All That Jazz

Hi Puzzlers,

Most everyone loves Jazz music, or as in the case of my daughter and me, you will grow to love the music once you are exposed to it. My father would always have some kind of Jazz music playing in the background and if one of his kids walked by he would grab their hand and whip us around as if dancing the Jitterbug.

Among my Dad’s favorites were Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra and the “Rat Pack” (Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.), Count Basie and Nat King Cole, just to mention a few. When ever I hear their music I am reminded of my father and the impact Jazz music has had on music since its inception.

Jazz, sometimes referred to as “America’s classical music”, began in the 1700s and played an important role in African American culture. Songs were used to tell a story, to pass the time, and soulful songs were used to express religious beliefs and hopes for freedom. These songs helped make up the foundation of jazz music.

In the 1800s African American composer Scott Joplin combined the musical traditions of many European immigrants with the rhythmic and melodic music of the black communities to form what is now call Ragtime.

During the 1900s New Orleans became a melting pot of musical traditions. Immigrants from all over the world began to combine musical styles such as blues, ragtime and marching band and it is this combination that created a new style of music called JAZZ.

As African Americans began to migrate north in the 1920’s, bringing with them the sounds of blues and jazz music, the popularity of the new music took hold on many young Americans. Listening to and dancing to this new music was seen as a rebellion against their parents. Young woman cut their hair and hem lines and became know as Flappers.

By the 1930s, the new jazz “Big Band Swing” was the most popular and it kept everyone dancing at the local dance halls. But as soon as WWII began in the 1940s it was difficult to find musicians to play in the dance halls as many had gone off to serve the country.

Television in the 1950s had slowly replaced dance halls as a form of entertainment. Television variety shows introduced a new form of music-“Rock N Roll”. Many performers such as Elvis Presley became overnight successes.

During the civil right movement of the 1960s many African American musicians broke free from companies holding the rights to their music and started controlling it themselves. Most successful were those from Motown Records.

From the 1970s to the present, jazz music has had many changes and continues to evolve into many different variations. A few years back I purchased a new CD by a group called Jamiroquai - as it turns out, it is considered to be one of the new jazz variations call Acid Jazz. It looks like my father’s influence is still with me. Thanks Dad!

What's your favorite jazz style or performer!

Happy Puzzling!