Why do humans like jazz?

[Soandso]

... example of where Jazz grew out of the music of African slaves it comes not from the USA but Brazil ....

Brazil's dance the "maxixe", alongside polka and waltz, was one of what proto-jazz New Orleans groups had to play at hired events (as opposed to parade playing). By the early 1990s it was a popular dance in many stateside situations. The "maxixe" itself derived from another Brazilian dance called "lundu." After the Cotton Club choreographer first sent it's dancers out to perform the "Charleston", which was inspired by "maxixe", white Americans took it up as it was less energetically demanding. [Note: in Brazil the letter 'x' is pronounced more like the English 'sh' sound.]

Historically next the Brazilian "samba" arose in Brazil as a derivative of the "maxixe". It did not have a uniform national style, which today notably finds expression in the "schools" from all over the country. Generally it arose as neighborhood circles dancing to simple instruments; the musical accompaniment was evocative of interpersonal emotions and featured simulated human utterance known as "choro" (cry). A notable sound was the manipulable tube set under a small drum head that is played called the "cuica"; this instrument's origin is from what we now map as Angola and Congo.

"Samba" was certainly known in the USA by 1932 when sheet music for it was first sold. In the 1940s entertainment stateside was replete with "samba" and possibly the first American cross-over star was Brazilian "samba" legend Carmen Miranda. However, white USA was a bit confused by the fact Cuban "rhumba" had previously raged in the 1930s , as Argentinian "tango" had in the 1920s and consequently music reviewers (and song writers) sometimes mis-labelled "samba".

Next in Brazil their dance craze was the "baiao" which spread from it's north-east region. It's flavor was more of a return to conservative popular folk music and spirited springing steps. Although introduced into the USA it never really caught on and consequently is overlooked by many USA historians.

Now, about "Bossa Nova" …. Brazil's white Jao Gilberto was from black-african cultured Bahia (Brazil) and it was the national music industry connected Antonio Jobim interventional promotion that gave Gilberto his break. Although Bahia had a vibrant "samba" tradition Gilberto was actively experimenting with USA jazz since sometime in the 1950s. The renown Brazilian singer Flora Purim who came to the USA in 1968 clarified the context: "... bossa nova ... full of harmonies and melodies, a lot of influence from progressive jazz." Purim describes how popular music ("baiao") was "very conservative" and the "real beginners" of bossa nova "were Joao Gilberto, Ton [Antonio] Jobim, Joao Donato and a bunch of avant garde poets."

ADDITIONAL EDIT: In last few hours found this intriguing description of the "maxixe" dance by Brazilian scholar Oneida Alvarenga: "… the European Polka gave it it's movement, the Cuban habanera it's rhythm, and Afro-Brazilian music it's syncopations."

 

[Timcognito]

If you want the best example of where Jazz grew out of the music of African slaves it comes not from the USA but Brazil where slavery wasn't abolished until 1888..

If for whatever reason I could only save 30 of my 1000 odd LPs then Sergio Mendes & Brazil 77 - Primal Roots would be one of those 30 for sure. The Blues and R&B just doesn't have the pure African energy of the Brazilian slaves. Couple this with the guitar brilliance of Baden Powell, Gilberto et al and you have Bossa Nova but Primal Roots is a great example of where it all began.

Jazz is an American music and the cradle is New Orleans. It started there with a mixture of plantation work songs/rhythms, African American funeral marches, mistral shows and Ragtime piano tavern styles and evolved as bands got larger, were copied by white musicians and black acts moved primarily north to Chicago area. From there it spread and morphed to many styles and influences including those from other countries such as Brazil.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

President Carter had a few things to say about jazz.