Jazz Music - History and Facts Revealed

The 20th century music world has seen the entry ofragtime. Ragtime music moved on from red-light
light and easy listening music with African-Americandistrict bars and vaudeville shows to major concert
jazz music. Originating in southern USA, jazz music islocations such as the Carnegie Hall.
a combination of African and European musicThe first jazz record was recorded in 1913 by
traditions. It puts together the use of blue notes,Society Orchestra, the first black group to come out
improvisation, syncopation and swing notes.with a record. Another group that came up with their
Jazz music was first used in reference to music fromvery own jazz music recording is the "Original
Chicago early in the 20th century. It has evolved inDixieland Jazz Band". Other bands followed suit,
several other subgenres such as New Orleansreleasing jazz music recordings starting in 1917. In
Dixieland, big band-style swing, bebop, Afro-Cuban1922, the most famous blues singer of the decade,
jazz, Brazilian jazz, jazz-rock fusion, and the moreBessie Smith, also released her first recording. Also in
recent acid jazz.the 1920s, Jelly Roll Morton played with the New
The realm of jazz music was and still is predominantlyOrleans Rhythm Kings and made history as the first
associated with the American black community.mixed-race recording collaboration. Big bands like
These black musicians transitioning from banjos andthose of Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington and Earl
tambourines learned to play European instrumentsHines played the more prominent venues and paved
such as the violin. Black slaves from early Americathe way for the development of big-band-style swing
used to sing and play music as a form of spiritual orjazz.
ritualistic hymns.Louis Armstrong, a trumpeter, band leader and singer,
After emancipation, employment opportunities forcame to be known as the Ambassador of Jazz, what
black slaves were very limited as segregation lawswith his early innovations in jazz music. Swing music is
were still in force. Most of these black slaves foundconsidered to be popular dance music and is played
themselves in the entertainment industry as pianofrom printed musical arrangements. Then came the
players and instrumentalists. They became low-costbebop which focuses more on small groups and
entertainers as minstrels, vaudeville players, piano barsimple arrangements.
players, and marching band members. Soon, this kindThroughout the years jazz music has always been
of jazz music called Ragtime Jazz spread from thepreferred music genre among those who enjoy light
southern USA to other areas in the western andand easy listening. There are radio stations that play
northern cities in USA.only jazz music. Jazz music can be heard most
Ragtime jazz became very popular in the early parteverywhere hotel lounges, salons, concert halls,
of the century. Musician Jelly Roll Morton publishedwedding receptions, Jazz music is perhaps also the
the first ever jazz arrangement in print in 1915 withmost unique form of music as there are no two jazz
the title Jelly Roll Blues. This printed arrangementmusic performances are ever the same.
brought forth a new breed of musicians playing