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Jazz Improvisation

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Jazz Improvisation
Even though jazz music was developed from mixed cultures at the beginning of the 20th century, and rock music came about in the 1950’s and was a combination of blues, country, and jazz, they both have similarities and differences. Some of these similarities and differences can be found in the way each of these two music genres use improvisation, the atmosphere they create, and their sound. For example, it is true that jazz is known for its improvisation, but rock can also improvise; Jimmy Page, from the rock band Led Zeppelin, was known for his break away solo improvisations on his guitar. It is said that jazz creates an atmosphere of soul-searching characteristics, but so can rock. Since rock has been influenced by blues music, and blues is …show more content…
Jazz is a genre based almost completely on improvisation and organic music creation. Some of the earliest forms of jazz came from musicians combining elements of different cultural music. While rock, as mentioned before, has some improvisation to it. It is much more common for artists to play written music rather than make a piece up as they go along. One would expect jazz to have a very energetic and wild atmosphere because of the creative improvisation community behind it; this is very much not the case. The Jazz atmosphere is mellow and subdued, with an air of sophistication lingering about. Rock, on the other hand, is full of energy and excitement. The genre creates a huge free spirited space, no sense of sophistication or refinement. Finally the most obvious difference, sound. Jazz’s sound mirrors its atmosphere, it is smooth and gentle. Most commonly a medley of brass or classical guitar can be heard. The tempo ranges in speed, but never reaches a very fast pace; it is far more mellow than rock. Rock is a more chaotic genre, it tends to be aggressive and fast. The focus of sound coming from amped up electric guitars and drums. The similarities and the contrasts between jazz and rock shows the magic of musical evolution. Each genre using pieces from another slowly creating the wonderful selection we have

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