It cannot be denied – Jazz is not for everyone. The image of smooth jazz notes being played in a smoky music hall is an image that we carry around with us to a very large extent, courtesy of course of the many different Hollywood movies which present this image to us en masse. However, since it is always nice to know a little about the different genres of music, I have prepared for you a little background on jazz.

The main feature of jazz music is that it is a mix of African American and European music traditions, which began in New Orleans in the early 1900’s. Jazz is a lively music genre with strong rhythms and complex music.

The late great Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) who played with the King Oliver Band in early 1923 was known for his cornet playing and unusual style of music.

Among some of the greatest Jazz musicians of all time are Duke Ellington (1899-1974), Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) and Billie Holiday (1915-1959) to name but a very few. The music doesn’t stop there however, and today you will find many a great jazz player entertaining audiences far and wide such as Sade, and Anita Baker (although by this time the genre of jazz had transitioned into a sub genre known as smooth jazz).

Interestingly, as the years passed jazz became almost extinct, and to fight this seemingly losing battle, the US House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill to define jazz as a unique form of American music saying, “…that jazz is hereby designated as a rare and valuable national American treasure to which we should devote our attention, support and resources to make certain it is preserved, understood and promulgated.”

So the next time someone talks to you of jazz, don’t just write it off as another thing you don’t like. Take the time to listen and you might be surprised by what you find.

Here’s a classic that you’ll surely recognise, “What a Wonderful World” from one of the greatest jazz players around the late great Louis Armstrong.

Related posts:

1. Nu Jazz
2. Indo Jazz