Jazz originated from the blending of African and European musical traditions by slaves in the American South in the early 19th century. Ragtime music popularized by Scott Joplin in the late 19th century helped establish foundations for jazz. Jazz grew more popular in the 1920s-1930s era of swing music and big bands led by artists like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Bebop in the 1940s led by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie influenced the evolution of jazz, while Miles Davis' cool jazz movement in the 1950s-1960s marked the peak and start of declining popularity as rock music rose. Jazz lost mainstream popularity in the 1970s but experimental artists and documentaries have helped maintain interest in the genre.

1. A Brief History of JazzA Brief History of Jazz
Matthew StreitMatthew Streit
April 27, 2008April 27, 2008

2. The Origins of Jazz in AmericaThe Origins of Jazz in America
 African slaves in theAfrican slaves in the
American SouthAmerican South
began usingbegan using
European musicalEuropean musical
instruments in theinstruments in the
early 19early 19thth
centurycentury
 They incorporatedThey incorporated
their tribal musicaltheir tribal musical
traditions withtraditions with
European minstrelEuropean minstrel
performancesperformances

3. Ragtime and “Dixie” MusicRagtime and “Dixie” Music
 Scott Joplin and othersScott Joplin and others
popularized Ragtimepopularized Ragtime
music in the late 19music in the late 19thth
century and early 20century and early 20thth
centurycentury
 Along with Ragtime,Along with Ragtime,
southern “Dixie” musicsouthern “Dixie” music
created many of thecreated many of the
foundations for whatfoundations for what
would later be called Jazzwould later be called Jazz

4. Swing and the Big BandsSwing and the Big Bands
 Jazz music becameJazz music became
more popular in themore popular in the
1920s and 1930s with1920s and 1930s with
the rise of Swing musicthe rise of Swing music
and the big bandand the big band
orchestrasorchestras
 Many of Jazz’s pioneersMany of Jazz’s pioneers
(Louis Armstrong, Duke(Louis Armstrong, Duke
Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald)Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald)
were making influentialwere making influential
music at this timemusic at this time

5. Bebop breaks the moldBebop breaks the mold
 Jazz’s popularityJazz’s popularity
continued to grow in thecontinued to grow in the
1940s, but a counter jazz1940s, but a counter jazz
movement (calledmovement (called
Bebop) influenced whatBebop) influenced what
was to come later in Jazzwas to come later in Jazz
musicmusic
 Musicians like CharlieMusicians like Charlie
Parker and DizzyParker and Dizzy
Gillespie led the BebopGillespie led the Bebop
movementmovement

6. Miles Davis and Cool JazzMiles Davis and Cool Jazz
 Miles Davis broke fromMiles Davis broke from
his early Bebop days andhis early Bebop days and
started a new Jazzstarted a new Jazz
movement (“Cool Jazz”)movement (“Cool Jazz”)
in the 1950s and 1960sin the 1950s and 1960s
 This period had the peakThis period had the peak
and the start of theand the start of the
decline of Jazz’sdecline of Jazz’s
popularity (Rock ‘n Rollpopularity (Rock ‘n Roll
was rising at this time)was rising at this time)

7. Jazz moves to the fringeJazz moves to the fringe
 From the 1970s to today,From the 1970s to today,
Jazz music has lost a lot ofJazz music has lost a lot of
its popularityits popularity
 Experimental artists likeExperimental artists like
Ornette Coleman and theOrnette Coleman and the
Free Jazz movement wereFree Jazz movement were
not popular with mainstreamnot popular with mainstream
listenerslisteners
 Ken Burns’ documentary onKen Burns’ documentary on
Jazz brought back some ofJazz brought back some of
the interest in this genrethe interest in this genre