Brief History Of Jazz In The 1920's

Jazz is an American style music that was formed around 1900, the beginning of jazz actually begins in the early 1600s. Early jazz was defined into two different categories, ragtime which has no improvisation and traditional jazz (Dixieland) that has lots of improvisation. Scott Joplin is a well-known musician who helped create the ragtime style of jazz. During the 1920s they started recording jazz performances, most recording are studied from this era. A few people who made this happen in New Orleans during this time period are, Buddy Bolden, Joe “King” Oliver and Sidney Bechet. Through the 1920s until his death in 1971 Louis Armstrong became the most important figure in the history of jazz. Louis Armstrong spent a lot of time with Joe “King”

Trumpet players that are momentous during this era would be Roy Eldridge, Rowland Bernart “Bunny” Berigan, Charlie Shavers, Harry James, Charles Melvin “Cootie” Williams, and Wilbur Dorsey “Buck” Clayton. Tenor Saxophonist such as Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, and Chu Berry have a significant role as well. There are a few alto saxophonist who are noteworthy as well John Cornelius “Johnny” Hodges, Bennett Lester “Benny” Carter, Willie Smith, and Henry “Buster” Smith helped mold the swing style era of music. Between 1945 and 1955 the jazz style of music took a turn towards the bebop era. This style of music using a small band format versus the larger band format that was used during the swing era. These new tunes were just a standard set of chords with complex lines created over them. Bebop bands normally consisted of one to three horn players and a traditional rhythm section of a bass, piano and drums. Another main change in this style would be that it has a faster tempo than earlier jazz. Pianist used a new “comping style” instead of the modern stride