Jazz originated in the 20th century in the area of New Orleans, where there was a boiling pot of culture including that of African, French, Caribbean, German, Italian, English, and many more cultures. 

Jazz is a mix of African American musical traditions, as well as ragtime and blues. ( and some other music types). 

Types of jazz include traditional, swing, bebop, and jazz-rock. 

jazz is mostly composed of one's own style, which means one must have acceptable improvisation skills

Jazz is considered America's "classical music". 

JAZZ: WHAT IS IT? 

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HOW IS JAZZ COMPRISED? 

Tempo is chosen by head band member. 

After tempo is chosen, band is counted off either to follow a written and/or improvised introduction to the song. 

Depending on the type of jazz, a chorus can be played in various ways. 

This is usually where horn players come in, such as saxes, trumpets, and trombones. 

Each horn player gets their own time to shine with a usually improvised solo. 

Instruments of choice are usually grouped together to allow a clear understanding of what the band is aiming for. 

STEP 3: SOLOS

Of course, there are also those who sing jazz music, so they must be in tune with the band.  If there is a singer, the jazz is of course written out, and the singer leads the band's tempo.  However, there is still room for instrumental solos and improv. 

REMEMBER...

STEP 1: TEMPO

STEP 2: CHORUS

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HOWEVER...

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In the world of Jazz, the percentage of women who are engaged is roughly 25% or even less. 

Why you may ask? 

Similar to many of the issues women face in any other work force, especially in the industry of music, women who decide to dedicate their lives to Jazz are often ridiculed, harassed, and often thought not being able to have the capability to create such a complex thing such as jazz.  This goes for both women who play instruments, as well as those who sing. 

"When I say that I feel the absence of women of jazz from this movement, what I mean is that comparatively few female musicians have raised their voices publicly to initiate conversations about harassment—women who I know to have more than their share of stories to tell, women who deserve to be heard.  The exception is 19-year-old vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, who authored a courageous blog post addressed as an open letter to Iverson on the sexism that she has already faced as a young woman in jazz"