Jazz Music from the 1920s: An era of Roaring and Fun


The time was the 1920s when the First World War was becoming more and more of a memory, and the Depression that hit in the early 1930s were not even considered a possibility. It was a time of flappers, great music, and classics such as Louis Armstrong, and Blind Blake to get everyone up to dance. Jazz music from the 1920s was a great reflection of the era.

It was a time when the younger generation felt that they were on top of the world, and that the possibilities were boundless. A new style of music erupted during that scene, blending African polyrhythm, New England Spirituals, and old negro spirituals to form a brand new, always evolving music which came to be known as American jazz.

When one looks at the jazz music from the 1920s, it's pretty easy to see how regional it was at the time. Every area had its own style, its own flavor of playing the guitar and trumpet. Every lyrical turn of the singer's voice left a hint of where they had been, and even where they might be going. Innovators were imitated, and imitators eventually discovered their own unique sound.

Regions of Music

Jazz music from the 1920s was punctuated by different styles of jazz, depending on the region. If one was to listen to jazz music from around the Memphis area during the 1920s one would here thumping rhythms and a sing song guitar that would not quit. The New Orleans sound had an easy mix of zydeco and smooth jazz, making it perfect for those evenings on the bayou

If a jazz fan was to travel down to the Texas way, they would find a style of jazz music from the 1920s that was truly rough and rumble, but had a heart like no other. A lot of the southern blues rock so popular today can trace their inspirational roots back to the likes of Sippie Walker, one of the great vocalists of Texas Blues that would ever exist.

Back on the east coast, jazz music from the 1920s was known for its easy mellow feel, and yet it always had that underlying pulse of the piano and organ to keep the night moving. In fact, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was always known for its wonderful piano music and jazz music at the bar. It was a great time to just sit back and enjoy the show.