Jazz has been around for over 100 years, and in that century, many different styles of jazz have developed.  The early part of the last century saw the rise of ragtime and New Orleans jazz, which then became Chicago-style, Dixie, boogie, and swing. 

Many of today's jazz styles have their roots both in these early styles and in the post-World War II styles of bebop and soul jazz, among others.  Descended from these older styles, two of today's jazz styles are jazz/pop fusion and "straight-ahead" jazz. 

Jazz Fusion

Fusion began in the 1980s as a form of jazz that was extremely popular and was played on radio stations in larger markets.  This style combines jazz with various forms of popular music to create hybrids of both styles.

Some common jazz fusion styles include the following:

• Smooth Jazz:  This fusion of jazz and lighter pop music produced a sound that was easy to listen to and received large amounts of radio airplay.  An example of this type of fusion is the music of saxophonist Kenny G.

• Acid Jazz:  This genre is also known as "groove jazz."  It is a hybrid of jazz, hip-hop, and funk.  Developed in the UK, this type of jazz features looped beats and a heavy electronic influence.

• Nu Jazz:  Developed in the late 1990s, nu jazz is a fusion of jazz and electronic dance music, free improvisation, soul and funk.  Compared to acid jazz, nu jazz frequently features a heavier emphasis on electronic music.

• Jazz Rap:  As the name implies, jazz rap is a fusion of jazz and alternative hip-hop music.  There is a great deal of emphasis on lyrics in this fusion form, and these lyrics are typically intelligent commentaries on socio-political matters.

"Straight-Ahead" Jazz

Loosely defined as jazz that has its origins in the bebop and 1960s eras, "straight-ahead" jazz is what many people think of when they think about jazz.  The genre is accepted widely and has a few hallmarks:

• A time signature in the drums of swing 4/4 time
• A piano part featuring melodic notes and syncopated chords
• A walking base
• Solos for each instrument, often including the drums

Difficult to Classify

Jazz can be difficult to classify because it often takes inspiration from many of the past jazz styles.  This means that a piece of music can have characteristics of bebop or soul jazz, while still featuring parts of smooth jazz.  Classification of jazz styles is not an exact science.