jazznoun [ U ]
uk/dʒæz/us/dʒæz/A2 a type of modern music originally developed by African-Americans, with a rhythm in which the strong notes often come before the beat. Jazz is usually improvised (= invented as it is played).
Examples
- I've never really gone in for classical music, but I love jazz.
- The famous jazz musician, Duke Ellington, was a composer, arranger and pianist.
- I wish there was more jazz on the radio.
- The drums and double bass usually form the rhythm section of a jazz group.
- They booked a jazz band for their wedding.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Jazz & blues
- acid jazz
- bebop
- blues
- bop
- dixieland
- funk
- funky
- honky-tonk
- jazzy
- modern jazz
- R & B
- rhythm and blues
- scat
- skiffle
- stride piano
- swing
- trad
- twelve-bar blues
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Types of music
Examples from literature
- An important part of jazz is improvisation.
- It is the home of jazz music.
- The African-American musicians in New Orleans took these different kinds of music and mixed them with African rhythms to make a new music – jazz.
- This trumpet player from New Orleans is often called the father of jazz improvisation.
Idiom(s)
and all that jazz