Abstract
Jazz is a music that belongs to all races. This paper argues that, even though there have been a majority of African-American musicians in the jazz community, anyone can play it, write it, and express their feelings through it. There was music being played at the same time jazz began by other people who had a big influence on jazz, however. This paper shows that there have also been many white musicians who have made important and influential contributions to jazz. Over the last few decades, many jazz artists and critics have become vocal about their opinion about jazz and race because there are so many strong opinions about it. The writer concludes that this issue has been discussed privately since jazz became popular and that the connection between jazz and race continues to be a widely discussed topic in the jazz community.

From the Paper
"The connection between jazz music and race has been discussed since jazz first became a genre one hundred years ago. Over the last four decades, many jazz artists have become more vocal about the idea that jazz is a black music. The argument is not that all good jazz musicians are black, but that the most immediate and significant ancestors have been black. Some of the major jazz innovators such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane have been black. The view of jazz as a black music, however, is controversial. There are many that believe that jazz is not the property of just one racial group. Artists who are or were not black such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw Stan Getz, Bix Beiderbecke, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck, Frank Trumbauer, and Charlie Haden have also left distinguished marks on jazz. At the turn of the century, when jazz first became popular, white and black musicians were playing very similar, though not identical, forms of music. Some artists and critics claim that the jazz expression of black Americans is a creative reflection of the black experience, however, most artists see jazz as a way to express personal experience, no matter what race they are. Though the first innovative jazz musicians were black, jazz is a music that belongs to all races."

Tags:armstrong, coltrane, race, racism, shaw

Abstract
This paper provides an in depth look at the history of jazz, the early development of the music style, through African American musicians trying to create music that was uplifting; the direct opposite of the blues. The author discusses rhythm and instrumentation, numerous jazz artists and popular tunes.

From the Paper
"Jazz is associated with the African American people and this is an influence unequaled in the field of music. The true spirit of jazz arises from a revolt from convention, custom, authority, and boredom, even sorrow, from everything that would confine the soul of man. The blacks that invented it called their songs the blues, and they weren't capable of satire or deception. Jazz was their explosive attempt to cast off the blues and be happy, carefree happy, even in the midst of sordidness and sorrow. Jazz is a release of all the suppressed emotions at once. Jazz is a part of the direct process of African American music. In rhythm it goes directly back through ragtime, through the minstrel period, through the spirituals and dances to its African origin."

Tags:armstrong, new, orleans, basie, jelly, roll, chicago, african, duke, ellington, goodman, harlem

Abstract
This paper shall promote alternative solutions for jazz distribution to the consumer in order to keep the market alive and vibrant.

Abstract
The paper examines Bill Evans' life and career, musical influences, and a sampling of his compositions and performances that show strong cross-cultural elements. The paper analyzes three of his most cross-cultural albums; "Symbiosis", "Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra" and "From Left to Right". The paper concludes that more research should be done on this aspect of Evans' music, as knowing the cross-cultural influences can help us grasp the complexities and beauty of his style.

Outline:
Introduction
Bill Evans' Life and Early Career
Bill Evans' Cross-Cultural Influences
Three Cross-Cultural Albums
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Without question, Bill Evans is one of the greatest musicians of all time. He has been called a "poet of the piano" because of the incredible sensitivity and lyricism he brought to jazz piano playing, and also because of the complexity, richness, and sophistication he brought to jazz harmonies . During his twenty-five year career in the post-bop era, spanning from 1955-1980, he recorded over seventy albums, both as a sideman for other artists and as a leader of his own ensembles. Bill Evans' music touched fans from all over the world because he played on extensive concert tours, both within the United States and abroad. He also received accolades from critics and the public alike, winning the Down Beat Critic's Poll five times, six Grammy awards for his albums, the Melody Maker award in 1968, and Scandinavia's Edison Award and Japan's Swing Journal award in 1969."

Tags:album, piano, tracks, rhythm, notes

Abstract
This paper explores swing jazz music's beginnings, its greatest popularity between 1935 and 1945 and its decline. The paper includes small sections on Western Swing and propaganda swing of the World War II period. Short histories of the careers of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey appear, and attention is also given to its revival in the 1990s and the popularity of swing dances today.

Tags:swing, jazz, music

Abstract
As the title suggests, "Jazz" connects key aspects of jazz music to the disenchanted lives of the book's characters, creating three significant parallels. Overall, the book becomes an instrument for Toni Morrison's melody. The paper shows that, first, like a jazz ensemble, each character's solo is arranged together to create a disjointed unity, contrasting notes that somehow come together. Second, a new and unique rhythm, voice, beat and language are created that go beyond the conventional forms of both music and storytelling. In other words, the book tries to portray the importance of jazz for blacks in Harlem in the 1920's. It becomes a way of communicating a history, a present, and a future that have never before been told. The paper shows that, finally, the door is opened for improvisation, change, and perhaps even hope.

From the Paper
"Essentially, through these jazz-like lyrics, Morrison provides these characters with a way to tell their story. Otherwise, they do not know how to talk to each other; in fact, they can't seem to communicate in the traditional way through conversation. Therefore, they need, even want, their own form or method for saying what they want to say. For example, the narrator tells us that "Maybe everybody has a renegade tongue yearning to be on its own" (24). In the meantime, however, "Violet shuts up. Speaks less and less until "uh" or "have mercy" carry almost all of her part of a conversation".

Tags:violet, joe, music

Abstract
This paper discusses the importance of jazz appreciation. It begins by discussing the history of jazz music and how its popularity has changed over time. The paper defines jazz music and discusses jazz musicians. It then goes on to discuss how music, in general, can be used in education and how jazz music, in particular, can be used as a vehicle for urban-area education.

From the Paper
"Anyone in today's world can turn on the radio and find almost every genre of music, except for one: jazz. Jazz was a music form that dominated the billboard charts fifty to sixty years ago, and has slowly faded away, leaving the music industry as a money-interest only business, not very concerned about the music itself. Jazz as a whole today can be found in very few places such as small jazz clubs in big cities, private parties, and unfortunately, elevators. When music is restricted only to certain venues, it is bound to die out soon. Today's music world has pop and rap genres dominating. What many music followers fail to realize is that the roots of their "popular" music evolved from jazz. Jazz music is on a definite decline due to a lack of appreciation and media attention. The music of jazz brings along many positive aspects, most importantly, a vehicle for urban-area education. Through the different stages of the jazz period, and the influences that made a milestone in that period, this classic genre has made a landmark in our world's history."

Tags:rap, hip, pop

Abstract
This paper analyzes the topic of drug abuse and alcoholism during the Jazz Age and specifically discusses the history of abuse and its effects on musicians and the music itself. It looks at how jazz music has a long and varied history in the United States and how, unfortunately, it includes a long history of drug and alcohol abuse among performers, too. It attempts to show how this abuse helped give jazz an undeserved reputation among many listeners and how it also created a sub-culture among performers that has been difficult to overcome.

From the Paper
"Jazz is more than music and enticing rhythms, jazz is a state of mind for many, and that may be why so many jazz musicians and performers alter their states of mind with alcohol and drugs. Jazz music first came into being in the early 20th century, and the word was first noted around 1913 (Teachout 58). A jazz writer notes, "That word jazz is ambitious. [?] The origin of the word is uncertain. The term has been applied also to noisy proceedings, to loud writing, to eccentric and discordant coloring'" (Osgood 10). Often performed by black musicians, jazz played a part in the Harlem Renaissance in New York, and remains one of the most popular forms of music today."

Tags:billie, holiday, heroin

Abstract
This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of music appreciation. Specifically, the paper discusses the author's personal attraction to jazz music and some of its composers and performers. An annotated listening list is appended to the paper.

From the Paper
"Jazz is a uniquely American creation, and perhaps that is one reason I enjoy it so much. In the early part of the 20th century, the music we call jazz and blues were beginning to develop into popular songs people enjoyed. One critic writes, "Unquestionably, the most significant contribution made to music by the United States in the period under discussion lay in the field of popular music" (Hansen 84). Jazz used atypical syncopation and "blues notes," which included a complex variation on the major scale. Most music experts believe jazz and the blues developed from black spirituals and folk music of the South, and stretched from New Orleans to Chicago and then the East. In due course, jazz would influence later styles of music, such and be-bop and swing. In fact, jazz helped generate a popular music rage that seized the country. That passion for jazz continues today. Jazz also influenced other styles of music, as the uniquely American compositions of George Gershwin and Aaron Copland clearly illustrate."

Tags:harlem, renaissance, new, york, louis, armstrong, duke, wellington, cotton, club, blues

Abstract
This paper gives a persuasive paper on the positive aspects of Latin Jazz music, considering it holistically from a musical perspective including rhythmically, tonally and its evolution into popular culture.