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Jazz is the most significant form of musical expression of American black culture, and quite possibly America's greatest contribution to the art of music. Jazz has universal elements; it's the music of sorrow,happiness,and passion. Its fast paced melodies and improvisation provide enough variation for followers to barely keep up with all the new material. To attempt to list the myriad styles that have evolved since its inception in the streets of New Orleans, would be far beyond the scope of a short piece like this. We can, however, categorize the different types of jazz fairly neatly into four major groups, each group containing many sub-groups.

The Work Song

This style is the root of Jazz, as we know it. Work songs were typically upbeat and rhythmically fast. They were used to make the labor in the fields go by more quickly. These early songs used a rhythmic style that is repeated over and over. This style is rarely heard today. It is associated with African American music. These folksongs gave rise to the "Blues". Buddy Bolden, using the brass trumpet and harmonica is credited with transforming these traditional African American folk songs into a new style of music. He is considered the true pioneer of the blues.

New Orleans Jazz

A type of jazz that had its beginnings in the early 1890's. It was characterized mostly by brass band performances that featured gospel and marching songs. This style gave rise to bands like the Count Basie Orchestra. It is still very popular today.

The Chicago Style of Jazz
It started in Chicago in late 1917, as prohibition drove many musicians from the southern states looking for new jobs and places where they could play their music. It is during this period that the piano was added to the background of jazz music, this inclusion lead to an entirely new sound known as Chicago Style Jazz. Subgroups include Traditional Jazz, Big Band, and Swing.

Bebop

After World War ll jazz continued to go through transformations and Bebop was born. Bebop offers a softer, lighter sound. It is characterized by a fusion of fast tempo and changing rhythmic patterns. This style often focuses on a solo performer rather than on the entire band. Cool, and Mainstream Jazz of the 50's are subgroups that arose out of bebop.

Jazz music is constantly changing, but it somehow always manages to retain its roots. Jazz offers flexibility and easily adapts to different times and needs. Chuck Mangione in the 1970's and saxophonist Kenney G in the 1980's and 1990's are a testament to this. Their contemporary style, Crossover, has returned jazz music to the spotlight.

Jazz music, in all its types, is an important part of American history and modern culture and its inspirational musical style is here to stay.

Learn more about this author, Albert Aunchman.
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