Most large cities have a symphony orchestra, which may perform a dozen times during a season. Jazz and the blues, however, are usually available most of the time in small venues like bars and clubs, and often during the year at large festivals, such as the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California. Jazz is gaining in popularity on the radio too, and most larger cities have at least one jazz station, while they might not have a classical station. Classical music is accessible in a number of areas, but jazz and the blues are accessible in many more, and that is why today's listener has a wide choice of options when looking for live jazz and blues concerts.
Any trained musician knows all musical genres have similarities. They all use a distinct language of notes and rhythms, and they all use meter, tempo, and harmony. In this, jazz and blues have similarities with many classical works, and grew out of the classical period of European history, but in another direction. Another author writes, "For musicians and commentators alike, jazz and classical music have symbolized separate spheres of African-American and European (or white) artistic accomplishment" (Porter xv).
Many people believe the blues is simply a form of sad song, but there is much more to the music than that. Author Gioia continues, "For a contemporary musician, the term 'blues' refers to a precise twelve-bar form that relies heavily on tonic, dominant, and subdominant harmonies. The blues are further characterized by the prevalence of 'blue' notes (Gioia). Thus, the blues and jazz are closely intertwined with their rhythms and harmonies, but differ in their approaches to those harmonies...
New Orleans is famous for their jazz fest in the spring; it attracts thousands of visitors every year, even after the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Personally, smooth jazz is some of the most appealing, while ragtime-type jazz is less appealing. Jazz and swing of the 1940s is also very appealing, especially modern renditions of that period from artists such as Manhattan Transfer, etc.
In conclusion, jazz evolved from the roots of slavery and African-American longing for their lost culture in Africa. It combines many different genres, from gospel to folk music, and spawned many spin-offs, most notably the blues. It is still a vitally important musical genre, and it continues to evolve into various forms, such as "smooth" jazz. Uniquely American, it is a melting pot of melodies, harmonies, and most of all rhythms. It has spread around the world, and it seems it will continue to influence many forms of music for decades to come.
References
Gioia, Ted. "The History of Jazz." WashingtonPost.com. 1997. 18 July 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/historyofjazz.htm
Knight, Richard. "All That JAZZ." Geographical Oct. 2001: 14.
Porter, Eric. What Is This Thing Called Jazz? African-American Musicians as Artists, Critics, and Activists. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2002.
Shepard, T. Brooks. "Music Notes Earworthy." American Visions Oct. 1999: 48.
