In 1963, Armstrong scored a huge international hit with his version of "Hello Dolly." This number one single even knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts. I 1968 he recorded another number one hit with the touchingly optimistic "What A Wonderful World." Ragtime emerged near the end of the 19th century and continued through World War I. It combined many elements, such as syncopated rhythms, harmonic contrasts, and formal patterns of European marches. It is usually played in the time signature of 2/4. Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" made ragtime very popular throughout the whole nation. .
After World War I, Jazz music had evolved and was aided by the development of the recording industry. The small dance band ensemble grew into the larger orchestra known as the "Big Band". The music of the Big Bands became known as "Swing." Two of the more famous Swing band leaders were Tommy Dorsey and Harry James. In the late 40s and through the 50s, a different kind of Jazz became popular. This music, played by a very small ensemble, was much more sophisticated and complex. Its rich harmonic changes and melodic counterpoint were not conducive to dance. It became known as "Bop," with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie being the early proponents. In the last twenty years, there has been a combination of jazz with popular music of the US and Latin America. This modern Jazz music has been called "Fusion." Present day exponents include Pat Metheny and Chic Corea. There has also been a return to the sound of Bop in the last ten years by such musicians as trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and his brother Branford, a saxophonist. . What distinguishes it from other types of music? It could be explained in this quote: "The conventional symbols could, in other words, indicated in a general way what should be played, but could not indicate (precisely) how it should be played" (Pleasants 32). This means that what is shown as music on the paper is not exactly what should be played.
