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Katie G. Flanagan

Smith

AP English IV

22 November 2016

The Fundamentals of Jazz

One would say, jazz is the story of the dozens of extraordinary human being we who

have worked on book and film have come to know like family members; proteans geniuses

black and white, male and female, addicts and orphans, prostitutes and pimps, sons of privilege

and sons of despair (Burns, IX). Jazz has always been a music of its own. With the custom

elements that make it, to the culture it has produced, there is no question that jazz is a raw type of

music resulting purely from human invention. Jazz is a birth special to America, producing

legendary musicians that continue to shape modern music. Most of all, jazz was born not just as

a genre of music, but as a new and exciting culture and lifestyle.

Jazz music is estimated to have entered the music scene around the beginning of the

1900s. Jazz, blues, and ragtime music all originate around the same time, and all share the

melting pot quality that originates in America. It is difficult to pinpoint where jazz specifically

began in America. Some argue Memphis or New Orleans, but most experts have come to the

consensus that it was Chicago, Illinois, for that is where the actual the name jazztime or jazz

music originated from. Nevertheless, undoubtedly the conception of the first, raw jazz songs

flowed from the city of New Orleans (Born, 56). Jazz expert and author of The History of Jazz

Stuart A. Kallen refers to jazz as American made and proud by saying As popular as jazz is

around the world, its roots are distinctly American (Kallen, 8).
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The multiple music genres that make up jazz music are a blending of many, but two main

idioms are the culprit of the birth of jazz. Ragtime, blues and jazz all have deep and apparent

African roots. The other is classical music found in Europe; both style were brought over seas

hundreds of years ago, but didnt fuse together to create jazz until much later. Jazz first started to

grow in New Orleans during the 1920s when there was a high demand for fast, dance-worthy

music. There is much evidence to support the growth of jazz starting in New Orleans, for there

are traces of French and Spanish influences (Townsend, 4). The growth of jazz in America

allowed it to evolve and become its own; within the society in which it has emerged, jazz can

have the kind of familiarity that breeds contempt without being familiar enough to be accepted

on its own terms (Townsend, VII). Jazz had the ability to grow and become its own because one

of its parents was a familiar type of music; the Europeans classical.As the genre became its

own, it was fresh and exciting for the people; something the people could dance and drink to in

speakeasies, bars, and dance clubs. It was new and ready to please the people of the 1920s.

The 1920s were essential to jazzs rise in popularity. The Roaring Twenties demanded a

type of music like jazz, a type of music that was meant for dancing, drinking and having a good

time, The new, hot sounds of jazz incubated during an exceptional set of social conditions that

were unique in American history and lead to the 1920s being labeled the Jazz Age (Kallen, 27).

Jazz thrived in this time of new beginnings in America; a time of new technology, new changes

in social status of men and women, and the time of having fun, taking it easy and going to a

good, old fashion party. Even as the darkest times in American history came upon the world, and

the American people, jazz followed and became the soundtrack that helped the Americans get

through the worst of times (Burn, 56). Jazz was, is, and will always be the music of the people.
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It is real, and a mixture of all types of music from all types of people. It is sloppy, and

improvisational; just like humans in their daily lives.

Ragtime, blues, and jazz all come from the same family of music: traditional African

beats and European classical. Ragtime is loosely set apart from the others by having a more

disciplined and cleaner sound musically, and vocally, because of it having less of an African

influence and more of an European influence. Blues has more of a heavy influence from African

decent and less of a European influence. Blues is more improvisational, with more impromptu

slides and less of a cleaner sound. Jazz is a medium of the two; ... what was produced combined

the musical complexity of ragtime, the individualized and improvisatory property of [the] blues

and the musical materials of both forms (Townsend, 4).This was the reason why jazz really rose

to the top as time progressed; it had more flexibility within its genre to grow and change.

There are three main elements to define the basic composition of jazz. These elements

are: traditional instruments, specific harmonies and melodies, unique rhythms, and the technique

of improvisation. Firstly, there is no musical instrument that will ever be banned from jazz,

because the genre is so loose in definition. However, there are traditional instruments that some

would say are crucial to jazz music. These instruments include: the saxophone, trumpet,

trombone, bass, drums, piano, voice, and guitar. These instruments are known as the classic

jazz instruments because they were the instruments that were used in the beginnings of jazz.

Secondly, is the rhythm section and beat of the music. In the rhythm section, referring to

percussion, drums must be present. Usually there is one drummer, no more and no less, with

maybe a cowbell or tambourine present as well. This drummer would play a traditional drum kit

so the music can have an essential backbone of a beat. Because jazz has a very strong African
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descent, rhythm and the percussion is crucial to the genre. Referring to the actual beat and

rhythm within jazz, early jazz was usually defined as being in four-four measure, with percussion

putting emphasis on the first and third beat. This creates little sound or silence within the second

and fourth beat this is called the boom-chick feel. This, when played in two-two measure, is

referred to as two-beat, one beat of silence and one beat of emphasis. When played in traditional

four-four beat is often called back beat (Szwed, 29). According to jazz expert John F. Szwed

when referring to traditional jazz rhythm and tempo

Though polymeter can sometimes can sometimes be difficult to hear on

the earliest jazz recordings, drummers often played a Charleston beat on
the cymbal or snare against a two-beat on the bass drum patterns of the
West and Central Africa. The earliest drummers played these beats on the
metal rims of their snare drums, later on the metal stands, then finally on
the ride cymbal, the large cymbal now used for playing timekeeping
patterns (28).

All of these technicalities involving rhythm ultimately express the same thing: the importance of

the rhythm and percussion section.

Lastly, and what most would argue is the most important element of jazz, is the act and

incorporation of improvisation. Most experts would say Improvisation is often taken to be a

defining and unique feature to jazz (Townsend, 7). Incorporating improvisation is very

important to jazz because it shows the ease of the music and how it was shaped by humans, and

how it is something natural. Many jazz songs are created with a section that is left to the

improvisation of the musicians because they connect to the actual music. Though all of the these

factors are important to creating and defining jazz music, ... it is never clear what role these

features play, or whether they are merely a part of configuration that is distinct, [if] difficult to

describe (Szwed, 20). Jazz is ultimately left to the people and the progression of how the music
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is created in the period of time which it is roaming. Jazz is always changing and is unique

because it is not a genre that follows the rules and is actually more defined by not following the

rule. It is a raw product of human influence, and is therefore full of change and improv.

Many legendary and influential musicians for all genres of music came from jazz.

Starting with what most would say is the grandfather of jazzLouis Armstrong. Born in 1898,

Armstrong grew up in New Orleans, which was a huge influence for his love and talent for jazz

trumpet. Some of his most famous works include: Oliver, Louis Armstrong Plays, W.C. Handy,

and Satch Plays Fats. He has worked with other jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Duke

Ellington. Armstrong set the precedent for future trumpetist across the world, as well as added to

the progression of jazz throughout the world during this time period. He passed away in 1971,

playing his last piece in the late 1960s in What a Wonderful World (Shadwick, 17). Another

outstanding trumpetist arose a little while after Armstrong was Miles Davis. Born in St. Louis,

Davis did not make his jazz debut until 1944 in Harlem, New York City, recording his first piece

at the age of 17. Some of Daviss famous works are: King of Blues, Bitches Brew, and Tutu.

Miles Davis was also part of one of the most famous and talented jazz quintets of the century. It

was created in 1955, with some famous members including bassist Paul Chambers and

saxophonist John Coltrane. Miles Davis will forever be most known for his way of changing and

updating jazz music forever and always putting his own improvisational spin on all of the

pieces that he would perform or record. Miles Davis passed away in 1991, his last performance

being months before his death (Shadwick, 85).

Vocals and singing are also a very important element that can be added to jazz music.

This was definitely brought to attention when Ella Fitzgerald hit the scene in 1934, when she was
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discovered at Harlems Apollo Theater during Amatur Night. Born in 1917 in Newport, Virginia,

Fitzgerald was an orphan with little hope of ever making it in the world. Her pain and past was

definitely expelled and portrayed through her soulful tone. Her works include: Song Books and

Ella in Berlin, and was for a long time known as the the number one female jazz vocalist in the

world. She died in 1996, her legend and gifts living well past that and beyond (Shadwick, 111).

Finally, is the pianist Duke Ellington. Duke, first name actually Edward, Ellington was born in

Washington D.C. on 1899. Some of his music collection including: Black, Brown and Beige;

Such Sweet Thunder; and The Far East Sweet. Ellington was extremely important to jazz

because he changed how the piano could be used in the public eye, not just for classical, but also

for intricate jazz patterns. He even got the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall on a regular basis

and was known around the world as a phenomenal piano player, but in his own way. He passed

away in 1974, but shortly before this played his last and most memorable concerts (Shadwick,

101)

Duke Ellington once said

Put it this way. Jazz is a good barometer of freedom In its beginnings

the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and
independence through which, eventually jazz was evolved, and the music
is free that many people say it is the only unhampered , unhindered
expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country (Burns
,VII).

This still applies today. Jazz was, is and will forever be the music of the American people. It is

the music that shows the progression of the people who have suffered the most; their lows and

their highs. Within the raw elements, the legendary musicians born from this genre, and the
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history it sprouted from, jazz has always been about one main thing the raw, reality of the

American people.
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Works Cited

Burns, Ken, and Geoffrey C. Ward. Jazz: A History of America's Music. New York: Ward, 1999.

Print.

Kallen, Stuart A. The History of Jazz. Farmington Hills: Lucent, 2003. Print.

Shadwick, Keith. The Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues. Ed. Andrew Armitage. London: Quintet

Limited, 2001. Print.

Szwed, John F. Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz. New York: John F.

Szwed, 2000. Print.

Townsend, Peter. Jazz in American Culture. Edinburgh, UK , Peter Townsend, 2000.