A style of music that began in African American communities in the United States, known for its swing rhythms, improvisation, and expressive melodies. It includes many substyles, from big band to bebop.
The exact origin is uncertain, but “jazz” appears in early 1900s American slang with meanings related to energy or excitement before becoming the name of a music style. Some theories connect it to older slang terms or African American speech, but no single source is proven. The musical meaning quickly overshadowed the earlier senses.
Jazz treats written music as just a starting suggestion; the real magic happens in the improvisation. The same song can sound completely different each time it’s played, depending on the players’ choices in the moment. That makes jazz one of the most “alive” musical traditions, constantly rewriting itself.
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