Traditional Jazz

Traditional Jazz emerged in the early 20th century, primarily in New Orleans, where musicians took a lot of liberties with the rules of harmony and rhythm whilst trying to outplay each other at parties. It features joyous improvisation, collective play, and the kind of syncopation that makes your feet twitch, even if you're sat in your armchair nursing a cup of tea. Believe it or not, this exuberant genre laid the groundwork for countless forms of music to follow, proving that sometimes a good riff is the best way to forget your troubles – or at least your neighbours' collective sideways glances.