By Jan Waring
 Mixing early day jazz with the musical influences of todays popular music creates a diverse, sophisticated and vibrant blend referred to as Contemporary jazz music. This metamorphosis has been taking place over the past four decades where each decade has blended the previous evolution with current styles, music and instrumentation.
The rationale for this creation was to appeal to the new generation of listeners with modifications and improvements in every aspect of the genre.
Contemporary jazz musicians have their own unique style, yet endeavor to maintain the integrity of the origins of American jazz. Contemporary jazz music focuses on the rhythms and does not incorporate the spontaneity of early day jazz performers.
History
Contemporary jazz music began in the late 1960s with early attempts to fuse together pop music and jazz. Trying to meld the two genres together, bands incorporated electrical instruments such as the guitar, bass guitar and electric piano. Eventually, electric synthesizers were added, which resulted in blending the sounds of jazz with pop music.
Contemporary jazz music continued to progress in the early |
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By Jan Waring
 Gospel jazz music is considered the music of rebirth and promise, as well as the music of pain and loss. As a cultural foundation of the American society, it was born out of times of emotional turmoil.
A Brief History
In the early 1900s African-American churches in the South encouraged their congregations to interact with the sermon, sharing their beliefs in the power of salvation. These emotional outbursts easily transformed into song.
Early artists implemented this new style of jazz music into mainstream American society. They implemented familiar jazz instruments into the form of gospel jazz music. Soon people began to hear such instruments as drums and pianos behind the powerful ballads of church singers. Thomas A. Dorsey, one of the early artists, wanted to provide a basis for churches to help their members express themselves about their religious convictions, using his music as a general guideline. Little did he know that he was bringing gospel music to the forefront of American musical culture.
Feel the Beat
Although passionately moving and serious, the tone of gospel jazz music during |
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