Music Artist Spotlight: Jazz

Music Artist Spotlight is a series that shines a light on lesser known musical artists in order to give them the attention they deserve. This week we’re featuring Jazz, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter with a unique sound.

Introduction

In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the musical artist known as Jazz. We’ll explore their work, their musical style, and what they’ve accomplished in their career. After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of who Jazz is and what they bring to the table musically. So without further ado, let’s jump right in!

Early Life and Career

Born on October 1, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jelly Roll Morton was one of the first important piano soloists and arrangers in jazz. Morton claimed to have invented jazz in 1902. It is certain that by 1915 he was playing the music in New Orleans clubs and bars. Morton’s real name was Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe. He took the name “Morton” from his first bandleader, Will Wilberforce Morton. Jelly Roll Morton began making records for the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1923. His most famous composition is “King Porter Stomp” (1924).

Musical Style and Influences

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a form of popular music characterized by a strong rhythmic groove, repeated chord progressions, improvisation, and a distinctive melodic style. Jazz has been described as “the sound of surprise”, and its history has been shaped by the experience of African Americans.

The roots of jazz are in the blues, which is a music genre that developed in the American south during the late 19th and early 20th centuries from work songs, spirituals, field hollers, shouted home-made poems set to music, and other influences. Jazz emerged from this blend of influences around 1900 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In jazz, musical improvisation is often an important part of the performance. The ability to improvise is one reason why jazz is sililar to blues music. Musical improvisation is often based on chord progressions (the harmony) which provide a structure for the soloist(s) to improvise around.

Jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington have been some of the most influential musicians in history. They have both helped to shape the sound of jazz and have been hugely influential in other genres such as pop and rock & roll.

Discography

Wynton Marsalis is a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and pedagogue. He has been at the forefront of the jazz music scene since the 1980s. Raised in New Orleans, Marsalis began his musical education at The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He later attended Juilliard School where he studied classical trumpet.

Marsalis made his recording debut as a leader with the 1982 release of Trumpet Concertos, which featured him performing concertos by Haydn and Hummel with Orchestra of St. Luke’s. He has since released over 60 albums as a leader across a variety of genres including bebop, big band, blues, classical, and more. His discography includes notable albums such as Standard Time Vol. 1-6 (1987-2007), Blood on the Fields (1997), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and Live in Cuba (2000).

While best known for his work in jazz, Marsalis has also gained acclaim for his contributions to other genres including pop and hip hop. He collaborated with rappers Nas and Busta Rhymes on the track “U Don’t Know” from Nas’ album It Was Written (1996). In 2009, he collaborated with pop singer Lady Gaga on the track “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” from her album The Fame Monster (2009).

As an educator, Marsalis has served as Director of Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He is a widely respected authorhaving written several books on jazz including Swing: A Retrospective (2007) and To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the Road (2010).

Legacy

The word “jazz” has been used in a variety of ways since its inception in the early 20th century. Originally, and still today, it refers to a type of music characterized by a syncopated, or “ragged,” rhythm. This early form of jazz was created by African Americans in New Orleans and was heavily influenced by the city’s Creole culture as well as by blues and ragtime. In the 1910s and ’20s, jazz began to spread from its Louisiana birthplace throughout the United States (and eventually Europe and Asia) as more and more musicians began to experiment with its style. By the mid-1920s, jazz had evolved into a sophisticated art form that featured highly skilled improvisation and complex harmonies. Since then, jazz has continued to evolve, giving rise to subgenres like bebop, swing, cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, fusion, and funk.

Today, there are many different types of jazz being played all over the world — but one thing remains the same: Jazz still swings!

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jazz is a music genre that has influenced multiple generations with its unique blend of African and European musical traditions. Though it has its roots in the United States, jazz has spread around the world and continues to evolve with each new generation of artists. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, we highly recommend giving jazz a try!