Curtis Stigers: Music for the soul - Why jazz doesn't just belong to purists!

Curtis Stigers: Music for the soul - Why jazz doesn't just belong to purists!

American musician Curtis Stigers, known for his eclectic musical approach, expresses concerns about the acceptance of his music by the self-proclaimed “jazz police” in a recent interview. Despite these insecurities, he remains calm and cares little about the opinions of purists. For him, the focus is clearly on the songs and the stories they tell, rather than getting lost in categories and labels. With nearly 50 years of experience learning, practicing, playing, singing and writing, Stigers has built a multifaceted career that combines elements of jazz, pop, soul, blues, country and folk. He doesn't play for jazz purists, but for himself and his audience, which underlines his inner musical freedom. That's what she reports Saarbrücken newspaper.

The roots of jazz, one of the central musical styles that also inspires Stigers, lie in the African-American communities of the southern United States, particularly in New Orleans. This style of music developed at the end of the 19th century through the fusion of African rhythms, European harmonies and indigenous musical traditions such as blues and ragtime. Jazz is characterized by a special joy in improvisation and emotional expressiveness. The style is not fixed, but allows the musicians to spontaneously create new melodies and variations. In the Music nerd Jazz is described as a living music of the moment, characterized by creative freedom and stylistic diversity.

The development of jazz

In the 20th century, jazz has evolved into numerous styles, including swing, bebop and fusion. The term “jazz” is closely linked to an attitude to life that is characterized by spontaneity, creativity and expression. One theory about the origin of the term points to the slang term “jasm,” which describes “energy” or “life force.” Jazz has continued to evolve, from the first street musicians in New Orleans to the present day, where it is an active and vibrant art form in many countries, including Germany. In the 1920s, jazz also found its place in Germany, but was persecuted under National Socialism as “degenerate music”. After the Second World War, he experienced a renaissance there, supported by American occupation troops.

Today, jazz is a recognized art form that is characterized by numerous festivals and an active scene. The core instrumentation in jazz ranges from saxophone and trumpet to piano to drums and others, and the various styles that make up jazz include acid jazz, cool jazz, Latin jazz and many more. Famous musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald contributed significantly to the popularity and development of jazz.