Originating from many genres including blues, ragtime, dance and spiritual music, jazz first began to appear in the late 19th to early 20th century. It’s since enjoyed significant shifts and transformations throughout the ages and maintains a passionate and dedicated audience today. Indeed, you’ll find many a live performance restaurant in London hosting jazz bands, so let’s take a closer look at jazz trends through the years.
Early 20th Century – The Birth of Jazz
It’s hard to imagine a world without jazz, but this now popular genre didn’t fully emerge until the early 1900s. Influenced by ragtime and blues with figures like Scott Joplin and W.C. Handy at the helm, jazz brought New Orleans to life before spreading across the world. Blending African American musical traditions with European harmonies, it was clear that this music was about to revolutionise the scene for good.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louis Armstong was a cornet and trumpet player who shifted the focus of jazz from collective improvisation to solo performance. Head to a live music restaurant and you’ll probably still hear the tunes by this jazz sensation.
The Jazz Age of the 1920s
As a symbol of freedom and expression in the Roaring Twenties, jazz became more widely adored. It was the soundtrack to the Harlem Renaissance – a cultural revival of African American arts in New York – and represented social change. Swing and big bands exploded in popularity thanks to artists such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie, with this trend lasting well into the 1930s and 40s. Figures such as Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller became band leaders, bringing jazz into the mainstream.
1940s-60s – Post War Innovation
The post-war era gave way to different styles of jazz with bebop known for its faster tempo improvisation. There was also cool jazz, which was much slower and more relaxed than previous styles as well as hard bop which incorporated elements of blues and gospel.
Things continued to progress into the 1960s when traditional structures of jazz were sidelined in favour of free jazz. Modal jazz also became popular, emphasising scales over traditional chord progressions.
1970s – Jazz Fusion
As tight shirts and flares became a fashion trend, jazz blended with rock, funk and electric music for another unique sound. By experimenting with electric instruments and synthesisers, a whole new world of music was unleashed.
1980s-90s – A Return to Tradition
Having been off the leash for so long, jazz reverted back to a more traditional sound in the 80s and 90s, with many radio-friendly tracks also cropping up from artists such as Kenny G and George Benson.
2000s-Present – Global Fusion
Over the past couple of decades, jazz has enjoyed many global influences blending with African, Latin and Asian music. Social media has also made jazz more accessible and has led to greater diversity in the genre.
If you’re looking for a live band restaurant that plays host to modern jazz musicians, book a table at Studio Five in Wembley Park. We have a great line-up of up and coming artists to entertain you while you enjoy the flavours of our modern menu. Book your table today.
