[se-ka]

Jazz music had its beginnings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it arose from a blend of African and European music traditions. Its roots can be traced back to New Orleans, where different cultures were able to meet and merge due to the city’s diverse neighborhoods and occupations. The music was heavily influenced by West African cultural and musical expressions, mixed with blues, ragtime, Kanter, and brass band music. Early jazz was also inspired by the more European-oriented marches of the day.

The lively, swung rhythms of jazz were in part due to the African tradition of “Hendy,” which involved improvisation, blues inflections and a call-and-response pattern in the music. On the other hand, the European influence brought about the importance of structure and harmony. The interchange of these two elements is what ultimately led to the development of the distinctively American musical