The Jazz genre is a multicultural baby born from European Classical music and West African Blues and Spirituals. Without the passion of the Blues, there is no Jazz ‘feel’, and without the Classical composition side, Jazz loses its interesting complexity and structure.

This is perfectly illustrated by one of the first Jazz compositions - the song ‘Summertime’, written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1934. It is an aria from the opera Porgy and Bess, therefore one of its roots is Classical composition. The inspiration for the song, however, comes from the Blues and Spirituals sung by the African Americans brought to the US by slave traders. Many have pointed to the spiritual ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child’ as one of Gershwin’s influences.

If you’re new to Jazz, or already a passionate fan, here are five reasons to love this beautiful music.

1. It bridges cultures and brings people together.
2. It is constantly being reinvented by new generations of musicians.
3. Its values of quality, timelessness, creativity, nostalgia and romance result in a consistently high standard wherever it is performed.
4. It keeps alive the most beautiful compositions of each generation.
5. It expresses individuality and is an intimate form of musical communication.

Of course there are hundreds more reasons to love Jazz, as anyone who has relaxed with a glass of wine in hand in a jazz club can tell you.

Most of all? It’s fun and interesting on the ear, and as it’s usually acoustic live music, you can truly tell the quality of the musicians and singers.

If you’d like to stay updated on the Jazz events in Cyprus, you can join the Facebook group Support Jazz and Blues in Cyprus for daily events and news from the Jazz community on the island.