The History of Jazz 

Wow, this blew up. I'm the bassist in this video - I never expected this to get so many views!! It was initially just a history project that me and the drummer wanted to do. I'm really glad many people found it educational and entertaining, but for all the negative comments in this comment section, all of us here were around 15-16 years old, so yes, there are some factual errors, and of course we missed some things, but we were just a bunch of kids in high school who loved playing music and wanted to do something fun; we weren't shooting a documentary or anything. Studying jazz at a conservatory level now, I understand we did get a lot of stuff wrong and misrepresented some key figures, but remember, it's way more constructive to encourage kids who actually have an interest in this wonderful genre of music than to criticize minute details that don't detract that much from the overall point of the video (the sax player didn't have an alto on hand, so he just played tenor the whole video). Many thanks to those who enjoyed it!!!

9:10 Tenor sax: "ah yes. my time has come"

louis armstrong was a legend musician, cyclist, and was the first man on the moon. what an inspiration. 💪

Can we just appreciate the bass player for a second 👌🏾👌🏾

Young men like you are the reason why jazz is still alive. Keep at it, and never stop...

The bassist was killing it

For a jazz class presentation in high school, its actually impressive. Comprehensive history and playing just the snippets of jazz standards actually made it worth it.

Did not expect the sax player to go ahead and finish Coltrane's solo. some serious skills. None of the sax players in my old high school even dared to play the main line of Giant Steps.

A lot more educational than 80% of these type of videos out there

Tight work boys. Thanks for the education.

12:06 Guy in white to himself: Yes, finally! My time to shine!

The skill of these kids to play all of these masterpieces this well and memorized is astounding. You guys restore my faith in humanity

9:05 bassist looking at my man on the drums like "not quite my tempo"

the aux percussionist is amazing haha

I love how the bass player plays. I love those walking basslines.

Can people stop commenting “ you forgot” this or that. This video includes the most important parts and doesn’t have time for all the greats from the golden age of jazz

freddy from icarly on the bass

*You must not accent the nut*

Awesome, guys! ….Thanks, and it's great to see young cats keeping the tradition alive, and well.

That was uncut play.. good job..

As a New Orleans native, born and bred, who was educated on this music early on, you all educated the history of Jazz so well! Cudos and applause! ⚜️

This is amazing! You missed legendady jazz fusion/big band conductor and virtuoso guitar player Lil Wayne tho but i loved the vid!

"you never know what jazz is" then start explaining jazz

The enjoyment on each of their faces is a joy to see in every tune they’re playing is awesome! The way they approach this is just as much of a joy to watch too.

Well....this just renewed my faith in the outlook for the future of jazz . Absolutely awesome that these young "cats" not only appreciate the music to the point of performing it so proficiently, but that they also have such appreciation for the importance of the history of those who paved the way. Jazz is so rich in musical flavor that sometimes I wish I lived through the 40's - 50's when it was really appreciated. With all the great material like this on RU-vid, I sense a big comeback happening! Fantastic work!

Plays wrong note me:" *its jazz* "

Love the way these fine young musicians execute some of the greatest jazz standards ever.

that transition from my favorite things to take five was so damn smooth

I loved the way that many of the eras were fluidly stringed together. Here’s a few ideas if y’all decide to make a sequel. I would have liked to hear about are the crossover between the black church and jazz- how they both effected each other and influenced vocalists and organ players. Also jazz prior to the 30’s Louie Armstrong- yeah he transitioned jazz from Dixieland to swing but what was Dixieland or second line? What were the differences and during what social activities were second line and brass band used? Without this it’s hard to know where Louie drew his inspirations for swing.

You have gained my respect and appreciation. I am sure that playing Giant Steps wasn't an easy one but you did it so well. And I knew this was only a project but it deserves all the love.

This year I had to write a research paper for school on any topic and I picked Louis Armstrong and it was amazing to learn more about him!!!

You guys did a great job of defining something that is hard to define... its jazz... great job.

One of the best videos I've seen on this subject! It's very informative without taking too much of the viewers time.

And today? Today we got Snarky Puppy. And I’m happy for that.

Even though swing is notably absent from the video, it's still a great guide through the history of jazz and it's obvious you put a lot of effort not only into the songs, but also the research for the script. Well done ;)

Why this gives me old snoopy peanut stories vibes, definitely my new comfort video… thanks for uploading

I show this to my General Music classes every marking period before and after our brief study of jazz music. Well done, boys!

Very informative. I loosely knew most of this stuff through classes or experience, but to have a cohesive and entertaining piece that wraps it all up is very nice. Great work!

I love this so much! I'm drawing on the history of jazz as the main subject of my AP art portfolio and this is a really amazing, useful video for the subject. I've been singing jazz for almost seven years now so it's a huge love of mine...many thanks for this! Y'all really embody the reason why I (and many others) love jazz so much.

I can’t tell you how happy I am to see how many people are appreciating the bass, This was lit.

2:06 i was so happy when i heard this! i love this piece!

Thank you for this video! I used it in our homeschool music class. I love that it was done by high-schoolers.

And why is RU-vid recommending me this 4 years later? Also, I hate how people are saying "Where is x?" / "What happened to x?". They are only showing they know nothing about playing jazz. Playing like this with others at the age of 15-16 is just mindblowing. They even included Giant Steps. Amazing job!

One of my favorite videos online thank you

Really feeling that tambourine guy right about now.

I just want a full instrumental version of this please ;3; This is so good, I'm loving it.

This is 4 years old? And it only came in my recommendations today? Wtf RU-vid. Amazing video.

I love seeing these young players enjoying playing old Jazz! How wonderful 💕

Excellent playing, especially the Coltrane sax parts. Drummer might want to work on his double time swing though!

I would say that A Love Supreme is arguably Coltrane's most famous work. Although the two mentioned were influential as well.

Goodbye pork pie hat is my absolute favorite jazz standard, so much soul and passion was put into the composition and it shows

Bassist was incredible! Thank you for keeping our(Americans) art form alive. If my father(Garvin Bushell) one of the creators of our music was still alive, he’s tip his hat to all of you! Thank you for keeping jazz alive!!!

The mere fact that you've been exposed to this history would put a smile on a lot of people who no longer walk this earth.

Great job. nice history and explanation. Improv is nice. Jazz will never die because of kids like you. Excellent.

Anyone periodically come back to this video?

Cowbell was amazing thank you for the classic video

I really love bebop sounds , charlie parker,dizzy gillespie era

I wished you guys would’ve played moanin once you got to charles mingus haha

If I was decades younger and in school these are the kids I would be hanging out with. Great work 👍

I hope every single one of you got an A for this project lol. So incredibly well researched and rehearsed. As a music teacher myself, I’d by tearing up with pride over this presentation ❤️

love the percussion guy

Nice job guys! Always great to see jazz still being remembered and played by young people. I hope you all continued in music and are now firing up the jazz bands at your respective colleges. As for the complainers, it comes with the territory. Ken Burns did a multi-part series on jazz (which I hope you've all seen) and there no end of complaining from jazz fans and musicians mostly of the "how could leave out (insert name)" variety. Play on.

Still watch this video weekly

i have watched this video over and over again, i have no idea why.

9:10 for Giant Steps

props to the guy on the tambourine

Well done boys… I had a wide smile on my face throughout. Thanks…

I fucking love the energy of tamborine guy

Loved this. Good work!

Cool video, you're all good musicians for your age! One note though: "Take Five" wasn't composed by Dave Brubeck, that's a common misconception. It was actuallly written by his saxxophone player Paul Desmond.

bye bye blackbird piano intro is killer my ears just melted at that

It's incredible how jazz has involved on those years, for me the jazz is the relaxiest style of music.

The trumpet player angered the teacher for not keeping tempo and got a chair to the back of the head

Wow you guys are doing great! I love all of it! Constructive criticism: You guys should wear a theme, like suit and ties or something else. Makes you guys LOOK well put together and like you mean it. Then, you prove it when you play. Anyway, great job!

yeah guys! sounding great. brings back good memories of me and my friends jamming in our HS band room in the late 90's and all the gigs we played and trips we went on. great times. nice vid

I love that quote from Mr. Armstrong

Great. Thank you guys

This is not only really well made and informative, but also an awesome list of songs and artist for me to get into jazz and start learning about it. Thanks!

You gentlemen are very talented and good 👍🏽. Thank you for the great music 🎶🎶🎶

How do you like a video twice That smooth transition into Take Five just about stole my heart. You are all very talented and skilled! Please never stop playing and growing your careers!

wheres bill evans ?

This is very cool. Idk why cdza stopped doing these types of videos

The bandage on the trumpeter's head tells you a lot about the kind of teacher he had x) I'M UPSET !

I Love Jazz Music.

Very good video, covering a lot of the long and detailed story of jazz. A couple of suggestions: You could have spent a little more time on Big Band music, as it was a very popular form of music in the 1930s and 1940s. Glen Miller played a critical role in developing Big Band. You ended your history too soon--free jazz and fusion deserve a mention.

Y'all forgot about the avant garde side of Jazz such as Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy.

The Trumpet player was having the most fun, he couldn't stop smiling throughout the whole presentation lol

The Sound of Jazz according to secondary students. Great informational quality (far better than a large majority videos) with fairly good playing for their age.

I wish a had dudes like you at my school

Paul desmond played alto

The camaraderie between the trumpet and sax player is pretty heartwarming tbh. ❤️

This kids done a remarkable job covering a fair spectrum of jazz within their knowledge and exposure..One could wished them well and hope that they pursue career in jazz.

I liked it but y’all ended before the real golden age of fusion weather report

I had a fever until about 12:12

Wildly talented artists

That bassist was straight up on fire

Ay yo, y'all on that good shit.

I think you guys did a great job overall, getting most of the important pioneers of jazz, but in my opinion your timeline began a little late and ended a little early. Otherwise very informative!

These kids are awesome! It is so hard to find people to jam with. You guys have a great band with an absolutely wonderful sound!!! I hope to hear you guys live in concert one day. The music played in this video spanned eras and artists, and the information is priceless. Keep playing, learning, and sharing your knowledge and sound. Much love, respect, and many blessings to you all!!

I love jazz and swing