Jazz – Sheet Music & Scores

"If you have to ask what jazz is... you’ll never know." Louis Armstrong

Jazz, born in New Orleans around 1910, was formed through marching bands moving indoors, and mixing with ragtime, blues and other musical styles. No matter your taste, browse our sheet music and scores, take a look at our Jazz Sheet Music Downloads, and explore the wide world of Jazz with Stretta Music today!

The Evolution of Jazz

Although jazz began very locally, and gradually spread more nationally, it wasn’t until the 1930s that it became more international, becoming popular through the new dance form Swing. Due to the economic crisis, many solo artists began to form big bands, like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Duke Ellington. Soon Gypsy Jazz also sprung up, which, since it mainly used string instruments, was also called String Jazz, an excellent example being the French guitarist Django Rheinhardt. In the 1940s, through such jazz musicians as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis & Dizzy Gillespie, Bebop evolved, which is the basis for modern jazz. In Bebop, the tempo quickened, the harmonies became more complex, and there was more rhythmic freedom.

Although a lot of jazz throughout the ages was lead by instrumentalists, there were also many famous jazz singers, like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett and Jamie Cullum.

A few important jazz artists of the modern era include John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson and Wynton Marsalis.

It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing:

• Jazz – Piano Sheet Music
• Jazz – Choral Sheet Music
• Jazz – Flute Sheet Music
• Jazz – Violin Sheet Music
• Jazz – Vocal Sheet Music
• Jazz – Guitar Sheet Music
• Jazz – Clarinet Sheet Music
• Jazz – Trumpet Sheet Music
• Jazz – Saxophone Sheet Music
• Jazz Band – Sheet Music
• Jazz Standards – Sheet Music
• Jazz Improvisation – Sheet Music