0th century, it develops very fast and followed the development of American society. However, in different periods, Jazz has different characteristics, especially in the 1920s, 1960s, 197os, 1980s and 1990s. In these periods, Jazz replaces some popular music forms to be America’s mainstream popular music. To some extent, Jazz’s development witnesses the progress of American society and culture. In other words, its development may reflect the development of American society and culture. In this paper, three periods are taken as a clue to demonstrate the reflection function of Jazz. In the 1920s, Jazz gets its first-step development in America; it differs from other music and injects new blood for American music. Jazz is a kind of pure American music because in this period the United States monopolizes this art. Its popularity is not contingent, and the wild rhythm and improvisational ways of playing are its advantages. These advantages bring many listeners for it in which people can throw away all social conventions, rules and indulge themselves completely. Through it, disappointment and resistance are brought to players. The mood reflects people’s attitude towards life after the First World War. And, Louis Armstrong, the king of Jazz, expresses the depressive mood in his songs like Lonesome Road, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Hotter than That, Snake Rag. Then in the following few years, jazz gets some new developments, and Swing, Bebop, Cool Jazz and free Jazz appears one after another. And in the 1960s-1970s some fresh elements and new techniques are introduced into Jazz, making Jazz more powerful and advanced. Compared with Jazz in the 1920s, the requirement for players is improved. It changes the past playing ways of following certain rhythm, tone and accompany. Improvisation and personality is the main feature in this period. Its wild or soft rhythm impresses the audience greatly. After World WarⅡ, Americans lived a idle and scared life. Material spending becomes their only way of living, especially the young men have no ambition and passion as the war has exhausted their energy and vigor. Accordingly, Jazz in this period is filled with decadence and indulgence. The musician Miles Davis expresses the mood best in his music In a Silent Way. Meanwhile, the sentimental rhythm in Jazz, wild and strong, can also be the best demonstration. In the 1980s-1990s, with the development of American society, American musicians do not monopolize Jazz. It seems that each European country has its own style in Jazz for different cultural backgrounds. Jazz of this period is not a pure American music but a multi-elemental music of the whole world. In fact, this big change is just the result of the influence of pluralism in the society, and Jazz’s multi-elemental development is just the reflection of the multicultural development of American society and culture.
I. Jazz –a Mirror of American Society and Culture
in the 20th Century
Jazz has different characteristics in different periods, especially in the 20th century, and always serves as a mirror of American society and culture. In order to demonstrate the reflecting feature of Jazz, three big periods of 20th century are taken as a clue.
A. Jazz in the 1920s
In the 1920s, Jazz gets its first-step development, and brings elements from Africa and Europe, which are fused, together with Jazz, into a new music, an expression unique to America In this period, Jazz is a kind of pure American black
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