The history of the sound of freedom
History of jazz
Jazz: The Birth of a New Sound
The birth of jazz was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in New Orleans, USA. A mixture of African rhythms, European harmony and American improvisation gave birth to a unique style that quickly conquered the world.
Jazz is
Improvisation
The heart of jazz is freedom of expression and spontaneous music making.
Variety of styles
From traditional Dixieland to modern experimentation, jazz is constantly evolving.
Syncope
A characteristic rhythmic pattern that creates a sense of movement and energy.
Popular photos from jazz concerts of those years
The most popular song is «Take Five»
Dave Brubeck's “Take Five” is a jazz standard known even to people who aren't jazz fans.
Musicians don't retire. They end when the music disappears in them.
Louis Armstrong
Legendary American jazz trumpeter and vocalist
About 42% of listeners — prefer Jazz
A recent survey showed that jazz is popular with about 42% of listeners. Interest in jazz is growing among young people. Globalization contributes to the formation of a single musical space where different cultures mix.
Сouple of facts
Improvisation is a mainstay of jazz, but early jazz musicians often used prearranged phrases and motifs, which they then freely intertwined and developed during performance, creating a sense of spontaneity.
The saxophone, one of jazz's most recognizable instruments, was a relatively new instrument in the early 20th century, and its penetration into jazz music quickly made it an integral part of the genre's distinctive sound.