A Brief History of Jazz

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Jazz is a type of musical art that arose as a result of the synthesis of African and European cultures with the participation of African-American folklore. Rhythm and improvisation are borrowed from African music, harmony from European music.

General information about the origins of formation

The history of jazz originates in 1910 in the USA. It quickly spread throughout the world. During the twentieth century, this direction in music underwent a number of changes. If we talk briefly about the history of the emergence of jazz, it should be noted that several stages of development were passed in the process of formation. In the 1930s and 1940s, he was greatly influenced by the swing and be-bop movements. After 1950, jazz began to be seen as a musical genre that included all the styles that it developed as a result.

Jazz has now taken its place in the realm of high art. It is considered quite prestigious, influencing the development of world musical culture.

The History of Jazz

This direction arose in the USA as a result of the merger of several musical cultures. The history of the origin of jazz begins inNorth America, most of which was inhabited by English and French Protestants. Religious missionaries sought to convert blacks to their faith, caring for the salvation of their souls.

The result of the synthesis of cultures is the emergence of spirituals and blues.

African music is characterized by improvisation, polyrhythm, polymetry and linearity. A huge role here is assigned to the rhythmic beginning. The value of melody and harmony is not so significant. This is explained by the fact that music among Africans has an applied value. It accompanies labor activity, rituals. African music is not independent and is associated with movement, dance, recitation. Its intonation is quite free, as it depends on the emotional state of the performers.

From European music, more rational, jazz was enriched with modal major-minor system, melodic constructions, harmony.

The process of combining cultures began in the eighteenth century and led to the emergence of jazz in the twentieth century.

New Orleans school period

In the history of jazz, the first instrumental style is considered to have originated in New Orleans (Louisiana). For the first time this music appeared in the performance of street brass bands, very popular at that time. Of great importance in the history of the emergence of jazz in this port city was Storyville - a city area specially allocated for entertainment venues. It was here, among the Creole musicians, who had a Negro-French origin, that jazz was born. They knew easyclassical music, were educated, mastered the European technique of playing, played European instruments, read notes. Their high level of performance and upbringing on European traditions enriched early jazz with elements that were not subject to African influences.

The piano was also a common instrument in Storyville establishments. Mostly improvisation sounded here, and the instrument was used more like a percussion.

An example of the early New Orleans style is the Buddy Bolden Orchestra (cornet), which existed from 1895-1907. The music of this orchestra was based on the collective improvisation of a polyphonic structure. At first, the rhythm of early New Orleans jazz compositions was marching, as the origin of the bands came from military bands. Over time, secondary instruments were removed from the standard composition of brass bands. Such ensembles often organized competitions. The "white" squads also took part in them, which were distinguished by their technical play, but were less emotional.

There were a lot of bands in New Orleans that played marches, blues, ragtimes, etc.

Along with Negro orchestras, orchestras consisting of white musicians also appeared. At first they performed the same music, but they were called "Dixielands". Later, these compositions used more elements of European technology, they change the manner of sound production.

Steamboat bands

New Orleans orchestras played a certain role in the history of the origin of jazz,who worked on steamboats that sailed the Mississippi River. For passengers who traveled on pleasure steamers, one of the most attractive entertainments was the performance of such orchestras. They performed entertaining dance music. For performers, a mandatory requirement was knowledge of musical literacy and the ability to read notes from a sheet. Therefore, these compositions had a fairly high professional level. In such an orchestra, jazz pianist Lil Hardin, who later became the wife of Louis Armstrong, began her career.

At the stations where the ships made stops, the orchestras organized concerts for the local population.

Some of the bands remained in cities along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers or away from them. One such city was Chicago, where blacks felt more comfortable than in South America.

Big band

At the beginning of the 20s of the 20th century in the history of jazz music, a form of big band was formed, which remained relevant until the end of the 40s. The performers of such orchestras played the learned parts. The orchestration assumed the bright sound of rich jazz harmonies, which were performed by brass and woodwind instruments. The most famous jazz orchestras were the orchestras of Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Jimmy Lunsford. They recorded genuine hits of swing melodies, which became a source of passion for swing in a wide circle of listeners. At the "battles of the orchestras" that were held at that time, big band improviser soloistsdrove the audience into hysterics.

After the 50s, when the popularity of big bands declined, for several decades the famous orchestras continued to tour and record records. The music they played changed, being influenced by new directions. Today, the big band is the standard of jazz education.

Chicago Jazz

In 1917, the United States enters the First World War. In this regard, New Orleans is declared a city of strategic importance. It closed all entertainment venues where a large number of musicians worked. Left unemployed, they migrated en masse to the North, to Chicago. During this period, there are all the best musicians from both New Orleans and other cities. One of the brightest performers was Joe Oliver, who became famous in New Orleans. During the Chicago period, his band included famous musicians: Louis Armstrong (second cornet), Johnny Dodds (clarinet), his brother "Babby" Dodds (drums), Chicago young and educated pianist Lil Hardin. This orchestra played improvisational full-textured New Orleans Jazz.

Analyzing the history of the development of jazz, it should be noted that in the Chicago period, the sound of orchestras changed stylistically. Some tools are being replaced. Performances that become stationary may allow the use of the piano. Pianists have become obligatory members of the bands. Instead of a wind bass, a double bass is used, instead of a banjo, a guitar, instead ofcornet - trumpet. There are also changes in the drum group. The drummer now plays the drum set, where his possibilities become more extensive.

At the same time, the saxophone began to be used in orchestras.

The history of jazz in Chicago is replenished with new names of young performers, musically educated, able to read from a sheet and make arrangements. These musicians (predominantly white) did not know the real New Orleans sound of jazz, but learned it from black performers who migrated to Chicago. Musical youth imitated them, but since this did not always work out, a new style arose.

During this period, the skill of Louis Armstrong reached its peak, marking the model of Chicago jazz and securing the role of a soloist of the highest class.

The blues is reborn in Chicago, bringing new artists forward.

Jazz is merging with the stage, so vocalists begin to come to the fore. They create their own orchestral compositions for jazz accompaniment.

The Chicago period is characterized by the creation of a new style in which jazz instrumentalists sing. Louis Armstrong is one of the representatives of this style.

Swing

In the history of the creation of jazz, the term "swing" is used in two meanings. Firstly, swing is an expressive means in this music. It is distinguished by unstable rhythmic pulsation, which creates the illusion of an acceleration of the tempo. In this regard, there is an impression that music has a great internal energy. Performers andlisteners are united by a common psychophysical state. This effect is achieved through the use of rhythmic, phrasing, articulatory and timbre techniques. Every jazz musician strives to develop his own original way of swinging music. The same applies to ensembles and orchestras.

Secondly, this is one of the styles of orchestral jazz that appeared in the late 20s of the twentieth century.

A characteristic feature of the swing style is solo improvisation against the background of an accompaniment that is quite complex. Musicians with good technique, knowledge of harmony and mastery of musical development techniques could work in this style. For such music-making, large ensembles of orchestras or big bands were provided, which became popular in the 30s. The standard composition of the orchestra traditionally included 10-20 musicians. Of these - from 3 to 5 pipes, the same number of trombones, a saxophone group, which included a clarinet, as well as a rhythm section, which consisted of piano, string bass, guitar and percussion instruments.

Bebop

In the mid-40s of the twentieth century, a new jazz style was formed, the appearance of which marked the beginning of the history of modern jazz. This style originated as an opposition to swing. It had a very fast tempo, which was introduced by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. This was done with a specific goal - to limit the circle of performers to only professionals.

The musicians used completely new rhythmic patterns and melodic turns. The harmonic language has become more complex. The rhythmic basis from the big drum (in swing) moved to the cymbals. Any danceability has completely disappeared in the music.

In the history of jazz styles, bebop was the first to leave the sphere of popular music towards experimental creativity, to the sphere of art in its “pure” form. This happened due to the interest of representatives of this style in academicism.

Bopers were outrageous in appearance and demeanor, thus emphasizing their individuality.

Bebop music was performed by small ensembles. In the foreground is the soloist with his individual style, virtuoso technique, creative thinking, mastery of free improvisation.

In comparison with swing, this direction was more highly artistic, intellectual, but less massive. It was anti-commercial. Nevertheless, bebop began to spread rapidly, it had its own wide audience of listeners.

Jazz Territory

In the history of jazz, it is necessary to note the constant interest of musicians and listeners from all over the world, regardless of the country in which they live. This is due to the fact that jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and many others built their compositions on the synthesis of various musical cultures. This fact suggests that jazz is music that is understood all over the world.

Today, the history of jazz has its continuation, as the potential for the development of this music is quite large.

Jazz music in the USSR and Russia

Due to the fact that jazz in the USSR was considered a manifestation of bourgeois culture, it was criticized and banned by the authorities.

But October 1, 1922 was marked by a concert of the first professional jazz orchestra in the USSR. This orchestra performed fashionable Charleston and Foxtrot dances.

The history of Russian jazz includes the names of talented musicians: pianist and composer, as well as the head of the first jazz orchestra Alexander Tsfasman, singer Leonid Utyosov and trumpeter Y. Skomorovsky.

After the 50s, many large and small jazz ensembles began their active creative activity, among which is Oleg Lundstrem's jazz orchestra, which has survived to this day.

Currently, Moscow hosts a jazz festival every year, which brings together world-famous jazz bands and solo artists.