The true definition of "Jazz"

Everyone talks about "Jazz music,"  but do we truly understand what that term means?  I didn't, until I did some research.  If you look up the definition, you'll get something along the lines of "A type of music of black American origin which emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm. Brass and woodwind instruments and piano are particularly associated with jazz, although guitar and occasionally violin are also used; styles include Dixieland, swing, bebop, and free jazz." (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/jazz)   Another commonly stated fact is that jazz originated in New Orleans.  While all those things are 100% true, jazz is identified by numerous other characteristics.  

Black slaves in the south singing while trudging along
after a hard day's work (early 20th century)

Some of the first jazz musicians (Scott Joplin, Charles "Buddy" Bolden, and Louis Armstrong) actually claimed that "to jazz" meant to have sexual intercourse, while literary critics claimed that the word emerged years and years back, during the time of Chaucer and Shakespeare.  This music originated in the early 20th century in the South, where poor, underprivileged black slaves sang songs while working (most commonly in the fields).  These slaves would trudge along side by side after a long day's work and sing these songs together.  Thus, jazz incorporates a mixture of African folk songs and rhythms as well as Caribbean and black American music.  While it did originate in New Orleans, jazz was also being played and sung at the same time in other large cities such as Saint Louis, Kansas City, and Chicago.

Sometimes the term "Jazz music" is abused or used too often by people who don't fully understand the term.  It is important, being that jazz is one of the few art forms to actually originate in America, that we fully understand the concepts and creation of this beautiful music.  While there may not be a single, "true" definition of the word, we must know the history and creation of the music in order to be able to fully appreciate jazz.

SOURCES:
http://www.apassion4jazz.net/
http://www.redhotjazz.com/originsarticle.html
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/music/musichistory/jazzbirthplace.html
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/jazz
http://jazz.about.com/od/historyjazztimeline/tp/Ten_Early_Jazz_Musicians.htm
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