What Are the Different Types of Jazz Music? -Take a Look

Jazz music has a vast history. Being one of the most prominent music genres, jazz has an immense fan base, and people listen to jazz music for the joy it gives them, to calm their minds and heal their souls. Thus, it has stood the test of time, and just as people used to enjoy listening to this genre back in the day, today it shares a similar popularity. If you are a lover of jazz music, then it would interest you to know that there are different types of jazz music, the styles have evolved as the years have passed, and the genre has grown old. So, in this blog, we will check out some of the different types of jazz music and the variety that makes the genre stand out as a unique one.

 Also, if you want to listen to different types of jazz music, it would be best if you tuned into any top jazz radio station in USA that is well-known for playing the best jazz and swing music.

 5 Different Types of Jazz Music

Jazz is a vast genre, and if we talk about its roots, then it would be right to say that they lie in improvisation. This was the main reason that this genre continuously evolved throughout history. So, let’s explore five popular types of jazz music.

 Early Jazz

 Early Jazz, which is also called Dixieland or Hot Jazz, originated in the early 20th centuryat the heart of the city New Orleans. Early jazz was highly influenced by ragtime and was accompanied by trumpets, saxophones, drums, trombones, banjos, clarinets, tubas, upright basses, and others. Since the era at this time was free, the genre was keen on band improvisation and not sheet music. Some of the notable early jazz artists are King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, and more.

 Swing and Big Band

Swing and big band music are identified by their rhythmic innovations and written arrangements. Big band jazz and swing music in USA were big hits during the 1930s and 1940s. The name "Swing" was given because the music was groove-driven and the style of dance that was performed by the bandleaders

The Swing was a great success in music history because the music was very smooth, had a simple melody, and was accompanied by drums. So, the music was pleasant to the ear. The swing era saw some of the most iconic musicians, to name a few: Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Ella Fitzgerald, and more.

 Bebop

The bebop music genre was influenced by swing. However, this style of jazz didn't sound like swing music. Bebop was a fast, loud, and exciting type. This type originated in the early 1940s. At this time, famous musicians were Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. Then, musicians like Miles Davis and Art Blakely arrived on the scene.

Although this style couldn’t gain much popularity, it should still be acknowledged because it had its own contribution to jazz and helped pave the way for further modification of it.

Want to hear some of the best Bebop, early jazz music, or other styles? Then, you can tune into a jazz music radio station USA for the best recordings.

 Cool Jazz

During the 1940s and 1950s, there were not a lot of music types that floated around. At this point, people generally listened to bebop and cool jazz. The latter had great pleasantness due to its mellow vibe. The music featured melodious harmonies and slow tempos. The music reflected California’s laid-back attitude, and that is where the music originated from. Cool jazz music was inspired by classical music. Some of the most prominent cool jazz musicians were Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, and Gerry Mulligan.

 Hard Bop

Hard Bop is often accepted as Bebop’s extension. However, while Bebop featured fast tempos, in Hard Bop slow tempos were used and are identified for the more blues and gospel layers they have. This music style originated on the USA’s east coast during the 1950s and 1960s. The songs in this era featured some very unusual compositions, this is because some musicians like Art Blakely, and John Coltrane and others felt that jazz music was sounding more European.

Conclusion

So, these are some of the top styles of jazz that have evolved over the course of years. While there are more such styles of jazz, here we have narrowed them down to five. To know more about other styles of jazz music, you can watch this space. And, if you are eager to listen to the different styles of jazz music, then you can tune into Swing Street Radio, one of the most popular jazz music radio stations in USA.