska has since taken on a life of its own and has spawned several genres, including ska punk, made popular by bands such as Reel Big Fish, Less than Jake and Big D and the Kids Table.
American music owes much of its success to jazz. Rich with a history of countless talented writers and performers, it is a truly incredible art form.
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