The History of Jazz in Less Than 5 Minutes

Listen, you’re busy. You got work, bills, the gym, that extra class you’re taking, and the occasional happy hour to fit in. Unless you happen to be a jazz pianist, the history of jazz is going to be lower down on your to-do list. Knowing that, here’s the quickest primer ever, just in case the next happy hour is at the local jazz festival. To avoid screwing up, I went super light on the theory and used this book as a guide.

 

How It Came to Be

The US of the 1800s was an eclectic medley of cultural influences, and nowhere was this potpourri more pronounced than in the American South. In the mix were European elements (British, Spanish, French, Italian, German, etc.), West African traditions, Native American customs, a young but solidifying Mexican identity, and influences coming up from the Caribbean.

One city in particular—New Orleans—served as the epicenter of this large-scale social experiment. While political types might have viewed the menagerie as a threat, artists saw opportunity. Ultimately, what resulted was a geographically-unique marriage of the rhythms of West Africa with the instrumentation and harmonic traditions of Western Europe (sprinkled with the other stuff mentioned).

And thus, some time around 1900 in New Orleans, was born the quintessential American art form—jazz. (Of course, other art forms that had already formed from the blending process, namely ragtime and blues, were incorporated.)

 

So What Exactly Is Jazz?

Great question, because it’s not easy (or possible) to define. Jazz often embraces harmonic complexity superimposed on rhythmic contrasts, improvisation (in the form of solos), and musical communication. The last part refers to the so-called call and response, where a musical phrase from one performer is answered by a different musical phrase from another performer. Underlying it all is an infusion of African American character that over time has been shared and adopted widely.

Depending on whom you ask, they could tell you that jazz is about creativity, democracy, and freedom. Maybe.

Confused? Same here. Let’s move on.

 

Then What Happened?

Not particularly concerned with definitions, the art would take on a life of its own. What follows is one (oversimplified) way of looking at things.

You can start with Louis Armstrong, the famed trumpeter from New Orleans who is credited with getting things off the ground and influencing almost everyone who came after him.

By the 1930s, the swing/big band era had taken hold, with key figures including Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman. Here’s an example you’ll know.

 

In the 1940s, something called bebop entered the scene, emphasizing freakish musicianship over danceability and pure entertainment value. Big names included Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk.

From there, it started getting a little hazy. You might hear about things like cool jazz (a more relaxed sound), hard bop, modal jazz, Latin jazz, and Brazilian jazz. All sorts of musical legends were involved, including the likes of Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, and John Coltrane. Check out these classics, arguably the two most-played jazz tracks of all time.

 

 

By the 1960s, the constant evolution that characterizes the history of jazz gave birth to something called free jazz, also known as the avant-garde. (You know, breaking traditions and all that.) John Coltrane’s later work belongs in this conversation.

As the 1970s rolled around, jazz continued to influence and be influenced by its surroundings—which by this time were all about rock music—giving way to some pretty awesome jazz fusion. Miles Davis was still on the scene, one that was further solidified by Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. You’ll definitely know this jam.

 

From there, jazz has been all over the map, both figuratively and literally, the latter evidenced by its embrace across the world, including places like the Far East. While the art form may not be in the public conversation the way it once was, it undoubtedly remains a cultural force, explaining the colossal number of jazz festivals both domestically and internationally.

 

Aside From Those Festivals, Is Any of This Still Relevant?

As above, jazz is in a perpetual state of evolution (independent of popularity or mainstream appeal). And whether or not we choose to engage, the process is ongoing.

Here’s an example of how it works.

This tune, “Mystic Brew” by Ronnie Foster, was originally released in 1972, decades after the peak popularity of jazz, partly explaining why it spent years in anonymity.

 

That is, until A Tribe Called Quest got a hold of it and sampled it in their 1994 hit “Electric Relaxation.”

 

But the story doesn’t end there. In 2009, Vijay Iyer, a product of Rochester, NY, and one of the premier jazz pianists of our time, got in on the action. His trio took the song and imparted it with a modern flair that simultaneously brought it back to its roots (and original name).

 

So, as you can see, jazz—whatever that means—is alive and well!

 

Thank you for participating in the History of Jazz Masterclass from ComposeMD. Please let all your friends know it’s quick, free, and absurdly incomplete.