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Jazz is an evolution. Jazz musicians are continually reinventing the music they play, improvising as they go to reflect their inner feelings. This makes not only each song, but each performance of a song, unique. This strong base in reinvention has also led to the creation of many jazz sub-genres.

When considering the types of jazz music, it is easy to picture a river, splitting and subdividing into many more rivers, streams, and brooks. Some divisions are larger than others, creating broad new rivers with their own branching streams.

In the 1900s, early jazz had roots in the blues and shared characteristics with ragtime, it was primarily a blending of African call and response rhythms with the popular European-American music of the time. Over the past century, jazz has continued to evolve into many beloved sub-genres, both mainstream and obscure.

Dixieland

In the early 1900s, the sounds of jazz came primarily from New Orleans. Dixieland was a popular jazz style that combined blues, ragtime, brass band marches, and French Quadrilles. Popular Dixieland bands of the time were The Original Dixieland Jass Band and Louis Armstrong's All-Stars.

When the Saints Go Marching In is certainly the most famous Dixieland song. Other standards include, Basin Street Blues, Bill Bailey (Won't You Please Come Home), and Tiger Rag.

Big Band Swing

The 1930s and 1940s were the "Swing Era". Big band orchestras played at popular hot spots like the Cotton Club in New York. A typical big band consists of 12-25 musicians including horns (trumpets, saxophones, and trombones) and a rhythm section (piano, drums, and bass).

Swing was most popular in the years leading up to World War II with bands led by Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and many others. However swing continues to be popular today with newer bands like The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Some popular swing standards include, Stompin' at the Savoy, Take the A Train, and Sing, Sing, Sing.

Bebop

One of the largest divisions in jazz came about with the emergence of bebop in the mid-1940s. While improvisation had always been a characteristic of jazz, bebop made it the defining element. Nearly all jazz sub-genres created after the 1940s, and even other music genres such as Rock and Roll and Hip-hop, have roots in bebop.

Bebop, with fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, and intricate harmonies, is more complex than early, straightforward jazz standards. Some big names in early bebop include, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk.

Jazz Fusion

Evolution in jazz also reaches sideways, branching into existing styles. In the analogy of jazz as a system of rivers and streams, jazz fusion would be the channels connecting two rivers of music, one of which is jazz.

There are many forms of jazz fusion. Jazz has been combined with Latin music, reggae, classical, country, and even heavy metal. Jazz fusion is often very complex, not only blending two genres, but experimenting with time signatures and rhythmic patterns. American jazz pianist, Dave Brubeck, is well known for his experimental style.

For more than a century, jazz has continued to endure and evolve. With its strong base in improvisation, jazz is a music style that is constantly reinventing itself and with the many styles of jazz available, there is a flavor that will speak to most anyone.

Learn more about this author, Susan Quilty.
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