Jazz In America Yesterday & Today By Chris Jackson Period 4 APUSH

Focus Jazz culture serves as a reflection of the time period, continually evolving while remaining true to its original roots as a vehicle of individual expression. How has African-American influence shaped the evolution of jazz music? What were the prominent styles of jazz throughout the 20th century? How has jazz evolved to reflect the time period? How does contemporary music show its roots in jazz?

What Is Jazz? West Coast slang referring to the music of Chicago around 1915 There were several basic features that remain true even today: Improvisation Syncopation Blue notes Polyrhythms Swung notes } These elements represented a distinct breakaway from the traditional European music of the time

African-American Background Jazz is a result of African-American and European contact Based on the “call-and-response” pattern of African oral tradition Served as a raw and energetic rebuttal of what was musically acceptable at the time, and became the voice of a generation of African- American youth

Creoles Free colored peoples living in French dominated New Orleans As offspring of French masters and African slaves, they enjoyed rights similar to those of whites Many of them lost these privileges when the Spanish took over in 1764 Some became traveling musicians, resulting in the evolution of the Southern minstrel show and widespread exposure to African music

1920s “Jazz Age” During WWI, the Great Migration of African-Americans to the north sparked the jazz scene in Chicago and New York Jazz was part of the Harlem Renaissance, a celebration and outpouring of African-American creativity Prohibition encouraged many whites to visit the nightclubs of Harlem, where they were exposed to jazz performers The invention of the radio further increased jazz’s popularity and its growth nationwide Eddie Ross, 1921, Ross’s Reel

Duke Ellington, 1941, Take The ‘A’ Train 1930s “Swing” Jazz was performed primarily in a big band setting with about 20 musicians It also served as a form of dance music Optimistic – attempted to boost morale in the face of the Great Depression Benny Goodman Quartet – the first racially integrated band Duke Ellington, 1941, Take The ‘A’ Train Prominent artists: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong

Charlie Parker, 1946, Yardbird Suite 1940s “Bebop” Charlie Parker, 1946, Yardbird Suite Characterized primarily by significantly faster tempos and complex lines Chordal improvisation – primary focus on the soloing aspect as opposed to the melody 1947 – The University of North Texas became the first US university to offer a degree in jazz studies 1967, Thelonious Monk Prominent artists: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie

1960 Max Roach album, We Insist! – Freedom Now 1950s “Beat Generation” Counter cultural movement of writers protesting primarily against conformity in society Free Jazz Movement – turned jazz into a way to challenge racism The evolution of rhythm and blues into rock and roll as a high art form 1960 Max Roach album, We Insist! – Freedom Now

Mahavishnu Orchestra, 1973, Birds of Fire 1970s - “Fusion” Mixture of jazz improvisation with rock music’s energy and rhythms Smooth jazz – influenced by R&B, funk and pop Complex time signatures and rhythmic patterns, especially in guitar, base and drums 1989, Miles Davis Mahavishnu Orchestra, 1973, Birds of Fire Prominent artists: Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter

Contemporary Jazz Smooth jazz – downtempo Mostly successful in radio format, both traditional and online Increasing popularity of jazz worldwide, especially in Japan and Europe Kenny G, 1986, Songbird Prominent artists: Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard

Courtney Pine, 2000, The Jazzstep Jazz & Hip Hop Jazz rap progressed through the 1980s and 90s, incorporating jazz influence into hip hop Early hip hop group Gang Starr released several albums sampling jazz classics as instrumentals Similar roots of free artistic expression and raw, energetic rebellion Courtney Pine, 2000, The Jazzstep

Legacy “Jazz is also the most inclusive. It’s a music that will take anything” – Gerald Early “It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its most distinctive characteristics” – James Weldon Johnson “Jazz is hereby designated as a rare and valuable national American treasure” – H. Con. Res. 57 (1987)

Sources http://www.examiner.com/jazz-music-in-nashville/111th-congress-reaffirms-jazz- as-a-national-treasure-and-honors-miles-davis-kind-of-blue http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/cja/jazzmaps/ctlframe.htm http://www.jazzistry.org/timeline.html http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/cja/greatmigration.html http://www.spirit-mag.com/spirit/index.php?id=92 http://www.apassion4jazz.net/timeline.html http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-15/entertainment/hiphop.jazz_1_hip-hop-jazz- history-of-african-american-people?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ http://jazz.about.com/od/historyjazztimeline/a/JazzCivilRights.htm