The History of Jazz
 By: Katie Sciarini
In The Beginning...
TrumpetJazz was the first original American music. It was first heard coming from the mouths of slaves as a type of music called the "Blues." As the country progressed, so did the music that was then known as 'jass.' More instruments were added and the music seemed to be traveling up the east coast, from New Orleans to Harlem. Jazz slowly transitioned from a cultural outlet for African Americans to the entertainment act it is most known for. After the Civil War, the Reconstruction brought a new, lighter form of jazz. This was called Ragtime. Ragtime symbolized the freedom that the African Americans felt. The Early Twentieth Century
The 1920s were lovingly referred to as the golden age of jazz. The jazz music of this time period seemed to be designed for dancing. New types emerged such as Chicago Style, which was fast and loose. Another famous type of jazz was also highly prominent at this time. Popularized by Louis Armstrong, this form relied on wordless syllables that sounded like instruments to convey its message. Armstrong was a groundbreaker in jazz during the 1920s.

The 1930s brought the Depression along with a temporary decline in jazz talent. In 1935 this lull ended with the begginning of "Swing." Lasting until 1946,the Swing Era combined many previous styles of jazz and was basically continuing the carefree lifestyle of the 1920s. This music was representative of the feeling of relief that the Depression was finally over. Around 1938, a group of people who wanted the original jazz back got their way. They wanted the small bands and simple tunes back, so they created their own bands. From this, Bebop was born. In the bebop style, the players focused more on harmony than melody, and the the overall sound was more free and frantic. Some say this was the most creative form of jazz. This style of jazz lasted until the 1950s.

Jazz & Invisible Man
In the book, Invisible Man, Ellison has incorporated the beat of jazz into his writing. By looking at the sentence wording very closely, it is evident that jazz rhythms have been woven in them. Jazz is very important to the character, Invisible Man, because the rhythms follow him throughout the book. He hears Mary's singing jazz tunes and they remind him of his childhood. The tunes sprout ideas in his mind about his invisibility and his life.