Today I had a great opportunity to attend “Monday Blues” – a Jazz performance by Urban Reflections Jazz (URJ). Enjoyed some scintillating performance by Dabbu on the guitar, Debu with percussion and Panku playing the Bass. The music was simply electrifying. It was raw power and highly magnetic. URJ is a quality band group and belted out some popular numbers, and the audience was simply awestruck.  

Jazz is not ‘that’ popular in India and is enjoyed by select music connoisseurs, and is mostly confined to ‘traditional’ clubs. However, Jazz, over the years has been catching up among the youth who love ‘pure’ music, and is becoming common at annual functions of select Business and Tech schools lately.   

For the benefit of IBIBOians, I delved into history and reproduce here the ‘story’ about the birth and growth of Jazz. Jazz music is an original American musical art form that developed around the start of the 20th century in African American communities in and around New Orleans, which was shaped by a confluence of numerous American music traditions. Jazz uses blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation, elements that collectively point to its roots in West African music. 

When West African tribes were brought to the New World (America) in chains, they carried their music and traditions with them. The powerful rhythms of African percussion influenced American music. Slave work songs were created in the African tradition of call-and-response. Many slaveholders did not allow the slaves to speak to each other, so the only way they could communicate was through song. They developed many different ways of getting their secret messages across in the lyrics. Slaves also sang soulful songs called "spirituals" to express their religious beliefs, feelings and desire for freedom. Spirituals and work songs are part of the foundation of the American art form, known as Jazz. In addition, in the early 1890s the blues emerged from these traditions. In performing the blues, singers used the power of their voices to express their feelings. 

French quadrilles, Spanish flamenco, Irish jigs, German waltzes and many more musical traditions arrived in American cities and ports. As new settlers arrived in the New Orleans’ seaport, musical traditions from all over the world began coming together. African American musicians merged European traditions with the blues, ragtime, marching band music and many other elements to create a new style of music known as "Jazz." 

During 1939-1945, many Jazz musicians were drafted to fight in World War II. African American Jazz bands continued to face racial discrimination by the record industry, clubs and audiences. White Jazz bands had financial success, while talented black entertainers were often overlooked.  

During the 1950’s, Americans began to turn to television as their entertainment. As a result, dance halls - where Jazz bands once played - began to close all across the country. The Milton Berle television program helped to introduce America to Elvis Presley and his fresh, energetic sound. This newer style of music — Rock ‘n Roll — became the hottest sensation for a new generation of teenagers. With entertainment like television, movies and rock and roll, Jazz faced new competition and shrinking audiences. Despite the shift in Jazz’s popularity, talented musicians continued to produce complex and powerful music and take Jazz in new directions. 

In case you are interested to buy some Jazz music, you may try from among the following Jazz greats…