Acid Jazz and Latin Jazz Genres Essay

Introduction

Music is an attribute that brings the aspect of humanity closer to humankind as it articulates more humanness through its unique form of communication. The differences among human, represented by cultural diversification are manifested into music through the different genres that make it up (Rentfrow, Golgberg, and Levitin, 2011). Human beings have evolved as generations give way for each other across the world. Additionally, the mobility of humans has played a crucial role in cultural diversification. The new environments where humans have dispersed to have led to the integration of different cultures through interactions. As a result, new cultures have developed with time as those in a position to retain and maintain their originality do so. This aspect of cultural diversifications has a ripple effect on the music industry.

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Racism and Cultural Diversity

Albeit the rise of racism has significantly affected different aspects of life, music diversity remains to be culture-specific. The notion that racial makeup could be used to classify music is a phenomenon that inhibits the growth of the music industry due to lack of liberation. However, the domination of cultural diversity does not give room for the development of the music genre by race. Instead, music provides an avenue for the human race to be unified since every culture around the world is represented by cultural-oriented music. The individual differences based on preferences are the major influencing factor to the type of audience attracted by specific music (Rentfrow, Golgberg, and Levitin, 2011). In this regard, music classification is mainly based on the targeted audience who are grouped into different cultures; as a result, musical elements are manipulated to meet what the listeners' wants to hear, feel and respond towards.

The Significance of Musical Elements

Music has and continues to contribute positively to the world's culture in various ways. However, creativity determines the relevance of the produced music works which relies on musical elements (Goble, 2010). This contribution is linked to the various elements that make it up. The different ways in which the elements are manipulated to come up with a song determines its genre, at the same time, dictates the culture the music characterizes. Additionally, various factors depict the elements used in music dependent on the music's objective. These factors include ceremonies, dance styles, type of expression, level of intimacy, artistic works, and the theme of the song.

To further elaborate, music is a form of entertainment that allows people to celebrate occasions. Every kind of music depicts its audience and the type of occasion it ought to be performed. Different ceremonies have specific types of music to be played. In this regard, music composers take into consideration the kind of celebration the music targets and the audience as its different elements are developed. By a similar token, the form of expression guides the extent to which the musical elements are manipulated. Musicians use different kinds of expression to determine the feelings to be conveyed through the song.

Effective use of the musical elements allows the listeners to easily relate with the musician's feelings and find meaning and comfort in the music. As a result, the music will have achieved its goal. The direct relationship between music and dance is achieved through proper use of musical elements. Music triggers the feelings of people conveyed from the song which makes them dance to the tone. Additionally, music is an art form that gives people an opportunity to relate to each other. As a result, unifying them. The achievement of an artistic goal requires creativity which can be achieved by focusing on the musical elements during production (Moylan, 2007).

Music can only deliver deep emotions or messages that cannot be easily communicated through manipulation of the musical elements to suit the type of messages or feelings to be conveyed. Lastly, proper communication of the musical theme requires alterations of the musical elements to communicate the message effectively. In this regard, an analysis of the Latin and acid jazz subgenres under the jazz genre and from merely distinct cultures is conducted to gain insights into the relationship of the musical elements among different subgenres and the functionalities of these elements in the musical world.

Analysis of Musical Elements in Acid Jazz and Latin Jazz Genres

Classification of music is central to sociology since it illustrates the existing conflicts or associations of the genres at play. Limited studies have been conducted on the relevance of classifications through a diagnostic approach to establish any recurrent processes and changes that have occurred in the music world. However, a study by Lena & Peterson (2008), acknowledges the importance of symbolic classification of music through the identification of four unique genres which are found to interact with each other.

The origin of these genres has a significant contribution to understanding the differences including its distinct musical elements. To exemplify, the study found that the traditionalist, scene, industry-based, and Avant-garde genres merge to form distinct trajectories while a higher fraction of the combination originates from the Avant-garde genre. This is an illustration of the structure and composition of the acid jazz genre which is derived from a combination of different genres to meet its modernity objectives. In this regard, the elements of jazz, Funk, and Hip-Hop music form the Acid Jazz genre. Other minor influences the genre has been subjected to include those from disco, soul, and house music.

Change is inevitable, and it significantly affects all aspects of life including music. The acid jazz type of music demonstrated that music evolves with time. The genre was coined in the 1980s by ancient British personalities in the field of music (Price, Kernodle, and Maxile, 2011). New artists derive historical music concepts which they base their works resulting in the composition of new music that integrates different ancient cultures forming new genres. An example is the acid jazz subgenre which combines various types of genres such as RnB jazz, hip-hop, dub reggae, and soul among others to represent modernity. This subgenre has successfully succeeded in its objective since the latest cultural diversity has been well represented. The electronica sounds and rhythms favorable for the clubbing environment among the young people have been significantly used in the Acid Jazz genre. The British music media initiated the genre after releasing breakbeats influenced by other music genres. The process of music creation is dependent on a loop mechanism adopted to re-synthesize old records resulting in improvised recordings.

The Acid Jazz genre is not an album-oriented type of music; as a result, the musicians have a freedom of choice to select from a wide variety of sounds to bring into context the music productions. The best compilations are available for the acid jazz musicians to alter and derive adequate music elements that rhyme with the targeted works of production. In this regard, the Acid Jazz subgenre is a hybrid that mainly utilizes electronic composition derived from other genres. The music is performed by live performance musicians, jazz music interpreters on live performances, and DJs through cuttings and scratching. In the midst of massive attacks from works on RnB, Hip Hop, Funk, and Jazz Fusion among others, the Jamiroquai managed to release great works on Acid Jazz.

Jamiroquai is amongst the best Acid Jazz band due to their consistency and good works in production that exhibit a balance in the musical elements to deliver the theme and set the tone for the music. The type of music preference is dependent on cognitive styles which determine people's reaction towards specific music works (Greenberg et al., 2015). The music experienced a major decline in the late twentieth century since the type of acid jazz music released did not meet the cognitive needs of individuals. However, it regained its influence through bands such as the Jamiroquai after the introduction of electronic compositions. Additionally, the influence has spread to an international level as notable artists continue to gain recognition and followers in countries such as Germany, Japan, and Europe among others. The movement has proved that the genre is among the suitable mediums due to the presence of a wide range of compilations that can be improvised.

The Acid Jazz genre mainly focuses on musical elements, in particular, those dependent on instrumentals. The jazz-related instruments generally used included the saxophones, trumpets, clarinets, and flutes. However, more specific acid-jazz instrumentals include organs, drums, guitar and staples among others. The electronic components of the genre are initiated through the use of turntable and synthesizers. Jamiroquai has served as pacesetters to the acid-jazz world through the introduction of new acid jazz sounds that began with the influence of disco sounds and currently the electronic sounds. The live instrumentations are responsible for the sound productions that have attracted a great following for the Jamiroquai.

In the midst of the freedom, musical elements stand to define in detail the extent to which music could be referred to as acid jazz music. The definition is based on the derivative of other musical elements from different genres (Price, Kernodle, and Maxile, 2011). The recent album released by Jamiroquai was automation which starts by the song shake it on. The tonality or timbre of this first song has significantly utilized different instrumentations. The song begins with a lower register that characterizes its calm intonation making it rich; at the same, dark; however, the start of the chorus initiates a rhythm explosion. This tonality has been primarily facilitated by the use of violin which produces an overtone in comparison to the vocals of the artists. Jay Kay's vocals are characterized by a pattern that is catchy. This pattern is unique and relevant to the music as it results in an appropriate fusion of the electronic instrumentations. As a result, the audience is welcomed to the world of 'shake it on' and automation at large.

On the other hand, the melody is attractive with a format where the lyrics are played twice after the first three verses, and later on after one verse which precedes the three verses once more. In this regard, the melodious format is AAABA. As a result, the melody plays a significant role in shaping the rhythm of the song. The song is conjunct as represented by its smooth melodious lyrics which effectively combines the song's theme with most of its musical elements. Additionally, 'Shake it on' has adopted a chromatic scale which is further boosted by its harmony.

Additionally, the song is characterized by melody-dominated homophony. The melody plays a critical role in the homophonic texture. However, the song begins with a monophonic texture by the use of the electronic instrumentation which descends as the song proceeds to gapping into the chromatic fashion that introduces the homophonic texture. Lastly, the artists utilize musical elements that are more technical such as the syncopation which brings a unique rhythm on the off-beat. This makes 'Shake It On' unique and initiates the improvised feeling stressed by the beats toward the end of the lyric lines. Syncopation has played a unique role in placing rhythmic stress that attracts the listener to the music.

By a different token, the Afro-Cuban Jazz also referred to as the Latin Jazz was developed in the early 20th century. This Jazz type of music integrated the African and Cuban rhythms and othe...