What is Jazz Music?

There are many forms of music in the worldFrom this form of Jazz you can find there are a
which are quite popular with its numerous fans. Ofnumber of Fusion jazz genres. These fusion
these you will find that Jazz music has a wideforms of Jazz will include No Wave, Progressive
following of fans ranging from the ordinary folk toRock, Bluegrass, Humppa, Jazz Fusion, Acid Jazz,
that of celebrities. The beginnings of Jazz musicCalypso Jazz and many others. Regardless of
can be found in the African Americanthese numerous styles you will also be able to
communities in the Southern US in the early 20thhear the strains of the original Jazz music playing
century. From its inception you will find that thisin the background. In the Jazz form of music
style of music has incorporated into its genre athere are a number of instruments which can be
number of elements from 19th and 20th centuryheard providing intriguing sounds and rhythms to
popular American music.the words of the songs.
The African roots can be heard from theThe instruments you will hear in the numerous
elements of polyrhythms, swung notes, bluesongs of Jazz are Bass guitar, banjo, saxophone,
notes, improvisation and syncopation. You will findtrumpet, clarinet, guitar, tuba, vibraphone, double
from historical references that Jazz used to be abass, drums, piano, trombone and the flute. With
West Coast slang term and around about 1915 itthe aid of these instruments you will be able to
was used to refer to music which was sung andhear many well known singers bringing Jazz music
heard in Chicago. During these early days thisto life in a number of different ways. You will
form of music was spelled as "jass" instead ofhave heard songs which have been performed by
the more familiar spelling of Jazz.great singers like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington,
While the main form of this music is known asand Dave Brubeck, Jessica Williams and Wynton
Jazz music you can today find a number ofMarsalis to name but a few well known Jazz
variations and sub genres which are quite popularperformers.
in the world as well. For instance you have theIn addition to these musical personages you can
derivatives of this style in the form of krautrock,also find celebrities like Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum,
Rock'n'roll, drum and bass, ska, reggae andDiana Krall, Kurt Elling, and Cassandra Wilson who
Rhythm and blues. Some of the subgenres thathave shown how traditional jazz can be combined
you will find in the Jazz style of music includewith pop music and rock music to from a musical
Asian American jazz, mini-jazz, swing, vocal jazz,style which is highly popular with fans from across
Avant-garde jazz, Big band, Bebop, Afro-jazz andthe world.
many others.