Why Jazz and Rock Aren't All That Different

While many may argues that rock and roll did not have its roots until the early fifties, after analysis of earlier time periods, I feel that jazz had a major influence on what would later become the heart of rock and roll. After World War 1 came to a close, many people viewed life in a much different manner than their elders and antecedents ever perceived. They didn’t simply want to conform, but the people wanted to live. Thus, they adopted many secular values and partook in many wild activities that drove home the rising attitude of rebellion. Up until this point in modern history, I feel that the younger generation had never had a vibe of pure defiance. Due to the cynicism from the war, people began to defy authority and their values greatly differed from their more conservative parents. This concept of rebellion was adopted in music through the genre of jazz. This rebellion would later influence the heart of rock and roll. Thus, I see a very strong connection between jazz and rock while many others may consider the two genres completely different from one another.

During the time of the Lost Generation and the age of the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age was ushered in. Accompanying a new society where life’s pleasures were enjoyed and morals shifted towards more carefree attitudes, jazz music provided a fun setting for people to simply let loose. During the twenties, many people mixed and interacted in speakeasies which were illegal bars where bootlegged alcohol was served. People merely wanted to enjoy themselves and jazz music made this easier to accomplish. Its recognizably catchy beat and rhythms enabled an exciting ambience to be attained in a society where freeing oneself from previous morals and letting loose was everything.

Because of the tight connection between jazz as a rising music genre that embodied the rebellious attitude of the time with these illegal activities, many blamed the music for the sinful actions of the people. Jazz was classified as an evil influence on society and even associated with communism by the few who weren’t part of the movement during the Lost Generation and Roaring 20s. In actuality, jazz simply mirrored the views and morals of the day. While the society’s elders and authority figures tried to stunt the growing rebellious vibe that was a result of World War 1, jazz enabled the younger generation to express their feelings. Jazz acted as the backdrop to a variety of illegal speakeasies and became a major part of the rebellious activities that took place behind closed doors during the age of great parties and wild nights of the 1920s. The music that was created was not influencing the people; the people were shaping the music.

Jazz ultimately inspired change in society towards a more hedonistic attitude on life. In its very essence, jazz is all about trying new things and solely based off of endeavor. People simply wanted to have fun with their new (and empty) morals. At its heart, jazz is classified by several key characteristics including swing, syncopation, improvisation, and bent notes. Swing and syncopation are closely related and are based off of adding accents and stresses on different notes/times in a song. This innovative technique provided jazz with the classic catchy and rhythmic beat that made people of the time want to get up and dance. Bent notes also illustrate jazz musician’s desire to alter music and change the style. Lastly, improvisation cultures creativity. All of these major aspects of jazz directly reflect the desire for change on a variety of levels and a shift in overall societal views. Rock and roll is also all about endeavoring into the unknown, thus, there are several strong links between these two genre powerhouses.

Many of jazz’s great artists had their humble beginnings playing in the illegal speakeasies of the 1920s including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bojangles Robinson, and Ethel Waters. Their catchy and hip music enabled all of these artists to greatly impact the musical world as well as reflect societal change through art. To get an idea of my comparison between jazz and rock, listen to two hits from either genre and look for specific similarities in attitude, tone, and general feel. Check it out: