A brief history of Jazz
'Born in America, jazz can be seen as a reflection of the cultural diversity and individualism of this country. At its core are openness to all influences, and personal expression through improvisation. Throughout its history, jazz has straddled the worlds of popular music and art music, and it has expanded to a point where its styles are so varied that one may sound completely unrelated to another.' says Jacob TeichRoew.
In the beginning of the 20th century, New Orleans had a great mixture of cultures. People from all around the world went to the city, and as a result, musicians were exposed to different types of music. Jazz was born from European classical music, American blues, and South American songs and rhythms.
‘One thing that makes jazz music so unique ‘says J.T. ’ is that it’s focus on improvisation’.
Louis Armstrong was a trumpet player from New Orleans and is considered the father of modern jazz improvisation. His solos were melodic and playful, and filled with the type of energy that you only get from improvising. He was the leader of several groups in the 20s and 30s and inspired a lot of artists to develop a personal style of improvisation.
Is it thanks to early records that a broader audience was able to hear Armstrong’s music and also by other artists in New Orleans. The popularity of jazz increased and so did its sophistication; this was reflected on major cultural centers featuring jazz bands. The most important jazz scenes in the 40s took place in Chicago, Kansas City and New York. There, fans filled dance halls to see their favorite artists. This period is known as the Swing Era; the name refers to the ‘swing’ rhythms used by the Big Bands.
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