NewMusic
Discover Jazz
Discover jazz music, important artists, new recordings and the improvisation, swing, harmony and global styles within the genre.
All 1 items loaded
All 1 items loaded
What is Jazz music?
Jazz is a living tradition built on improvisation, interaction and personal expression. Musicians reinterpret melodies and rhythms in the moment, so the same composition can take on a different character in every performance.
Origins
Jazz developed in New Orleans around the turn of the 20th century from African American musical traditions, blues, ragtime, brass-band music and Caribbean influences.
The sound
Improvisation, syncopation, swing, extended harmony and conversational ensemble playing are key elements, though the genre spans acoustic, orchestral, electric and experimental forms.
Culture and influence
Jazz has travelled through clubs, dance halls, concert stages and international scenes, continually exchanging ideas with classical music, funk, rock, hip-hop and local traditions.
Key characteristics
- improvisation
- swing and syncopation
- extended harmony
- ensemble interplay
- instrumental expression
Explore related genres
About Jazz music
What defines Jazz music?
Improvisation, syncopation, swing, extended harmony and conversational ensemble playing are key elements, though the genre spans acoustic, orchestral, electric and experimental forms.
Where did Jazz music come from?
Jazz developed in New Orleans around the turn of the 20th century from African American musical traditions, blues, ragtime, brass-band music and Caribbean influences.
What should I listen for?
Listen for improvisation, swing and syncopation, extended harmony, ensemble interplay, instrumental expression. Jazz has travelled through clubs, dance halls, concert stages and international scenes, continually exchanging ideas with classical music, funk, rock, hip-hop and local traditions.