R&B and Jazz Music: What’s the Difference?

R&B and Jazz music might seem similar at first, but there are actually quite a few differences between the two genres. Learn more about the distinct characteristics of R&B and Jazz music so you can appreciate both styles even more!

Introduction

R&B music is a genre of popular music that originated in the African-American community in the 1940s. The term “R&B” is an abbreviation for “rhythm and blues.” The genre was originally called “race music” or “black music.”

Jazz is a genre of music that originated in the African-American community in the early 20th century. Jazz encompasses a wide variety of musical styles and influences, including ragtime, blues, and gospel.

The Origins of R&B and Jazz

R&B is short for rhythm and blues. The term was first used in the late 1940s to describe a new style of music that emerged from the blues and other African-American musical traditions. R&B is a style of popular music that is characterized by a strong beats and often includes elements of soul, funk, and hip hop.

Jazz is a style of music that originated in the early 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. Jazz is characterized by its use of improvisation, syncopated rhythms, and a variety of musical influences.

The Differences Between R&B and Jazz

R&B and Jazz are two popular genres of music that have a lot in common, but there are also some key differences. R&B is short for rhythm and blues, and it originated in the 1940s. Jazz originated in the early 20th century and is characterized by improvisation and a unique blend of African-American and European musical influences.

R&B

While R&B is deeply rooted in the blues, it diverged from the genre in the 1940s. For R&B, the focus is on story songs about love and relationships, which are often expressed through a call-and-response structure. The lyrics usually take a backseat to the music, which is driven by horns, pianos, and guitars.

Jazz emerged in the early 20th century as a blend of African and European musical traditions. It is characterized by its improvisational nature and complex harmonies. Unlike R&B, jazz musicians often take turns soloing over the course of a song.

Jazz

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz is seen by many as “America’s classical music”. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression. It then emerged in the form of independent traditional and popular musical styles, all linked by the common bonds of African-American and European-American musical parentage with a performance orientation. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation.

The term “jazz” first appeared in print in 1915 in the Sacramento Bee newspaper. By 1915, Europe was acquainted with jazz thanks to American troops stationed there during World War I. The first use of the word “jazz” on record was made by 1917 by saxophonist Art Pepper in a recording session for George Lewis’ band which consisted of two tunes: “Livery Stable Blues” (a Barrelhouse tune) and “That da-da Strain” (an original composition).

R&B
R&B is a music genre that combines rhythm and blues with elements of pop, soul, funk, hip hop and electronic music. The genre began to develop in the 1940s with such artists as Louis Jordan and Charles Brown. Later it was fueled by the popularity of doo wop groups like The Drifters and Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers; however doo wop’s domination ended with the advent of Motown in 1960. In subsequent decades R&B underwent various changes; electrification took place with artists like James Brown while others like Marvin Gaye infused soul music with political consciousness raising lyrical content. By 1970 Stevie Wonder had moved R&B away from its four-on-the-floor influences towards more experimental music. In subsequent decades, other artists like Prince pushed R&B towards funk while contemporary R&B artists like Mary J. Blige mixed soul with hip hop to create what is known as Neo Soul which dominated urban radio through much of the 1990s into the 2000s while other contemporary R&B artists incorporated elements from other genres resulting in what is known as contemporary R&B or simply urban music.

The Similarities Between R&B and Jazz

R&B and Jazz music are two genres that are often confused for one another. While they share some similarities, they are actually quite different. Here is a look at the similarities and differences between R&B and Jazz music:

TheSimilarities Between R&B and Jazz
-Both genres are African American music styles that originated in the south.
-Both genres emerged in the early 20th century.
-Both genres use syncopated rhythms.
-Both genres use blues progressions.

The Differences Between R&B and Jazz
-Jazz is an improvised genre while R&B is mostly sung with little to no improvisation.
-Jazz uses more complex harmonies while R&B uses simpler harmonies.
-Jazz is a more technical genre while R&B is a more soulful genre.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a few key differences between R&B and jazz music. R&B is generally more upbeat and focused on love, while jazz is more mellow and complex. Jazz also incorporates a lot of improvisation, while R&B relies more on the singer’s voice. Ultimately, it’s up to the listener to decide which genre they prefer.