American Jazz Innovators ARE Important!

Who is this? If you don't know, you should. He is Miles Davis who is one of the most influential jazz musicians. When discussing "American Music", what's more American than jazz? American Jazz Innovators should not be ignored. Jazz innovation plays a prominent role on American music. Charles Ives worked ragtime music into his piano compositions in the early 1890's. Did you know that Copland and Milhaud were using jazz inflections in their music? Also, did you know that Duke Ellington was influenced by Debussy and Ravel? Jazz music has inspired and influenced music in 1890 until today. When speaking of American Innovators the names, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis should pop up on your list. They are just as important to our culture as Ives, and many others. If you read further into our text by Kyle Gann you will find a small chapter on jazz innovation chapter "11". Yes, jazz has been forced to file bankrupcy chapter "11". For those of you who don't know a great deal about jazz innovation please read this chapter, although brief it will give you a crash course about jazz. My blogs this semester will each involve a different take on the periods of American Jazz innovation.Early Jazz, Big Band Jazz and Swing, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, Post Bop, Free Jazz and the Avant Garde, Fusion, Post Modern Jazz, The Present. I guess one could say this is my "edge" in American Music. As a trumpeter who performs jazz I feel a responsibility to make our class realize the innovations and the importance of jazz through American Music History. I also would love to know more about jazz and its innovations. I have started reading The Autobiography on Miles Davis. I have been told this book will give you the true insight on American Jazz Innovation. What is American Jazz? Well jazz has many faces, Latin jazz, Cuban jazz, and the jazz that most of us are familiar with. Jazz is American! North, Central, and South America all influence what we call "American Jazz"