Jazz Music and Its Significance in US History

Jazz music which is thought to be an art creationfond of holding music parties, concerts, balls,etc.
of the American blacks during the early decadesthat further paved the way for jazz to get fame
of the twentieth century has been an importantamong people. In this way the city of New
subject of the social history of US. It gainedOrleans mushroomed jazz culture and is therefore
popularity not only as an art form but it alsocalled the mother city of jazz music. One of the
helped the hapless blacks, who were the offspringmost famous and much cherished jazz singer
of the enslaved African origin blacks brought intoLouis Armstrong also belonged to that place.
America by the white settlers to exploit them forFrom New Orleans Jazz was entering into the
their labor needs, to gain a social standing throughboundaries of New York and Chicago. These cities
the power of music. They, with the help ofalso proved to be welcoming for it. So large was
influential jazz music, brought to limelight thebecoming its influence that many recording
miseries that they are suffering because of thecompanies, who initially were not providing equal
racial hatred.opportunity to black artists to record their albums,
Initially the jazz music flourished in the Southstarted to give access to these jazz singers to
American region. New Orleans was especially veryprepare their albums in the recording houses. That
dear to this art. From there it traveled to all partsrapidly boosted the growth of jazz music. Firstly
of America. In the beginning years there wasthe recording companies which were mainly
strong resistance seen on the part of whites whoowned by whites were skeptic that the jazz
could not see the blacks progressing in some field.would be liked by the greater masses.
But despite all their malicious efforts to suppressThe things got contrary to their expectations. The
the jazz music being spread into society, theyjazz music was even adopted by whites who fell
themselves were vanquished by its influence. Itin love with it and made their own variations of
made itself as a hallmark of the US culture.the jazz. It was becoming the voice of the people.
Whites and immigrants from other regions ofAfter its commercialization and likeness by the
world were seen getting into this music.people more black singers were encouraged to
The music when adopted by people fromrelease their albums. In this way they were
different ethnic backgrounds living in theassimilating their identities with other segments of
multicultural society of US groomed further andthe society. They were listened, played and
many other variations were developed of it. Allcopied. Their message that began to come in
these happenings with the jazz were signifying thefront of mounting audience helped to eliminate the
growing influence of the Negroes. The lyrics ofprejudiced thoughts directed toward them.
their songs, especially the improvisation techniqueJazz music was a quintessential part of the
used in the Jazz which allows the singer to singfamous Black Arts movement and its efficacy to
without even the tune, were expressive of theirbring the voice of blacks to the limelight proved
true emotions and their social sufferings on beingmore good than other arts. There were singers
the isolated and neglected portion of the society.like Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Duke
It, in a sense, played a considerable role inEllington, etc. who played a superb role in utilizing
reducing the racial differences. Other people ofJazz as a platform to express the miseries, fears,
different ethnicities also used it to raise their voice.dangers, hatred and negligence the blacks face on
Jazz was setting its roots in the music landscapethe hands of whites. Initially, when the jazz was
and became popular in all people. Because of itsbeing adopted by white singers, the runners of
rapid development people started calling it the riseBlack Arts movement considered it as a threat
of 'Jazz Culture' in America.and protested the involvement of non-blacks in it.
It was just after the end of slavery in US theAfter the 1950s the Asian-Americans were also
Jazz music started to grow. The slave trade,seen getting into Jazz. They too uses jazz to
though it was ended by the American law, hadraise their voice which helped them to raise their
profound effects for the US society. It generatedsocial status. They were able to cast a political
a milieu of hatred for blacks toward whites andinfluence on the higher powers as well.
vice versa. This legacy had to last for generationsJazz was a wonderful addition in the field of music
and according to the recent studies there is still aand had been a healthy form of entertainment. A
huge tendency of racism that exist in Americanmusic that grew at a place where the subjugated
people. In addition to this there were immigrantsclass--blacks--had little opportunity to compete
from other regions of the world that furtherwith the self-supposed superiors--whites--who
amplified the diversity and nationalistic feelingscould have set obstacles for the Jazz music to
among people who were now living together instart its drive to nadir before making any rise.
the multi-ethnic society of US. In such anAnd in fact initially the intentions of the whites
atmosphere the empowerment of blacks throughwere not different than this but as the outburst
the help of their arts movements was a historicof emotions can not be stopped they realized
marvel. It was not just music that was their solethat the Jazz had to cross limits.
part of the black arts movement. Other genresAs the people of America have had love for
of art like poetry, fiction, fashion were alsomusic, the jazz not only became an entertaining
distinctively used by themmusic for them but it was to become the very
In the city of New Orleans where the Jazz musicpart of the US culture and the way of American
was born there was a peculiar tradition amongLife. Magazines, Newspapers, and the Television
people. During the funerals the people wereprovided considerable space to the stuff related
consoled by these jazz singers who used to playto jazz. Why the jazz made such a glorious fame
funeral songs that soothed the family and friendswas because of the characteristic of jazz which
of the dead person. This practice was becomingallows the intensity of emotions to be interpreted
more and more prominent and was taking ain the music. Now many other form of jazz are
shape of a must element of funeral processions.developed which testifies it has a potential to win
Moreover the people of New Orleans were verymore hearts and last forever.