Australian Jazz

The roots of Australian Jazz go back to the end of the 19th century. The style originated with small musical groups that formed in mining towns and travelled throughout Australia promoting their love of music and improvisational style. These groups were originally known as minstrel orchestras, and over the next couple of decades, they became heavily influenced by American ragtime artists. By the 1920s, Australian jazz was firmly established, and the music’s popularity grew as phonographs became household fixtures. Jazz is still regarded as a popular music style in Australia, especially among music students, because it provides a base from which musical experimentation can take place.