PIONEERS OF JAZZ: FORMATION OF THE PIANO SCHOOL AND  EVOLUTION OF STYLE

Asminkina Olga Pavlovna

Authors

Asminkina Olga Pavlovna Acting Docent, The Institute of National Variety Art named after B. Zokirov

Keywords:

jazz, piano, ragtime, stride, early jazz, jazz pioneers, improvisation.

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of jazz piano from ragtime to early jazz and stride, highlighting the contributions of key figures of this period – Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson, Willie “Lion” Smith, Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Joe Sullivan, and Art Tatum – to the development of technique, rhythm, and improvisation. It also underscores the historical continuity of the genre and the enduring significance of these musicians for contemporary jazz piano.