ABSTRACT
The diverse influences of West African music, early American vocal music, blues, brass bands, and ragtime all contributed to the beginnings of jazz. From West Africa, the use of polyrhythms was very important in the development of syncopated ragtime melodies and, later, to the swing feel of early jazz.
Although not immediately obvious in some jazz styles, Afro-Latin and Caribbean music has had some kind of influence on many jazz styles. Like jazz, this music involves a mixing of elements from different cultures, including African and Spanish music that developed somewhat separately from that of the rest of Europe.
Ragtime is a composed music that flourished in the late 1890s and in the first decade and a half of the 20th century. It is a very syncopated music, written primarily for the piano. Its beginnings can be traced to the Midwest cities of St. Louis and Sedalia, MO.
Blues is a style especially dependent on vocalists and it developed at about the same time jazz emerged. The 12-bar-blues form has been used, not only by blues musicians, but also by the jazz community throughout the history of jazz. Portions of some of these early blues recordings are virtually indistinguishable from early jazz.
