From the vintage, swing jazz of the early twentieth century to the resurgence of modern neo-swing in the nineties, Jazz is one of the few styles of music born and bred right here in America. Originating over a hundred years ago in New Orleans, a city lush in cultures from around the globe, Jazz emerged and spread north to places like Chicago and New York. It's favor in the public eye has waxed and waned with time, but every so often, someone comes along and reaches right into our souls with something so snazzy you just can't help but get up and move along with the beat. While the genre and styles have evolved, no one will ever forget the king and queen:
Movies like The Mask and even Swing Kids brought this style of music back into the mainstream during the nineties and gave it a platform to grow and prosper:
Unfortunately, early 21st century brought about a decline in interest and, consequentially, popularity. But mainstream artists like Christina Aguilera and Michael Buble began releasing songs and albums which helped the public get in touch with their jazzy roots.
These artists were no Louie or Ella, but songs like Aguilera's popular hit Candyman gave the movement some much deserved attention with their combination of classic jazzy twang and pop culture. We all know this one, so I'm going to do you a favor and include it below, feel free to jump up and sing along!
Candyman, much like some of the large influences from the nineties, helped re-instill this culture back into the public eye yet again, this time paving the way for the emergence of a new and exciting twist on the musical movement without time.
Three years later in 2010, a song was released by a group known as 5 in Love titled Swing What You Got which would become one of the classics of a new breed of Jazz: Electro Swing:
While the style dates back to the eighties, it has begun to pick up a lot of momentum over the last few years. What was once a rare addition to a large performance set has now itself become a widely accepted yet controversial form of jazz. Swing What You Got is an Electro Swing song which pays tribute to vintage classics of the past, using sampling and house techniques which give the vintage vibe a modern feel.
Since then, artists like Parov Stelar and Jamie Berry and Kormac have become the face of this musical movement. Here's a large sample of Electro Swing to brighten up your night:
Jazz has and probably always will continue to evolve and adapt to the demands of each generation. It is the embodiment of the American spirit and will continue to prosper for as long as we are able to express our creativity.
These adaptations can never fill the shoes of the late and great jazz figureheads, but these composers are following in their footsteps and creating the change they wish to see in the musical world.
