Music Question.?

I am doing a paper about Jazz music from the 1920's. Can anyone tell me why it was popular, and where it origionated?

(I am doing research, but I would like some other advice)

Also, was the majority of jazz music happy, or sad?

The origins of jazz are easy to discover with a wealth of material available. The reasons for its popularity are more complex. From a sociological standpoint jazz became popular for several reason. First of all it was indeed shocking, and young people have always gravitated to that which would shock their elders. Because it was dance music it was played in dance halls which during the prohibition era of the 1920's meant speakeasies where illicit alcohol was served. This added to its forbidden fruit aura. Finally, the advent of the recording industry as a way of disseminating music came to fruition during the 20's allowing recordings by jazz musicians to be spread throughout the country and around the world. The first jazz recordings of The Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917 outsold recordings of John Phillip Sousa. Jazz was new, exciting, daring, risque and provided the perfect sound track for the Roaring 20's. They don't call it the Jazz Age for nothing.

it originated mostly in louisiana more specificly new orleans it was usally sad but sometimes it was happy jazz musica ofteen told a story it gave people a hideaway from the real world

The following is a quote from the website www.allmusic.com . I have found this site to be a wonderful resource music information.

"Jazz has been called America's classical music, and for good reason. Along with the blues, its forefather, it is one of the first truly indigenous musics to develop in America, yet its unpredictable, risky ventures into improvisation gave it critical cache with scholars that the blues lacked. At the outset, jazz was dance music, performed by swinging big bands. Soon, the dance elements faded into the background and improvisation became the key element of the music. As the genre evolved, the music split into a number of different styles, from the speedy, hard-hitting rhythms of be-bop and the laid-back, mellow harmonies of cool jazz to the jittery, atonal forays of free jazz and the earthy grooves of soul jazz. What tied it all together was a foundation in the blues, a reliance on group interplay and unpredictable improvisation. Throughout the years, and in all the different styles, those are the qualities that defined jazz."

I hope this helps your journey into discovering jazz music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz

In my opinion, most of the jazz from the era is "happy" ... but encompasses complex emotions.

If you think about the jubilant sound of "When the Saints go Marching In" - you also remember that it is jubilant because it is about being released when judgement day arrives.

St. James Infirmary is a sad tune, and so is some of the music for a New Orleans Funeral. Often starts off slow and dirgey, but ends lively as you celebrate the trials being over for the departed.