When people hear the word “jazz,” they tend to think of a single song, or perhaps a group of songs. Some imagine the vintage big bands and swaggering swing dances of the Jazz Age, while others default to the soft piano music played in coffee shops. Still others recall the soft bebop ballads they might hear on the radio or the upbeat rhythms of funk.
These categorical “stereotypes” may lead a beginning listener to assume that jazz is defined by a single characteristic, such as the length of a song, the type of instruments used, or whether or not one could dance to the beat. However, this could not be further from the truth.
“If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know,” said Louis Armstrong, one of the first jazz trumpet players. It is up to each listener to determine what all jazz songs have in common and what resonates best with them.
So, where should a curious listener begin with this vast and subtle genre? As a sequel of sorts to the recently published article on classical music, this brief crash course aims to outline the history, main songs, and influence of jazz to introduce a once-ubiquitous genre to a new generation.
Jazz was born in New Orleans from a bubbling American cultural stew, stirred by the entertainment of the day. In the 19th Century, parades were a vital element of Western society, as they offered dazzling escapes from harsh living conditions. Featured in these Louisiana festivals were the traditions of countless cultural groups all coexisting in the region: African Americans, French immigrants, European Americans, and Indigenous people, to name a few.
After year upon year of celebrations featuring marching bands, these people grew bored of playing the same American marches and added their own ethnic spin on the music. Thus emerged New Orleans jazz, a combination of European harmony, African swing rhythm, and American improvisation. From this foundation, a new style of music secured a permanent grip on American culture.
Notable musicians of this vintage era include trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong and various bands who pioneered the art of improvisation— composing only an outline for a song and inventing the specifics on stage.
Some staple works of the New Orleans era include:
- Cornet Chop Suey by Louis Armstrong (cheesy by today’s standards, but a wonderful piece of history)
- Tin Roof Blues by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (a great example of primitive improvisation)
Many of these tunes proved popular for dancing, and jazz’s next phase took this tendency to the extreme. Known as the Swing Era or Big Band Era, this pre-WWII musical period expanded jazz ensembles from small combos to “big bands,” which could contain over twenty musicians. These bands performed optimistic, catchy songs at dances, and the inviting atmosphere encouraged artists to grow adventurous in their improvised solos.
Popular bandleaders and musicians of the Swing Era include Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, and Lester Young (who coined and spread many popular slang terms, including the word “cool”).
A new listener might enjoy Big Band Era songs such as:
- Boogie Woogie by Lester Young (a fairly obscure tune not available on Spotify)
- Jump Jive an’ Wail by Louis Prima (a song that showcases the more confident improvisation of the time)
In the 1940s, many jazz musicians took a break from recording and began to experiment with their own ideas about music and improvisation. Through this introspection, musicians began to realize that jazz could separate from its roots in entertainment and become a medium of art just like classical music. When artists came back to the studio, they had a new style of music in mind: bebop, a genre marked by fast passages, virtuosic improvisatory solos, and highly complex harmony.
Unforgettable performers from the bebop era include John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, and so many others. Due to its complicated nature, bebop might not immediately appeal to new listeners, but once a listener has been exposed to other forms of jazz, they might find interest in:
- Mr. PC by John Coltrane (a song featuring a dizzying saxophone solo)
- Blue Bossa by Dexter Gordon (a slower tune characteristic of the more moderate side of bebop)
After years of bebop, jazz musicians discovered an aspect of music prominent in classical genres as well: one can only take a style so far. At some point, bebop had grown so complex and imposing that it simply had to transition into something new. Different musicians responded to this need in varying ways, although they may be categorized in four main groups (the listener may figure out for themself what distinguishes them). One highlight of each group is presented here:
- Backlash by Freddie Hubbard (a catchy song with bite-sized solos)
- So What by Miles Davis (a tune famous for its mysterious trumpet solo)
- Scrunch by The Brecker Brothers (a jazz tune with electronic elements)
- Broadway Blues by Ornette Coleman (an extreme, avant-garde, foreboding song… Beginners beware!)
With jazz having such unique roots engrained in American culture, its evolution and influence today is only fitting. Whether it be in media, music, culture, daily life, and so much more, jazz has sparked a movement of innovation.
The thriving community cultivated around jazz is truly inspiring. You have likely heard of jazz festivals and perhaps even been to one! Major festivals in the U.S. include New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival stands as one of the largest in the world. (Glen Ellyn has its own festival, occurring downtown every July.) Jazz performance continues to be fostered through jazz ensembles, bands, and orchestras across the world in institutions and average high schools. These activities are amazing ways to get involved and support jazz musicians. Organizations like these bring music to new audiences and share the magic of music and community bonds with the world.
But jazz’s influence does not stop at performances in the community. Music has been by far one of the largest areas of growth affected by jazz. R&B or even Latin style tunes portray jazz features like syncopated rhythms and harmonies that produce a sway rhythm. Also, rock music and its song structures follow jazz models and employment of extended chords like seventh, ninth, and thirteenth structures.
For all the movie lovers out there it would be criminal not to mention jazz’s presence in film and television. Oscar award winning movies like Whiplash, All That Jazz, Round Midnight and even other movies with elements of jazz like Soul and La La Land or Chicago all share the collective magic of jazz. There are also plenty of documentaries which focus on jazz as a symbol of American values, the personal expression and struggle of musicians, and the music’s deep connection to African American history and the Civil Rights movement.
Jazz is said by some to be the only true American form of music— and with an influence as rich and powerful as any other genre’s, it serves as a pivotal icon of United States History. So, as a young member of the ever-developing story this country writes, why not take a listen to the music that keeps America going?
