The 20th century music world has seen the entry of light and easy listening music with African-American jazz music. It puts together the use of blue notes, improvisation, syncopation and swing notes. The realm of jazz music was and still is predominantly associated with the American black community. These black musicians transitioning from banjos and tambourines learned to play European instruments such as the violin. Black slaves from early America used to sing and play music as a form of spiritual or ritualistic hymns.
After emancipation, employment opportunities for black slaves were very limited as segregation laws were still in force. Most of these black slaves found themselves in the entertainment industry as piano players and instrumentalists. They became low-cost entertainers as piano bar players and marching band members. Soon, this kind of jazz music called Ragtime Jazz spread from the southern USA to other areas in the western and northern cities in USA. Ragtime jazz became very popular in the early part of the century. Musician Jelly Roll Morton published the first ever jazz arrangement in print in 1915 with the title Jelly Roll Blues. This printed arrangement brought forth a new breed of musicians playing ragtime. Ragtime music moved on from red-light district bars and variety shows to major concert locations.
The first jazz record was recorded in 1913 by Society Orchestra, the first black group to come out with a record. Throughout the years jazz music has always been preferred music genre among those who enjoy light and easy listening. There are radio stations that play only jazz music. Jazz music can be heard most everywhere in hotel lounges, salons, concert halls and wedding receptions.
To conclude, Jazz music is perhaps also the most unique form of music as there are no two jazz music performances are ever the same.
