Jazz

Jazz

A style of music characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm. It emerged at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions.

Industry: Music

Add a new term

Contributors in Jazz

Become a Contributors

Jazz

songster

Music; Jazz

A performer with a wide repertoire that may include traditional songs, originals, and popular music of the time.

Parchman Farm

Music; Jazz

Built in 1901, Parchman is the oldest maximum security prison in the United States. Notorious for the brutal conditions endured by its predominantly black inmate population, such working very long ...

bones

Music; Jazz

A folk music instrument fashioned from the rib or lower leg bones of an animal, although it's commonly made of wood now. The instrument's characteristic clicking sound is produced by clapping a pair ...

race records

Music; Jazz

Original term for music records produced for and by African Americans in the early twentieth century that were in the genres of the blues, jazz, and gospel. The term was replaced by the title "rhythm ...

Mississippi Delta

Music; Jazz

The northwest region of Mississippi of the U.S. between the Mississippi River and the Yazoo River which was heavily populated by black sharecroppers and tenant farmers in the early twentieth century. ...

five string

Music; Jazz

A musical term referring to an electric bass with five strings; a typical bass only has four strings. A five string usually has an additional low "B" string.

blues scale

Music; Jazz

A scale with varying number of pitches and related characteristics. The most common blues scale is hexatonic, or six note blues scale which consists of the minor pentatonic scale plus the #4th or ...