Harden Elkington
Jazz is a musical art form with a rich history that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Its roots are in blues and ragtime, which were popular in African American communities at the time.
Over the years, jazz has evolved into many different styles and subgenres, ranging from traditional New Orleans jazz to modern improvisational jazz.
This timeline outlines the history of jazz, from its beginnings to the present day.
It highlights key events that helped shape jazz music culture throughout its evolution.
From early pioneers like Scott Joplin to modern innovators like Miles Davis, this timeline celebrates the development of one of America’s most beloved art forms.
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Early Jazz (1900–1920)
•1900: Scott Joplin publishes his famous ragtime composition “The Maple Leaf Rag” in Sedalia, Missouri.
•1912: Jelly Roll Morton begins recording his first jazz compositions, including the classic “Jelly Roll Blues.”
•1917: The Original Dixieland Jazz Band records the first jazz record, “Livery Stable Blues.”
•1920: Jazz begins to spread throughout the United States, popularized by touring bands like King Oliver and Louis Armstrong.
Swing Era (1920–1945)
•1925: The Savoy Ballroom opens in Harlem, New York, becoming one of the most popular jazz venues in the country.
•1927: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra record their first hit single, “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.”
•1935: Benny Goodman and His Orchestra perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, solidifying swing as a popular mainstream music genre.
•1945: The Allied victory in World War II marks the beginning of the end of the swing era.
Be-Bop (1945–1960)
•1945: Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, two of the leading innovators of bebop, perform together for the first time at the Three Deuces Club in New York City.
•1947: Miles Davis records his debut album, “The Birth of the Cool.”
•1951: Sonny Rollins releases his seminal album, “Saxophone Colossus.”
•1960: The free jazz movement begins with Ornette Coleman’s album, “Free Jazz.”
Fusion, Funk, and Free Jazz (1960s–1980s)
•1965: Miles Davis releases the groundbreaking album “Bitches Brew,” one of the earliest examples of jazz fusion.
•1970: Herbie Hancock releases his seminal funk-jazz album, “Headhunters.”
•1980: Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis releases his debut album, “Think of One.”
•1985: The acid jazz movement begins with a series of recordings in London by the band US3.
Neo-Jazz (1980s)
•1990: Jazz vocalist Diana Krall releases her debut album, “Stepping Out.”
•1997: Wynton Marsalis wins a Pulitzer Prize for his jazz oratorio “Blood on the Fields.”
•2002: The movie, “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary” is released and brings John Coltrane’s music back into public consciousness.
•2006: Jazz pianist and composer Brad Mehldau releases his album, “Highway Rider.”
Modern Jazz (2010s)
•2010: The experimental jazz trio Vijay Iyer & Mike Ladd release their album, “Holding It Down.”
•2011: Kamasi Washington releases his critically acclaimed album, “The Epic.”
•2016: Jazz bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding release her Grammy-winning album, “Emily’s D+Evolution.”
•2019: Jazz singer Norah Jones releases her 11th studio album, “Begin Again.”
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Jazz is an ever-evolving art form that has been shaped by the creativity and passion of countless musicians over its 120-year history.
From early roots in ragtime to modern experiments, jazz music remains one of America’s most beloved genres.
As this timeline shows, jazz has continued to evolve, develop, and surprise us with each new generation of musicians.
Jazz is a living art form that will continue to surprise and delight us for many years to.
