characterized by its own recording artists

Every generation is often characterized by its own recording artists. Recording artists and other musicians speak the language of music, which tells much about the world affairs, everyday living, hardships and inspirations, beliefs, and ambitions of the times straddled. Jazz music has changed with differing perspectives, from upbeat to relaxing to emotional, throughout the 20th century, but many elements stayed until today.

Jazz is probably well-known as cousin to the blues. Jazz music started as an offshoot of the combined ragtime, blues, African ritual beats and European harmonies. Together, the first recording musicians were big bands in the 1920s that entertained ballroom dancers and steamship crowds until the 50s.The first well-known big band is probably the Original Dixieland Jass Band. Their sound echoed the numerous bands of the time, and they were the first to produce sell-out jazz records.

Big band jazz eventually turned into hot jazz, which featured a “hot” climax following improvised solos. Louis Armstrong was the most creative genius of the time. In the 1930s, it was the time of swing jazz, where big bands produced upbeat dance music for the crowds. The great female jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Rosemary Clooney started out as vocalists to bands, but made a legacy from prolific individual jazz careers.