Some Intriguing Facts About Jazz Music
Jazz is an American art form that is considered one of America-s greatest cultural achievements. Jazz originated in Southern United States in the early twentieth century. African American-s brought with them tribal musical traditions that evolved, after slavery ended, into what we call Jazz today. Some argue that Jazz began in New Orleans, but it seems to have popped up throughout the South and traveled around the United States without one single origin. The word Jazz-s origins are arguable as well.You can find a quick rundown here No one really knows for sure where the word came from, but many writers use their own theories as fact. One of the most interesting things about Jazz as music is that it is really more of an art form. For example in most music, the musician plays the notes on the paper before him. Notes that were written in advance by themselves or someone else. There is a certain amount of interpretation, but basically the musician is just playing prewritten notes. In Jazz however, there is a wide level of interpretation allowed and encouraged. This originates in Africa where music was implemented often into daily life and rituals. Jazz evolved from call and response patterns used in the fields to the almost magical performance of two or more instruments bantering back and forth, unscripted, just free after the first few notes. This is not to say that Jazz music is unscripted, the notes are written and replayed but there is room for interpretation and putting ones own stamp on the performance. That is one of the many things that makes Jazz one of America-s greatest cultural achievements, and why many new artists love to try their own hand at the classics that are from so long ago, yet remain classic and relevant today.