Final answer:
In jazz, rhythmic accompaniment played at irregular intervals is called syncopation. This technique stresses normally weak beats, creating an off-beat rhythm that adds complexity to the music. Syncopation is distinct from swing, stride, and polyphony, and has roots in African music and influences dance and visual arts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In jazz, chordal accompaniment which is played at rhythmically irregular intervals is called syncopation. Syncopation is a musical technique where the normally unaccented beats are stressed, which creates a distinctive off-beat rhythm that can add complexity and a sense of movement within a piece. This contrasts with swinging, which refers to a specific rhythmic feel in a triplet feel, stride which refers to a piano technique often used in jazz involving the left hand making a wide, leaping pattern between bass notes and chords, and polyphony, which is the simultaneous combination of two or more melodies with independent rhythms.
Throughout the history of music, polyrhythms and syncopation have been a key part of African music and have influenced various dance styles, including Steppin' and gumboot dancing. Musicians and dancers often employ these techniques to add tension and complexity to their performances. For example, a step dancer might use a cane to create one rhythm while their feet produce another, which requires remarkable skill.
Another interesting connection can be made with the visual arts, such as the work of Jackson Pollock. His painting Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) is influenced by the loose, syncopated rhythms of jazz, which can be seen in the improvisational nature of his drip-paintings.