What Styles of Music Influenced Jazz?

Many people believe that jazz is America’s classical music. But where did this uniquely American art form come from? In this blog post, we explore the various styles of music that influenced the development of jazz.

The Blues

The blues is a type of music that was created by African Americans in the early 1900s. It is a combination of African and European musical traditions. The blues has been a big influence on jazz music.

Ragtime

Ragtime was one of the first styles of music to have a significant impact on the development of jazz. This style of music was characterized by its syncopated, or “ragged,” rhythms. These uneven rhythms were created by accenting the weak beats in a measure, which resulted in a musician sounding as though they were “ragging” the music. The most popular ragtime composer was Scott Joplin, who wrote such classics as “The Maple Leaf Rag” and “The Entertainer.” Other important ragtime composers include Joseph Lamb, James Scott, and Jelly Roll Morton.

Marching Band Music

Marching band music was one of the first styles of music to influence jazz. This type of music was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and it was played by bands that marched in parades and other public events. The marching band style influenced the way that Jazz musicians played their instruments, and it also influenced the way that they composed their music.

European Classical Music

European classical music had a strong influence on the development of jazz. Early jazz musicians were exposed to this type of music through their study of brass instruments, which were commonly used in military bands. The popularity of bandleaders such as John Philip Sousa also helped to spread the influence of European classical music in the United States. Many early jazz composers and performers, including Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington, Draw from this musical tradition to create their own distinctive sound.