Jazz is a mixture of culture, rhythm, and blues. It is a melting of many different people and there heritage. This American musical form often-improvisational development by African Americans, and influence by both European harmonic structure and African rhythms. During the 1800 in America's south, music was an integral part of the life of the plantation slaves of African decent. Plantation songs, spirituals, and field were a part of everyday life---to celebrate, to morn, to entertain, to commemorate, to worship, and to accompany the drudgery of the work. The music of the plantation blended with European-American music tradition to create the basis of blues, ragtime, and other musical forms from which Jazz evolved.
             Ragtime from 1880-1900 was one of the early musical styles that contributed to the development of jazz. This music was developed in New Orleans during the late 1800, it was composed primarily for the piano. It combined a 16 note based syncopated melody with the form and feel of a march. On the piano this was achieved by pianoist left hand playing a steady boom-chic bass and cord pattern, and the right hand playing the tune. Playing in this style was called "ragging." Noted piano players of this style were Scott Joplin, Artie Matthew, James Scott, and Tom Turpin.
             The Blues from 1900-1920 was an important influence on the development of Jazz. A highly expressive vocal tradition, blue songs express story and emotions. The blues were not only a type of music, but a state of mind and the way of life for many Blacks during this time. This music was seen by Northern American and became very popular. This was the beginning of the jazz age with Louis Armstrong, the Charleston, and flowering dresses with no waistline.
             Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in Jazz. In the 1920 in a studio recording he made his hot five and hot seven ensemble. He
             ...