Final answer:
Jazz music, an American innovation originating in the African American community and characterized by up-tempo beats, improvisational solos, and bold rhythms, diverged from European classical styles and was emblematic of the Harlem Renaissance's cultural shift.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Jazz Music Differed from Previous Music Forms
Jazz music was distinctly different from previous music forms due to its innovative and improvisational nature. Born out of the African American community, jazz integrated elements from various musical traditions like blues and ragtime. This new genre was characterized by an up-tempo beat, improvised solos, and a bold rhythm and harmony that stood in contrast to the more structured and sedate melodies of European classical music and the Big Bands of the era. The Harlem Renaissance was a significant period for the advancement of jazz, with musicians such as Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway performing in famous venues like the Cotton Club in New York City, which played a crucial role in bringing jazz to a wider audience. Furthermore, jazz had a sense of independence, reflecting the cultural and social changes of the 1920s, moving away from simply mirroring European classical styles.
As it developed, jazz's influence spread beyond African American clubs in New Orleans and Chicago, reaching greater popularity in New York and abroad. Locations like the Cotton Club became iconic, attracting diverse audiences and showcasing Black entertainers to hip, young, mostly White crowds. On the wider cultural landscape, jazz captured the dynamic shifts of the decade following World War I and became synonymous with the carefree, pleasure-seeking attitude of the Jazz Age.