Music. . .

Music. . .

 The 1920s brought new styles of music into the mainstream of American culture. Jazz became the most popular form of music for young people and the flapper culture. Famous jazz performers and singers from the 1920s include Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. For me, even now, Louis Armstrong is one of the best musicians to grace this earth. His gritty voice and his skills as a trumpet player has left an everlasting effect on the music world regards to Jazz, Rhythm and Blues. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an "inventive" cornet and trumpet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence on jazz, shifting the music's focus from collective improvisation to solo performers.  He was also greatly skilled at scat singing, or vocalizing using syllables instead of actual lyrics.

I found this video on YouTube as I feel that the compilation shows a good representation of the musicians and also the venues of jazz music. It gave me a clear insight as to the effect jazz music had on society in the 20s and for me, I think it is one of the most inspirational and talented genres, full of energy, sass and always makes you want to get up and dance!!

Jazz and dance was/is the music for all people in society. Both the dance and music was popular but thi resulted to an end when the 'great depression' - when devastating poor AND rich economic events disrupted the world. Throughout the novel/film The Great Gatsby, I picked up on the fact that jazz music is frequently referenced as with the high society, lavish parties, and the large brass bands played a big part.

Listening to the theme of the music does associate you with happiness and wealth, as we can see in this short video of one of Gatsby's parties in the 1974 adaptation that literally whatever the weather, the party will still go on. . . 

Jazz was not just music; i was a form of communal expression. In the 1920s jazz music provided a freedom of expression, musical individuality and cultural freedom. Jazz music lead to new dances in the 20s such as The Charleston, One Step and Black Bottom, which were all significantly popular throughout and after the 20s. Not only was listening to music in the 1920s and going to nightclubs popular, many people owned pianos, played sheet music and listened to records. From the drinking, racial issues, dancing, to the freedom of expression, the music of the 1920s impacted peoples lives greatly and influences their behaviors  and still does nowadays to me as I feel that the 20s was one of the most influential eras to this date. With the music and the fashion, I would of  LOVED to of been my age in the 1920s, I definitely feel that I was born in the wrong era!!