Jazz

Jazz is an entirely American style of music, apart from the bits that came from Africa and Europe, that originated in New Orleans during the early years of the 20th century. The first jazz reording was made in 1917 by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, who drew heavily on African-American influences, as well as the marching bands that were popular at the time. It combines African American music, ragtime, and the blues. It often includes improvisation, or making the music up as you go. Improvisation was often necessitated by the lack of musical literacy among poor blacks.

Types of jazz include:

• Bebop
• Swing
• Latin Jazz
• Free Jazz

Some jazz musicians include:

• Charlie Parker
• Miles Davis
• Louis Armstrong
• Chet Baker
• Clifford Brown
• Sonny Rollins
• Duke Ellington
• Count Basie
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Maynard Ferguson