Contemporary Jazz

Contemporary Jazz – bright form of musical art, multi-faceted and the original component of the world’s musical culture.
Since its inception at the turn of the XIX – XX centuries jazz, as a kind of musical improvisation art went through a period of development and formation, changing over time stylistic orientation, social status and artistic and semantic content.Samba, Brazilian music, tango, argentine tango.
Over time, the Jazz came out of the traditional ethno-cultural and socio-geographical framework, interacting with the border musical styles and traditional ethnic music forms in different countries and peoples.
Specificity of jazz has always been a phenomenal performance skills and improvisation with sound or tempo, emphasizing the creative aesthetic concept of music.
In recent decades, the term Contemporary jazz, as a rule, represent music in the style of Smooth Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Fusion, which is the result of the synthesis of the traditional jazz sound with pop music, R & B and World music. Bright melodic and harmonic sound and Smooth Jazz Crossover Jazz has a special appeal to a large audience of students and music lovers.

Styles and trends Contemporary jazz.

Jazz as a musical art form emerged in the United States at the junction of XIX – XX centuries, absorbing the musical traditions of European settlers and African folk melodic patterns.
Characteristic improvisation, melodic polyrhythm and exuberant performance became the hallmark of the first New Orleans jazz ensembles (jazz-band) in the first decade of the last century.
With the passage of time has passed jazz periods of its development and formation, changing rhythmic patterns and stylistic direction: from improvisational manner ragtime (ragtime), a dance orchestral swing (swing) and unhurried soft blues (blues).
Since the beginning of the 20’s and up until the 1940s, associated with the heyday of jazz orchestras (big bands), consisting of several sections of the orchestra of saxophones, trombones, trumpets and rhythm section. The peak of popularity of big bands came in the mid 30-ies of the last century. Music performed by jazz bands of Duke Ellington (Duke Ellington), Count Basie (Count Basie), Benny Goodman (Benny Goodman) was played on dance floors and radio.Samba, Brazilian music, tango, argentine tango.
Rich orchestral sound, bright tone and great improvising soloists Coleman Hawkins (Coleman Hawkins), Teddy Wilson (Teddy Wilson), Benny Carter (Benny Carter), and others., – To create a recognizable and unique the big band sound, which is the classic jazz music.
In 40-50 years. the last century, it’s time to modern-jazz; such styles of jazz, as a fierce bebop, lyrical cool jazz, soft west coast jazz, rhythmic hard bop, soul jazz soulful captured the hearts of lovers of jazz music.
In the mid-1960s, a new direction of jazz – jazz-rock (jazz-rock), a peculiar combination of energy inherent in rock music and jazz improvisation. The founders of jazz – rock considered Miles Davis (Miles Davis), Larry Coryell (Larry Coryell), Billy Cobham (Billy Cobham). In the 70s jazz-rock has become extremely popular. Using a rhythmic pattern and harmony rock music, shades of traditional oriental melodies and harmonies of the blues, the use of power tools and synthesizers – eventually led to the emergence of the term jazz-fusion (jazz fusion), emphasizing its name to the connection of several musical traditions and influences.
In 70-80 years, jazz music, while maintaining an emphasis on melody and improvisation, acquired features pop, funk (funk), rhythm and blues (R & B) and crossover jazz, greatly expanding the audience of listeners and became commercially successful.
Contemporary jazz, emphasizing clarity, melody and beauty of sound is usually described as smooth jazz or contemporary jazz. Rhythmic and melodic guitar lines and bass guitars, saxophones and trumpets, keyboards, in the sound of synthesizers and samplers framed to create a luxurious, easily recognizable sound colorful smooth jazz.
Despite the fact that the smooth jazz and contemporary jazz as the direction of modern jazz music have similar handwriting, it’s still different styles of jazz. As a rule, it is argued that the smooth jazz – «background” music, while contemporary jazz – a more personal style of jazz and requires close attention of the listener. Further development of smooth jazz led to the emergence of the lyrical direction of modern jazz – adult contemporary and more rhythmic urban jazz with hints of R & B, funk, hip-hop.Samba, Brazilian music, tango, argentine tango.
In addition, the trend towards the compound smooth jazz and electronic sound led to the emergence of popular trends in modern music as nu jazz, as well as the lounge, chill and lo-fi.