When jazz music is mentioned, what comes to mind? For many, it is speakeasies, women adorned with large hats and even larger pearls, and an aroma of elegance that leaves us nostalgic for a time none of us were alive. While the Roaring ‘20s manifestation of jazz music is quite magical, it does not represent jazz in its entirety. It has made us see jazz as single and stationary, as opposed to the fluid, ever-changing genre and style that it is. It is through this oversight in which jazz reinstated itself among mainstream music right under our noses.
Jazz music is characterized by complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms, with the genre relying on improvisation as its key feature. These three facets of jazz music make it highly adaptable, and even in its infancy, sub-genres, such as swing, began to form. It is the adaptability that attracts young musicians to it, as they are able to pair electronic drum beats with its syncopated rhythms, or layer complex vocal harmonies over guitar. One such artist that employs this blending of styles is an Icelandic-Chinese musician that sells out concert halls and stadiums alike.
Laufey is a two-time Grammy Award winning musician whose creativity has helped usher in a new era of jazz infused genres in the mainstream. Her signature sound is one that blends the improvisation and instrumentation of jazz music with the lively beats and lyrics of pop songs. Her songs have gained global attention, with listeners of all different genres finding enjoyment in her unique style. Laufey reintroduced the jazz standard “Misty,” one of the most celebrated songs in the genre, back onto the global music charts.
Laufey is a prime example of how jazz music evolves over time. It is adaptable and dynamic, allowing for it to fit multiple genres of music. Jazz has always had this ability, looking back into the 1990s and 2000s, countless rappers such as MF Doom, Lauryn Hill, and the Digable Planets sampled numerous jazz and jazz-fusion songs over their careers.
However, the flexibility of jazz does not mean that its roots have fallen out of favor. Traditional jazz and swing, similar to what was popular in the 1920s-50s, is returning to music. Jazz bars and diners have risen in popularity over the last few years, and many crave the sense of sophistication that jazz and jazz ballads bring. The catalyst behind this revival is a singer whose charm has lured in a new generation of jazz-lovers.
Samara Joy is a six-time Grammy Award winning vocalist who imitates the great jazz legends of days past. Her style is reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and Dinah Washington, with Joy drawing inspiration from their style of painting a vivid, emotional picture with their voices. However, Joy and her septet are known for making their own unique arrangements of jazz standards, with her even writing lyrics to ones that were previously instrumental. Her ability to turn many jazz standards that were once slow, orchestral ballads into lively, swing tunes is what drew in a whole new audience to jazz. Her elegance is what has brought so many into the genre, and her status as a Grammy winner has solidified her success and impact.
Joy and Laufey have shown a new, young audience that jazz is not just flappers and underground clubs, but that it is a genre that demands constant innovation. It can convey the modern feelings of being left on read or being in a messy situationship in the same way any other genre can.
Considered the only wholly American art form, jazz has snuck itself into every corner of American music, and therefore, into music all across the world. With jazz so explicitly being in the mainstream once again, there is no telling what new forms of expression will arise. Jazz and its fluidity bring a stark contrast to the pure pop that has been the norm for so long, causing a renaissance of the genre 100 years since the peak of its popularity.