Jazz in the 30's and 40's

By Rebekah Glover

Jazz is the first music that is representative of world culture. Its roots are deeply entrenched in West Africa, and it began when Africans were brought to America through slavery. Developed in the early 20th century, it derived from traditions such as Negro Spirituals, the blues, and ragtime. New Orleans played a pivotal role in the development of jazz, as well as the cities New York and Chicago. 

Subgenres

Swing

One of the earliest distinctive styles of jazz was swing. It was often performed by a larger ensemble and was music that one could dance to. The name is derived from the emphasis put on the off-beat. The soloists of swing often improvised a tune over the driving rhythms.

Bebop

The advent of bebop jazz came in the 1940s. The form is characterized by upbeat tempos, improvisation, complex harmonies, and its experimental nature. Since it was experimental, this meant that it wasn’t danceable. Bebop marked the transition of jazz as entertainment to jazz being known as a cerebral, intellectual art form. Because unpredictability and improvisation were emphasized within the subgenre, the lyricism of swing was less preferred and the style began to fade.

Cuban Jazz

The Cuban style of jazz also originated in the 1940s when jazz musicians in New York City began to derive inspiration from the styles of Cuban musicians. Similar to bebop, this style of jazz is characterized by sophisticated harmonies and rhythms. Notable musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie collaborated with Cuban musicians like Chano Pozo and created hits, such as “Manteca.” 

Artists

Buddy Bolden

Buddy Bolden is thought to be the first individual to play jazz music, and therefore, one of the founding fathers of jazz. Various jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton claimed that he was one of the most powerful figures of jazz music. He formed a band, The Buddy Bolden Band, that became enormously popular in New Orleans and across the South by the beginning of the 20th Century. They were known for their improvisation skills.

Jelly Roll Morton

Jelly Roll Morton claimed to invent jazz. He didn’t, but he was widely known for being the first jazz musician to put his arrangements to paper. He also formed a band called the Red Hot Peppers. They were a seven-piece band who laid the foundation for the swing movement that would become popular later, and gave him the platform to establish himself as a pianist. 

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