The history of Jazz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The history of Jazz - Essay ExampleJazz music is deeply rooted in various musical styles of African-American music with European traditional music also contributing to its melodic sound. It was composed of several styles of black folk music such as field hollers, lullabies, rowing chants, spirituals and blues. Jazz began with small bands or solo pianists playing at weddings, picnics, parades and funerals. Blues and ragtime had also formed several years before jazz, and were strongly influencing its styles and forms. New Orleans, Louisiana experienced the earliest form of jazz. Improvisation, along with the existing sounds of other black music such as ragtime and blues, made jazz unique. Charles “Buddy” Bolden, also known as “King Bolden,” was known to have led some of these early jazz groups. Bolden’s band was well known in New Orleans from 1900 to 1907. Many early musicians credited Bolden and his band with having originated the genre known as “jazz”; however, the term “jazz” didn’t become widely known until after Bolden’s era.