Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A Jazz-y Affair!

By Mercie Hallow

It has been said that music can heal a persons mind and soul. Music is a therapy that can soothe a troubled mind and restless spirit. Music can change a persons mood and music can change a persons mind. Music has an impact to a persons personality. The power of music is present in every song. It has the effect to speak into our hearts.

The Rootabaga Jazz festival in Illinois is a much awaited event for artists, musicians and enthusiasts. It was first discovered in 1980 at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois until it was transferred in 1992 at the Knox College. The Rootabaga Jazz Festival features musicians and artists in their high school, collegiate, and junior high school standing. They welcome local and international jazz artists to join with them in the celebration.

Jazz is a genre of Music that originated from African- American music tradition. Jazz music is primarily an American musical form of art. The Rootabaga Jazz festival also offers talented guest artists from all over the world to hare their unique talents among the students of Knox College and other Jazz enthusiasts. There are many variations of jazz that are being introduced year after year.

During the 1920s a danceable form of music which has Jazz origins is called the Swing. It was a dance craze that people all loved and performed during parties. Large skirts of women had also adopted the name Swing skirts to resemble the flirty gesture it brings as it skirts upward due to the dances fast beats. The Swing is performed on a pair of man and woman.

The 1960s brought about another famous Jazz revival which is the Soul Jazz. This contemporary music form has strong influences on rhythm and blues, gospel and blues. The term Soul Jazz was then adopted up to now as a jargon for the African American silky voice- which is the soulful voice.

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