What Does Jazz Mean to You?

What do you think of when you hear the word "jazz"? For some, it might seem like strange, confusing music.

You may have enjoyed jazz before without realizing it. The classic big band tunes your grandparents loved... Well – that’s Jazz.

Those classic love songs, like “My Funny Valentine,” “Summertime,” and other songs by composers like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin are considered “jazz standards.” Jazz musicians have long embraced these songs as vehicles for improvisation and expression, reinterpreting them in endless variations across generations of musicians.

Jazz isn't just one thing: it's more like a colorful patchwork quilt, with each piece showing a distinctive style and time in our history.

At its core, jazz blends musical traditions and celebrates individual expression. The world of jazz is full of distinct sounds and vibes, from the lively party feel of Dixieland to the cooler, more introspective modal style.

Jazz Subgenres

There are many subgenres that make up the diverse landscape of jazz, for example:

Ragtime, which preceded jazz as a genre, laid the foundation with its unique rhythms and syncopated melodies.

Dixieland originated in New Orleans, mixing ragtime, blues, and marching bands into a joyful noise.

Swing became hugely popular in the 1930s-40s thanks to the swinging big bands led by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and others, filling ballrooms and dance halls across the country.

Bebop emerged as a counterpoint to Swing, with smaller groups playing blazingly fast tempos and complex improvised melodies pioneered by giants like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

Cool jazz provided a more laidback, introspective vibe, with artists like Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Dave Brubeck favoring softer tones, slower tempos, and intricate arrangements.

Hard Bop brought grit and soulfulness by incorporating jazz, blues, gospel, and R&B influences, championed by the likes of Art Blakey and Cannonball Adderley, blending technical prowess with emotional intensity.

Modal jazz of the 1960s freed the music from traditional chord changes, focusing on modal scales and open improvisation. Miles Davis's seminal album, "Kind of Blue," says it all.

The Avant-garde Free jazz movement, led by Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane, exploded traditional structures in favor of raw emotion and radical experimentation.

Fusion Jazz music blends jazz with rock, funk, and world music while incorporating innovative technology to create unique sounds. Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Weather Report were pioneers of this genre, using technology to produce groundbreaking and popular music.

Smooth jazz merged in the 1970s-80s as a more commercially oriented style that blended jazz with R&B, pop, and funk grooves. Some would say while this style incorporated jazz elements, many purists argue it was more akin to pop/R&B crossover and shouldn't be considered authentic "jazz."

Jazz Today

Today's jazz remains a vibrant patchwork, incorporating elements of hip-hop, international sounds, and the avant-garde's forward-thinking spirit. From the velvet sophistication of jazz vocalists to the untamed outer limits of experimental improvisation, jazz continues to evolve while maintaining its roots in personal expression and boundless creativity.

No matter where your musical tastes may lie, there may be a flavor of jazz waiting to delight and surprise you.