It is believed that jazz first emerged in the 1910s in the US' south, although some researchers trace back its origins to 19th century. African rhythms mixed with European folk music and voilà – jazz was born.Jazz is a symbol of creative freedom and social equality. Musicians were free to improvise and experiment with sound, that’s why the genre constantly evolved. Jazz musicians became world-known celebrities, blurring boundaries between different social groups.To celebrate the International Day of Jazz, explore Sputnik's photo gallery and be jazzed up!
Jazz vibes have been around for more than a century and they continue to excite the hearts and souls of people. This genre has its international holiday - established by UNESCO in 2011 and celebrated since 2012 - to mark the worldwide importance of jazz.
It is believed that jazz first emerged in the 1910s in the US' south, although some researchers trace back its origins to 19th century. African rhythms mixed with European folk music and voilà – jazz was born.
Jazz is a symbol of creative freedom and social equality. Musicians were free to improvise and experiment with sound, that’s why the genre constantly evolved. Jazz musicians became world-known celebrities, blurring boundaries between different social groups.
To celebrate the International Day of Jazz, explore Sputnik's photo gallery and be jazzed up!
An undated picture of famous American jazz musician, composer, conductor and piano player Edward "Duke" Elington.
Duke Ellington began his career as a stage musician at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Throughout his life, he participated in the creation of more than one thousand compositions – a sort of musical record.
Benny Goodman, American jazz and swing musician, 1937.
Goodman, widely known as the "King of Swing", was a clarinetist and bandleader. In 1930 -1940s he led one of the most popular American swing bands. His concert at Carnegie Hall in NYC in 1938 was described by critics as "jazz's coming out party to the world of respectable music."
American jazzman Louis Armstrong plays the trumpet in his dressing room before a show in 1947 in a New York jazz cabaret.
Armstrong is one of the most influential figures in jazz. With his instantly recognizable rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was a talented singer, musician and skillful improviser. His career spanned five decades and several eras in jazz history.
Louis Armstrong, accompanied by his wife, prepares to take off from Idlewild Airport, New York, in 1957, for a concert tour of five South American countries.
Billie Holiday at the Downbeat club, a jazz club in New York City, 1947.
Billie Holiday aka "Lady Day" is known for strong lyrics, for example the “Strange Fruit” song slams the practice of lynching Black Americans which that time was wide-spread in Southern states. Lady Day allegedly even had issues with American authorities due to this song.
An undated photo of American alto saxophonist and jazz composer Charlie Parker, also known under the stage name "Bird." He is considered to be the initiator of bebop and one of the fathers of modern jazz.
US trumpet player Miles Davis gives a lesson to French actress Jeanne Moreau in Paris, 1957. Davis was asked by French director Louis Malle to improvise music for his film "Elevator to the Gallows", in which Jeanne Moreau acts.
American jazz singer Nina Simone performs in July 1969 at the Pan-African festival in Algiers, Algeria.
Simone was not only a musician, but also a civil rights activist. She gave her first big concert when she was 12. Later she will recall that her parents were moved from the front row to the back of the hall due to their skin color. She claims that she refused to start playing until they were moved back to the front.
Famed jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald performs at the Empire Room at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, 1971.
Fitzgerald, known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", held a 60-year career. She collaborated with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and left behind numerous immortal hits, such as ""Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Cheek To Cheek".
Youngsters raised in the traditional music of the Southern "shout bands" mirror the music of their elders as believers gather on Memorial Day weekend. Inspired by jazz, gospel, and Dixieland, the pulsing trombones gradually intensify their call, bringing hundreds of worshipers to their feet while firehoses provide a spiritual soaking outside the church.
US singer Nathalie Cole performs during the 45th Jazz Festival in Montreux, 2011.
Natalie Cole rose to prominence in the mid-1970s when her debut album "Inseparable" and the future hit "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" were released. She soon received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
US Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding performs during a show organized by US music producer Quincy Jones at the 45th Jazz Festival in Montreux.
Spalding is an emerging star of jazz with a track record of five Grammy Awards, Boston Music Award and Soul Train Music Award.
The audience dances as US producer and rapper Pharrell Williams performs with his funk rock group N.E.R.D on the Auditorium Stravinski stage during the opening night at the 42th Montreux Jazz Festival.
Although Pharrell Williams is best known for pop songs, his N.E.R.D musical arrangements are jazz-alike.
US singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige performs on stage during the Jazz Festival in Nice, 2019.
Mary J. Blige is often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B." She won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and twelve Billboard Music Awards.
A young fan waves her cap during French-Cameroonian singer Sandra NKake's performance at the Théâtre Antique de Vienne, Eastern France, on the first day of the 33rd Vienne Jazz Festival.
NKake aspired to be an English teacher, but life held something different for her. At the age 20, she auditioned for a role and became an actress in theatre. She then turned to music, releasing her debut album "Mansaadi" in 2008.
The Maroto Jazz Trio band, made up of Diego Maroto on the saxophone, Jorge Molina on double bass and Edy Vega on drums, perform atop a van through neighborhoods in Mexico City.
The group performed amidst the coronavirus pandemic to support the stressed population.
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![An undated picture of famous American jazz musician, composer, conductor and piano player Edward "Duke" Elington.Duke Ellington began his career as a stage musician at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Throughout his life, he participated in the creation of more than one thousand compositions – a sort of musical record. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109947630_0:0:2300:1630_600x0_80_0_1_432969ebc82e7f4d9d3ab23be31c1ac2.jpg "An undated picture of famous American jazz musician, composer, conductor and piano player Edward "Duke" Elington.Duke Ellington began his career as a stage musician at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Throughout his life, he participated in the creation of more than one thousand compositions – a sort of musical record.")
![Benny Goodman, American jazz and swing musician, 1937.Goodman, widely known as the "King of Swing", was a clarinetist and bandleader. In 1930 -1940s he led one of the most popular American swing bands. His concert at Carnegie Hall in NYC in 1938 was described by critics as "jazz's coming out party to the world of respectable music." - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109949547_0:0:2047:2666_600x0_80_0_1_abb1e2baa7e2864afd96a2e463099490.jpg "Benny Goodman, American jazz and swing musician, 1937.Goodman, widely known as the "King of Swing", was a clarinetist and bandleader. In 1930 -1940s he led one of the most popular American swing bands. His concert at Carnegie Hall in NYC in 1938 was described by critics as "jazz's coming out party to the world of respectable music."")
![Billie Holiday at the Downbeat club, a jazz club in New York City, 1947.Billie Holiday aka "Lady Day" is known for strong lyrics, for example the “Strange Fruit” song slams the practice of lynching Black Americans which that time was wide-spread in Southern states. Lady Day allegedly even had issues with American authorities due to this song. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109947457_0:0:1962:2048_600x0_80_0_1_a88bc407876a38622ef454c7c4228b76.jpg "Billie Holiday at the Downbeat club, a jazz club in New York City, 1947.Billie Holiday aka "Lady Day" is known for strong lyrics, for example the “Strange Fruit” song slams the practice of lynching Black Americans which that time was wide-spread in Southern states. Lady Day allegedly even had issues with American authorities due to this song.")
![An undated photo of American alto saxophonist and jazz composer Charlie Parker, also known under the stage name "Bird." He is considered to be the initiator of bebop and one of the fathers of modern jazz. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109951111_0:0:1841:2414_600x0_80_0_1_d364259712ae5f065d2a6b8ec0c42e6b.jpg "An undated photo of American alto saxophonist and jazz composer Charlie Parker, also known under the stage name "Bird." He is considered to be the initiator of bebop and one of the fathers of modern jazz.")
![US trumpet player Miles Davis gives a lesson to French actress Jeanne Moreau in Paris, 1957. Davis was asked by French director Louis Malle to improvise music for his film "Elevator to the Gallows", in which Jeanne Moreau acts. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109949027_0:0:2500:1852_600x0_80_0_1_634a8c1386f38b500ef8eaefc4052293.jpg "US trumpet player Miles Davis gives a lesson to French actress Jeanne Moreau in Paris, 1957. Davis was asked by French director Louis Malle to improvise music for his film "Elevator to the Gallows", in which Jeanne Moreau acts.")
![Famed jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald performs at the Empire Room at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, 1971. Fitzgerald, known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", held a 60-year career. She collaborated with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and left behind numerous immortal hits, such as ""Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Cheek To Cheek". - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109950591_0:0:2885:2048_600x0_80_0_1_a4b2c8634c5485c8cefba40d75ee0ba9.jpg "Famed jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald performs at the Empire Room at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, 1971. Fitzgerald, known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", held a 60-year career. She collaborated with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and left behind numerous immortal hits, such as ""Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Cheek To Cheek".")
![Youngsters raised in the traditional music of the Southern "shout bands" mirror the music of their elders as believers gather on Memorial Day weekend. Inspired by jazz, gospel, and Dixieland, the pulsing trombones gradually intensify their call, bringing hundreds of worshipers to their feet while firehoses provide a spiritual soaking outside the church. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109947978_0:0:2861:2048_600x0_80_0_1_392ec893535f3b599a1500970dfcb89e.jpg "Youngsters raised in the traditional music of the Southern "shout bands" mirror the music of their elders as believers gather on Memorial Day weekend. Inspired by jazz, gospel, and Dixieland, the pulsing trombones gradually intensify their call, bringing hundreds of worshipers to their feet while firehoses provide a spiritual soaking outside the church.")
![US singer Nathalie Cole performs during the 45th Jazz Festival in Montreux, 2011.Natalie Cole rose to prominence in the mid-1970s when her debut album "Inseparable" and the future hit "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" were released. She soon received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109947804_0:0:3072:2048_600x0_80_0_1_44fc312588749618a7dd40619a22302b.jpg "US singer Nathalie Cole performs during the 45th Jazz Festival in Montreux, 2011.Natalie Cole rose to prominence in the mid-1970s when her debut album "Inseparable" and the future hit "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" were released. She soon received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.")
![US singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige performs on stage during the Jazz Festival in Nice, 2019.Mary J. Blige is often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B." She won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and twelve Billboard Music Awards. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109949721_0:0:3072:2048_600x0_80_0_1_9d151752306aa21aa12a9383a854dd35.jpg "US singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige performs on stage during the Jazz Festival in Nice, 2019.Mary J. Blige is often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B." She won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and twelve Billboard Music Awards.")
![People dance as the Brazilian trio "Jazz de Boteco" plays on the street in front of the "Bar do Nanam" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109951285_0:0:3072:2048_600x0_80_0_1_87fc8575277530bdd67d0c5ade0a889b.jpg "People dance as the Brazilian trio "Jazz de Boteco" plays on the street in front of the "Bar do Nanam" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.")
![Drummer Justin Faulkner takes a solo while saxophonist Marcus Strickland listens at the Bohemian Caverns during the DC Jazz Festival in Washington. Faulkner, nicknamed "The Assassin", is a rising star of jazz who has already played at the Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109950243_0:0:2903:2048_600x0_80_0_1_5ac6227da6ee31802de4010838e2a209.jpg "Drummer Justin Faulkner takes a solo while saxophonist Marcus Strickland listens at the Bohemian Caverns during the DC Jazz Festival in Washington. Faulkner, nicknamed "The Assassin", is a rising star of jazz who has already played at the Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center.")
![A young fan waves her cap during French-Cameroonian singer Sandra NKake's performance at the Théâtre Antique de Vienne, Eastern France, on the first day of the 33rd Vienne Jazz Festival. NKake aspired to be an English teacher, but life held something different for her. At the age 20, she auditioned for a role and became an actress in theatre. She then turned to music, releasing her debut album "Mansaadi" in 2008. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109950417_0:0:3076:2047_600x0_80_0_1_27bdd60a03c6c6eba69c7001196af1a5.jpg "A young fan waves her cap during French-Cameroonian singer Sandra NKake's performance at the Théâtre Antique de Vienne, Eastern France, on the first day of the 33rd Vienne Jazz Festival. NKake aspired to be an English teacher, but life held something different for her. At the age 20, she auditioned for a role and became an actress in theatre. She then turned to music, releasing her debut album "Mansaadi" in 2008.")
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