Jazz is a style of music that originated towards the start of the 20th century. Its origins are within the African American communities of South America.
It was adopted by African Americans-who were inspired by the European harmony and form-interwined with the existing African music.
The musical basis includes blue notes, polyrhythms, syncopation, swung notes, and improvisation.
Jazz has spanned through a period of over 100 years- ranging from ragtime to present day.
Joachim Berendt states that Jazz should be defined more broad like; as quoted ” form of art music which originated in the United States through the confrontation of blacks with European music.”
In retrospect, Travis Jackson claims that “it is music that includes qualities such a swing, improvising, group interaction, developing an ‘individual voice’, and being open to different musical possibilities.”
Jazz music is a bit controversial in the sense about its ‘race’. There is a distinct ‘white jazz’.
