Material about jazz. What is jazz, history of jazz

Soul, swing?

Probably everyone knows how a composition in this style sounds. This genre arose at the beginning of the twentieth century in the United States of America and represents a certain combination of African and European cultures s. Amazing music almost immediately attracted attention, found its fans and quickly spread throughout the world.

It is quite difficult to convey a jazz musical cocktail, since it combines:

• bright and lively music;
• the unique rhythm of African drums;
• church hymns of Baptists or Protestants.

What is jazz in music? It is very difficult to define this concept, since it contains seemingly incompatible motives, which, interacting with each other, give the world unique music.

Peculiarities

What are the characteristic features of jazz? What is jazz rhythm? And what are the features of this music? Distinctive features styles are considered:

• a certain polyrhythm;
• constant pulsation of bits;
• a set of rhythms;
• improvisation.

The musical range of this style is colorful, bright and harmonious. It clearly shows several separate timbres that merge together. The style is based on a unique combination of improvisation with a pre-thought-out melody. Improvisation can be practiced by either one soloist or several musicians in an ensemble. The main thing is that the overall sound is clear and rhythmic.

Jazz history

This Musical direction developed and shaped over the course of a century. Jazz arose from the very depths of African culture, as black slaves, who were brought from Africa to America in order to understand each other, learned to be one. And, as a result, they created a unified musical art.

The performance of African melodies is characterized by dance movements and the use of complex rhythms. All of them, together with the usual blues melodies, formed the basis for the creation of a completely new musical art.

The whole process of combining African and European culture in jazz art began from the end XVIII century, lasted throughout the 19th century and only at the end of the 20th century led to the emergence of a completely new direction in music.

When did jazz appear? What is jazz West Coast? The question is quite ambiguous. This trend appeared in the south of the United States of America, in New Orleans, approximately at the end of the nineteenth century.

The initial stage of the emergence of jazz music is characterized by a kind of improvisation and work on the same musical composition. It was played by the main trumpet soloist, trombone and clarinet performers in combination with percussion musical instruments against the backdrop of marching music.

Basic styles

The history of jazz began quite a long time ago, and as a result of the development of this musical direction, many different styles appeared. For example:

• archaic jazz;
• blues;
• soul;
• soul jazz;
• scat;
• New Orleans style of jazz;
• sound;
• swing.

The birthplace of jazz left a big imprint on the style of this musical movement. The very first and traditional type created by a small ensemble was archaic jazz. Music is created in the form of improvisation on blues themes, as well as European songs and dances.

Enough characteristic direction can be considered blues, the melody of which is based on a clear beat. This type of genre is characterized by a pitiful attitude and glorification of lost love. At the same time, light humor can be traced in the texts. Jazz music implies a kind of instrumental dance piece.

Traditional black music is considered to be a soul movement, directly related to blues traditions. New Orleans jazz sounds quite interesting, which is distinguished by a very precise two-beat rhythm, as well as the presence of several separate melodies. This direction is characterized by the fact that the main theme is repeated several times in different variations.

In Russia

In the thirties, jazz was very popular in our country. Soviet musicians learned what blues and soul are in the thirties. The attitude of the authorities towards this direction was very negative. Initially, jazz performers were not banned. However, there was quite harsh criticism of this musical direction as a component of the whole Western culture.

Late 40s jazz bands were persecuted. Over time, repressions against musicians ceased, but criticism continued.

Interesting and Fascinating Facts about Jazz

The birthplace of jazz is America, where various musical styles were combined. This music first appeared among the oppressed and disenfranchised representatives of the African people, who were forcibly taken away from their homeland. In rare hours of rest, the slaves sang traditional songs, accompanying themselves by clapping their hands, since they had no musical instruments.

At the very beginning it was real African music. However, over time it changed, and motifs of religious Christian hymns appeared in it. At the end of the 19th century, other songs appeared in which there was protest and complaints about one’s life. Such songs began to be called blues.

The main feature of jazz is considered to be free rhythm, as well as complete freedom in melodic style. Jazz musicians had to be able to improvise individually or collectively.

Since its inception in the city of New Orleans, jazz has gone through a rather difficult path. It spread first in America, and then throughout the world.

The best jazz performers

Jazz is a special music filled with unusual inventiveness and passion. She knows no boundaries or limits. Famous jazz performers are able to literally breathe life into music and fill it with energy.

The most famous jazz performer is Louis Armstrong, revered for his lively style, virtuosity, and inventiveness. Armstrong's influence on jazz music is invaluable, as he is greatest musician of all times.

Duke Ellington made a great contribution to this direction, as he used his musical group as music laboratory for carrying out experiments. For all my years creative activity he wrote many original and unique compositions.

In the early 80s, Wynton Marsalis became a real discovery, as he chose to play acoustic jazz, which created a real sensation and provoked a new interest in this music.

Nov 3 2016

What is jazz?

Where did jazz develop?

What is improvisation?

What is jazz? This is such a simple question with such a difficult answer. As you will soon learn, jazz by its nature is difficult to define.

Perhaps jazz legend Louis Armstrong gave the best definition when he said, “If you ask what jazz is, you will never understand.”

Dubbed the "Classical Music of America" ​​and America's one true art form, jazz originated in the United States in the early 1900s in New Orleans. Multi-ethnic population The city was represented by people from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico and England.

The musical traditions of African-Americans, mixed with other styles, gave rise to what everyone now knows as jazz. Jazz was ultimately created from a blend different types music.

Over the past 100 years, jazz has continued to evolve, led by brilliant musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Today, there are more than two dozen different jazz styles, including traditional jazz, swing, bebop, cool jazz, fusion and jazz rock.

The dictionary defines jazz as: a style of American music known for its improvisation, distinctive tone, technique, and syncopated rhythmic pattern. But any jazz musician will immediately tell you that jazz is much more than a dictionary definition.

Perhaps the defining characteristic of jazz is its unique diversity, which is a direct result of its most central element: improvisation. In most cases jazz musicians they play solo and do it spontaneously, coming up with new things on the fly.

Thus, jazz can be considered as a kind of communication language of a musician, fueled by dreams, passions, emotions and desires.

Jazz musicians tend to create their own sound and style. So, for example, trumpeter Miles Davis can be very different from trumpeter Louis Armstrong.

With jazz musicians developing their own unique styles. You can listen to several different recordings of the same song and it will sound different each time! Jazz musicians can turn a familiar song into something new with each subsequent improvisational solo.

Although improvisation creates a lot of variety in jazz, most compositions are rhythmic music and use expressive notes.

Jazz, as a direction in music, arose at the beginning of the twentieth century. At the time it was played only by black people, but over the years it gained such popularity that people of all social and racial backgrounds began to play it. Today, in many countries around the world, jazz clubs are thriving, playing excellent music.

The main difference between jazz and other musical styles is its rhythm and tact. Very often such music is played when VIP flash mobs or other events are organized. African and European motifs can be traced in the music. Europe had a particular influence, because most of the most famous tracks were written there.

One of the genres of jazz is blues. He has characteristic structure, on which the entire work is built. Over time, blues began to be used not as the main direction in the work, but as an additional one. For example, blues motifs can be heard during the performance of rock and roll or country music, and the main direction was not blues at all.

Jazz for the most part is the music of improvisation. Many great works appeared thanks to improvisation. The musician began to play without a previously prepared melody, and in the process of playing a masterpiece was born. At that moment, everything depended on the musician’s inspiration. Already in Lately jazz began to be recorded on CDs and sold in consolidated sales.

Usually jazz is just music without words. It is designed to touch the deepest strings of the soul, and no words are needed for this. Thanks to the absence of words, you can experience the music as it is. It helps you relax and unwind. If you need relaxing music for body and soul, then jazz is just for you.

Jazz - a form of musical art that arose at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries in the USA, in New Orleans, as a result of the synthesis of African and European cultures and subsequently became widespread. The origins of jazz were the blues and other African American folk music. Characteristics musical language Jazz initially began with improvisation, polyrhythm based on syncopated rhythms, and a unique set of techniques for performing rhythmic texture - swing. The further development of jazz occurred due to the development of new rhythmic and harmonic models by jazz musicians and composers. The genres of jazz are: avant-garde jazz, bebop, classic jazz, cool, modal jazz, swing, smooth jazz, soul jazz, free jazz, fusion, hard bop and a number of others.

History of jazz development

Vilex College Jazz Band, Texas

Jazz arose as a combination of several musical cultures and national traditions. It originally came from Africa. Any African music is characterized by a very complex rhythm; the music is always accompanied by dancing, which consists of rapid stamping and clapping. On this basis, at the end of the 19th century, another musical genre- ragtime. Subsequently, ragtime rhythms combined with blues elements gave rise to a new musical direction - jazz.

The blues arose at the end of the 19th century as a fusion of African rhythms and European harmony, but its origins should be sought from the moment of the importation of slaves from Africa to the territory of the New World. The brought slaves did not come from the same family and usually did not even understand each other. The need for consolidation led to the unification of many cultures and, as a result, to the creation unified culture(including musical) African Americans. The processes of mixing African musical culture and European (which also underwent serious changes in the New World) occurred starting from the 18th century and in the 19th century led to the emergence of “proto-jazz”, and then jazz in the generally accepted sense. The cradle of jazz was the American South, and above all New Orleans.
Pledge eternal youth jazz - improvisation
The peculiarity of the style is the unique individual performance of a virtuoso jazzman. The key to eternal youth in jazz is improvisation. After the appearance of the brilliant performer who lived his entire life in the rhythm of jazz and still remains a legend - Louis Armstrong, the art of jazz performance saw new and unusual horizons: vocal or instrumental solo performance becomes the center of the entire performance, completely changing the idea of ​​jazz. Jazz is not just a certain type musical performance, but also a unique, cheerful era.

New Orleans jazz

The term New Orleans usually refers to the style of jazz musicians who played jazz in New Orleans between 1900 and 1917, as well as New Orleans musicians who played and recorded in Chicago from about 1917 through the 1920s. This period of jazz history is also known as the Jazz Age. And this concept is also used to describe the music performed at various historical periods by representatives of the New Orleans revival, who sought to perform jazz in the same style as the musicians of the New Orleans school.

African-American folk and jazz have diverged paths since the opening of Storyville, the red-light district of New Orleans, famous for its entertainment venues. Those who wanted to have fun and have fun were offered a lot of tempting opportunities, which were offered by dance floors, cabarets, variety shows, a circus, bars and snack bars. And everywhere in these establishments music sounded and musicians who mastered the new syncopated music could find work. Gradually, with the increase in the number of musicians working professionally in the entertainment establishments of Storyville, the number of marching and street brass bands decreased, and in their place the so-called Storyville ensembles emerged, the musical manifestation of which becomes more individual, in comparison with the playing of brass bands. These compositions, often called “combo orchestras,” became the founders of the style of classic New Orleans jazz. From 1910 to 1917, Storyville nightclubs became an ideal environment for jazz.
From 1910 to 1917, Storyville's nightclubs provided an ideal environment for jazz.
The development of jazz in the USA in the first quarter of the 20th century

After the closure of Storyville, jazz from a regional folk genre begins to transform into a national musical trend, spreading to the northern and northeastern provinces of the United States. But its wide spread, of course, could not have been facilitated only by the closure of one entertainment district. Along with New Orleans, in the development of jazz great importance St. Louis, Kansas City and Memphis played from the beginning. Ragtime originated in Memphis in the 19th century, from where it then spread throughout the North American continent in the period 1890-1903.

On the other hand, minstrel shows, with their motley mosaic of all kinds of musical movements of African-American folklore from jigs to ragtime, quickly spread everywhere and paved the way for the arrival of jazz. Many future jazz celebrities began their careers in minstrel shows. Long before Storyville closed, New Orleans musicians went on tour with so-called “vaudeville” troupes. Jelly Roll Morton toured regularly in Alabama, Florida, and Texas since 1904. Since 1914 he had a contract to perform in Chicago. In 1915, Thom Browne's white Dixieland orchestra also moved to Chicago. The famous “Creole Band,” led by New Orleans cornetist Freddie Keppard, also made major vaudeville tours in Chicago. Having separated from the Olympia Band, Freddie Keppard's artists already in 1914 successfully performed in the best theater in Chicago and received an offer to make a sound recording of their performances even before the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which, however, Freddie Keppard short-sightedly rejected. The area covered by the influence of jazz was significantly expanded by orchestras that played on pleasure steamers sailing up the Mississippi.

Since the end of the 19th century, river trips from New Orleans to St. Paul have become popular, first for a weekend, and later for a whole week. Since 1900, New Orleans orchestras have been performing on these riverboats, and their music has become the most attractive entertainment for passengers during river tours. The future wife of Louis Armstrong, the first jazz pianist Lil Hardin, started in one of these “Suger Johnny” orchestras. Another pianist, Fates Marable's riverboat orchestra, featured many future New Orleans jazz stars.

Steamboats traveling along the river often stopped at passing stations, where orchestras staged concerts for the local public. It was these concerts that became the creative debuts for Bix Beiderbeck, Jess Stacy and many others. Another famous route ran through Missouri to Kansas City. In this city, where, thanks to the strong roots of African-American folklore, the blues developed and finally took shape, the virtuoso playing of New Orleans jazzmen found an exceptionally fertile environment. By the early 1920s, Chicago became the main center for the development of jazz music, where, through the efforts of many musicians gathered from different parts of the United States, a style was created that was nicknamed Chicago jazz.

Big bands

The classic, established form of big bands has been known in jazz since the early 1920s. This form remained relevant until the end of the 1940s. The musicians who entered the majority of big bands are usually almost adolescence, played very specific parts, either memorized at rehearsals, or from notes. Careful orchestrations coupled with large brass and woodwind sections brought out rich jazz harmonies and created a sensationally loud sound that became known as “the big band sound.”

Big band has become popular music of his time, reaching the peak of fame in the mid-1930s. This music became the source of the swing dancing craze. The leaders of the famous jazz orchestras Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Chick Webb, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Lunsford, Charlie Barnett composed or arranged and recorded a veritable hit parade of tunes that were heard not only on the radio , but also everywhere in dance halls. Many big bands showcased their improvising soloists, who whipped audiences into a state of near hysteria during well-promoted “battles of the bands.”
Many big bands demonstrated their improvising soloists, who brought the audience to a state close to hysteria
Although the popularity of big bands declined significantly after World War II, orchestras led by Basie, Ellington, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Harry James and many others toured and recorded frequently over the next few decades. Their music gradually transformed under the influence of new trends. Groups such as ensembles led by Boyd Rayburn, Sun Ra, Oliver Nelson, Charles Mingus, and Tad Jones-Mal Lewis explored new concepts in harmony, instrumentation, and improvisational freedom. Today, big bands are the standard in jazz education. Repertory orchestras such as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterpiece Orchestra, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble regularly play original arrangements of big band compositions.

Northeast jazz

Although the history of jazz began in New Orleans with the advent of the 20th century, the music really took off in the early 1920s when trumpeter Louis Armstrong left New Orleans to create revolutionary new music in Chicago. The migration of New Orleans residents that began shortly thereafter jazz masters to New York marked a trend of constant movement of jazz musicians from the South to the North.

Louis Armstrong

Chicago took the music of New Orleans and made it hot, raising its intensity not only with the efforts of Armstrong's famous Hot Five and Hot Seven ensembles, but also others, including such masters as Eddie Condon and Jimmy McPartland, whose crew at Austin High School helped revive the New Orleans schools. Other notable Chicagoans who pushed the boundaries of classic New Orleans jazz style include pianist Art Hodes, drummer Barrett Deems, and clarinetist Benny Goodman. Armstrong and Goodman, who eventually moved to New York, created a kind of critical mass there that helped the city turn into a true jazz capital of the world. And while Chicago remained primarily a center for sound recording in the first quarter of the 20th century, New York also became a major concert venue jazz, with legendary clubs such as Minton Playhouse, Cotton Club, Savoy and Village Vanguard, as well as arenas such as Carnegie Hall.

Kansas City style

During the era of the Great Depression and Prohibition, the Kansas City jazz scene became a mecca for the newfangled sounds of the late 1920s and 1930s. The style that flourished in Kansas City was characterized by heartfelt, blues-tinged pieces performed by both big bands and small swing ensembles that featured high-energy solos performed for the patrons of speakeasies selling liquor. It was in these zucchini that the style of the great Count Basie, who began in Kansas City in Walter Page's orchestra and subsequently with Benny Mouthen, crystallized. Both of these orchestras were typical representatives style of Kansas City, the basis of which was a peculiar form of blues, called “urban blues” and formed in the playing of the above-mentioned orchestras. The Kansas City jazz scene was also distinguished by a whole galaxy of outstanding masters of vocal blues, the recognized “king” of which was the long-time soloist of the Count Basie orchestra, the famous blues singer Jimmy Rushing. The famous alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, born in Kansas City, upon his arrival in New York, widely used the characteristic blues “tricks” that he had learned in the Kansas City orchestras and which later formed one of the starting points in the bopper experiments in the 1940s.

West Coast Jazz

Artists caught up in the cool jazz movement of the 1950s worked extensively in Los Angeles recording studios. Largely influenced by Miles Davis' nonet, these Los Angeles-based performers developed what is now known as "West Coast Jazz." West Coast jazz was much softer than the furious bebop that preceded it. Most West Coast jazz was recorded in large details. The counterpoint lines often used in these compositions seemed to be part of the European influence that had permeated jazz. However, this music left a lot of space for long linear solo improvisations. Although West Coast Jazz was performed primarily in recording studios, clubs such as the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and the Haig in Los Angeles often featured its major masters, including trumpeter Shorty Rogers, saxophonists Art Pepper and Bud Schenk, drummer Shelley Mann and clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre.

Spread of jazz

Jazz has always aroused interest among musicians and listeners around the world, regardless of their nationality. Enough to follow early works trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and his synthesis of jazz traditions with the music of black Cubans in the 1940s or later combination of jazz with Japanese, Eurasian and Middle Eastern music, famous in the work of pianist Dave Brubeck, as well as the brilliant composer and jazz bandleader Duke Ellington , which combined the musical heritage of Africa, Latin America and the Far East.

Dave Brubeck

Jazz constantly absorbed not only Western musical traditions. For example, when various artists started trying to work with musical elements India. An example of these efforts can be heard in the recordings of flautist Paul Horne at the Taj Mahal, or in the stream of "world music" represented, for example, in the work of the Oregon group or John McLaughlin's Shakti project. McLaughlin's music, previously largely jazz-based, began to use new instruments of Indian origin such as the khatam or tabla, intricate rhythms, and the widespread use of the Indian raga form during his time with Shakti.
As the globalization of the world continues, jazz continues to be influenced by other musical traditions
The Art Ensemble of Chicago was an early pioneer in the fusion of African and jazz forms. The world later came to know saxophonist/composer John Zorn and his explorations of Jewish musical culture, both within and outside of the Masada Orchestra. These works inspired entire groups of other jazz musicians, such as keyboardist John Medeski, who recorded with African musician Salif Keita, guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Anthony Coleman. Trumpeter Dave Douglas enthusiastically incorporates Balkan influences into his music, while the Asian-American Jazz Orchestra has emerged as a leading proponent of the convergence of jazz and Asian influences. musical forms. As the globalization of the world continues, jazz continues to be influenced by other musical traditions, providing ripe fodder for future research and demonstrating that jazz is truly a world music.

Jazz in the USSR and Russia

Valentin Parnakh's first jazz band in the RSFSR

The jazz scene emerged in the USSR in the 1920s, simultaneously with its heyday in the USA. The first jazz orchestra in Soviet Russia was created in Moscow in 1922 by a poet, translator, dancer, theatrical figure Valentin Parnakh and was called “The first eccentric orchestra of jazz bands of Valentin Parnakh in the RSFSR.” The birthday of Russian jazz is traditionally considered to be October 1, 1922, when the first concert of this group took place. The first professional jazz lineup The orchestra of pianist and composer Alexander Tsfasman (Moscow) is considered to have performed on the radio and recorded the record.

Early Soviet jazz bands specialized in performing fashionable dances(foxtrot, Charleston). In the mass consciousness, jazz began to gain wide popularity in the 30s, largely thanks to the Leningrad ensemble led by actor and singer Leonid Utesov and trumpeter Ya. B. Skomorovsky. The popular comedy film with his participation “Jolly Guys” (1934) was dedicated to the history of the jazz musician and had a corresponding soundtrack (written by Isaac Dunaevsky). Utesov and Skomorovsky formed the original style of “thea-jazz” (theater jazz), based on a mixture of music with theater, operetta, and played a large role in it vocal numbers and a presentation element. A notable contribution to the development of Soviet jazz was made by Eddie Rosner, a composer, musician and orchestra leader. Starting his career in Germany, Poland and others European countries, Rosner moved to the USSR and became one of the pioneers of swing in the USSR and the founder of Belarusian jazz.
In the mass consciousness, jazz began to gain wide popularity in the USSR in the 1930s.
Attitude Soviet authorities towards jazz was ambiguous: domestic jazz performers, as a rule, were not banned, but harsh criticism of jazz as such was widespread, in the context of criticism of Western culture as a whole. At the end of the 40s, during the fight against cosmopolitanism, jazz in the USSR was going through a particularly difficult period, when groups performing “Western” music were persecuted. With the onset of the Thaw, repressions against musicians ceased, but criticism continued. According to research by a history professor and American culture Penny Van Eschen, The US State Department tried to use jazz as an ideological weapon against the USSR and against the expansion of Soviet influence into third world countries. In the 50s and 60s. In Moscow, the orchestras of Eddie Rosner and Oleg Lundstrem resumed their activities, new compositions appeared, among which stood out the orchestras of Joseph Weinstein (Leningrad) and Vadim Ludvikovsky (Moscow), as well as the Riga Variety Orchestra (REO).

Big bands brought up a whole galaxy of talented arrangers and soloists-improvisers, whose work brought Soviet jazz to a qualitatively new level and brought it closer to world standards. Among them are Georgy Garanyan, Boris Frumkin, Alexey Zubov, Vitaly Dolgov, Igor Kantyukov, Nikolay Kapustin, Boris Matveev, Konstantin Nosov, Boris Rychkov, Konstantin Bakholdin. The development of chamber and club jazz begins in all the diversity of its stylistics (Vyacheslav Ganelin, David Goloshchekin, Gennady Golshtein, Nikolay Gromin, Vladimir Danilin, Alexey Kozlov, Roman Kunsman, Nikolay Levinovsky, German Lukyanov, Alexander Pishchikov, Alexey Kuznetsov, Victor Fridman, Andrey Tovmasyan , Igor Bril, Leonid Chizhik, etc.)

Jazz club "Blue Bird"

Many of the above-mentioned masters of Soviet jazz began their creative path on the stage of the legendary Moscow jazz club " Blue bird", which existed from 1964 to 2009, revealing new names of representatives modern generation stars of domestic jazz (brothers Alexander and Dmitry Bril, Anna Buturlina, Yakov Okun, Roman Miroshnichenko and others). In the 70s, the jazz trio “Ganelin-Tarasov-Chekasin” (GTC) consisting of pianist Vyacheslav Ganelin, drummer Vladimir Tarasov and saxophonist Vladimir Chekasin, which existed until 1986, became widely known. In the 70s and 80s, the jazz quartet from Azerbaijan “Gaya” and the Georgian vocal and instrumental ensembles “Orera” and “Jazz Chorale” were also famous.

After a decline in interest in jazz in the 90s, it began to gain popularity again in youth culture. Jazz music festivals such as “Usadba Jazz” and “Jazz in the Hermitage Garden” are held annually in Moscow. The most popular jazz club venue in Moscow is the jazz club "Union of Composers", inviting world famous jazz and blues performers.

Jazz in modern world

The modern world of music is as diverse as the climate and geography we experience through travel. And yet, today we are seeing a mixture of everything more world cultures, constantly bringing us closer to what, in essence, is already becoming “ world music"(world music). Today's jazz can no longer help but be influenced by sounds penetrating into it from almost every corner globe. European experimentalism with classical overtones continues to influence the music of young pioneers such as Ken Vandermark, the free jazz avant-garde saxophonist known for his work with such famous contemporaries, as saxophonists Mats Gustafsson, Evan Parker and Peter Brotzmann. Other young, more traditional musicians who continue to search for their own identity include pianists Jackie Terrasson, Benny Green and Braid Meldoa, saxophonists Joshua Redman and David Sanchez and drummers Jeff Watts and Billy Stewart.

Old tradition sound continues apace with artists like trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who works with a team of assistants, both in his own small groups and in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, which he leads. Under his patronage, pianists Marcus Roberts and Eric Reed, saxophonist Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, trumpeter Marcus Printup and vibraphonist Stefan Harris grew into great musicians. Bassist Dave Holland is also a great discoverer of young talent. His many discoveries include artists such as saxophonist/M-bassist Steve Coleman, saxophonist Steve Wilson, vibraphonist Steve Nelson and drummer Billy Kilson. Other great mentors to young talent include pianist Chick Corea and the late drummer Elvin Jones and singer Betty Carter. Potential Opportunities further development jazz is currently quite large, since the ways of developing talent and the means of its expression are unpredictable, multiplying by the combined efforts of various jazz genres encouraged today.

Jazz– a unique phenomenon in world musical culture. This multifaceted art form originated at the turn of the century (XIX and XX) in the USA. Jazz music has become the brainchild of the cultures of Europe and Africa, a unique fusion of trends and forms from two regions of the world. Subsequently, jazz spread beyond the United States and became popular almost everywhere. This music takes its basis in African folk songs, rhythms and styles. In the history of development this direction There are many forms and types of jazz known, which appeared as new models of rhythms and harmonics were mastered.

Characteristics of Jazz

The synthesis of two musical cultures made jazz a radically new phenomenon in world art. The specific features of this new music were:

• Syncopated rhythms giving rise to polyrhythms.
• The rhythmic pulsation of music is the beat.
• Complex deviation from the beat - swing.
• Constant improvisation in compositions.
• A wealth of harmonics, rhythms and timbres.

The basis of jazz, especially in the first stages of development, was improvisation combined with a thoughtful form (at the same time, the form of the composition was not necessarily fixed somewhere). And from African music this new style took the following characteristic features:

• Understanding each instrument as a percussion instrument.
• Popular conversational intonations when performing compositions.
• Similar imitation of conversation when playing instruments.

In general, all directions of jazz are distinguished by their own local characteristics, and therefore it is logical to consider them in the context of historical development.

The emergence of jazz, ragtime (1880-1910s)

It is believed that jazz originated among black slaves brought from Africa to the United States of America in the 18th century. Since the captive Africans were not represented by a single tribe, they had to look for mutual language with relatives in the New World. Such consolidation led to the emergence of a unified African culture in America, which included musical culture. It was only in the 1880s and 1890s that the first jazz music. This style was driven by global demand for popular dance music. Since African musical art abounded in such rhythmic dancing, it was on its basis that a new direction was born. Thousands of middle-class Americans, unable to learn the aristocratic classical dances, began dancing to ragtime pianos. Ragtime introduced several future bases of jazz into music. So, chief representative This style, Scott Joplin, is the author of the “3 versus 4” element (cross-sounding rhythmic patterns with 3 and 4 units, respectively).

New Orleans (1910–1920s)

Classic jazz appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century in the southern states of America, and specifically in New Orleans (which is logical, because it was in the south that the slave trade was widespread).

African and Creole orchestras played here, creating their music under the influence of ragtime, blues and songs of black workers. After the appearance in the city of many musical instruments from military bands, amateur groups began to appear. The legendary New Orleans musician, creator of his own orchestra, King Oliver, was also self-taught. Important date In the history of jazz it became February 26, 1917, when the Original Dixieland Jazz Band released its first gramophone record. The main features of the style were laid down in New Orleans: the beat of percussion instruments, masterful solos, vocal improvisation with syllables - scat.

Chicago (1910–1920s)

In the 1920s, called the “Roaring Twenties” by classicists, jazz music gradually entered the popular culture, losing the titles “shameful” and “indecent.” Orchestras begin to perform in restaurants and move from the southern states to other parts of the United States. Chicago becomes the center of jazz in the north of the country, where free nightly performances by musicians become popular (during such shows there were frequent improvisations and outside soloists). More complex arrangements appear in the style of music. The jazz icon of this time was Louis Armstrong, who moved to Chicago from New Orleans. Subsequently, the styles of the two cities began to be combined into one genre of jazz music - Dixieland. The main feature This style became collective mass improvisation, which erected main idea jazz absolutely.

Swing and big bands (1930s–1940s)

The further rise in popularity of jazz created a demand for large orchestras to play dance tunes. This is how swing appeared, representing characteristic deviations in both directions from the rhythm. Swing has become the main thing style direction of that time, manifested in the work of orchestras. The performance of harmonious dance compositions required a more coordinated playing of the orchestra. Jazz musicians were expected to participate evenly, without much improvisation (except for the soloist), so the collective improvisation of Dixieland became a thing of the past. In the 1930s, similar groups flourished, which were called big bands. Characteristic feature orchestras of that time was a competition between groups of instruments and sections. Traditionally, there were three of them: saxophones, trumpets, drums. The most famous jazz musicians and their orchestras are: Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington. The last musician is famous for his commitment to black folklore.

Bebop (1940s)

Swing's departure from the traditions of early jazz and, in particular, classical African melodies and styles, caused discontent among history experts. Big bands and swing performers, who increasingly worked for the public, began to be opposed by the jazz music of small ensembles of black musicians. Experimenters introduced super-fast melodies, brought back long improvisation, complex rhythms, and virtuoso control of the solo instrument. A new style, positioning itself as exclusive, began to be called bebop. The icons of this period were outrageous jazz musicians: Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. The revolt of black Americans against the commercialization of jazz, the desire to return intimacy and uniqueness to this music became a key point. From this moment and from this style the countdown of history begins modern jazz. At the same time, big band leaders also come to small orchestras, wanting to take a break from the big halls. In ensembles called combos, such musicians adhered to a swing style, but were given freedom to improvise.

Cool jazz, hard bop, soul jazz and jazz-funk (1940s–1960s)

In the 1950s, the genre of music such as jazz began to develop in two opposite directions. Supporters of classical music “cooled down” bebop, bringing academic music, polyphony, and arrangement back into fashion. Cool jazz became known for its restraint, dryness and melancholy. The main representatives of this direction of jazz were: Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck. But the second direction, on the contrary, began to develop the ideas of bebop. The hard bop style preached the idea of ​​returning to the roots of black music. Traditional folk melodies, bright and aggressive rhythms, explosive soloing and improvisation have returned to fashion. Known in the hard bop style are: Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane. This style developed organically along with soul jazz and jazz-funk. These styles came closer to the blues, making key aspect performance of rhythm. Jazz-funk in particular was introduced by Richard Holmes and Shirley Scott.