Instrumental Jazz Music is becoming hugely popular with all age groups.
Alongside its coutnerpart Vocal Jazz (usually Instrumental Jazz accompanied by a singer), Instrumental Jazz is revered for bringing an emotional intensity to the listener, whether those emotions be anger, sadness or betrayal, or happiness, carefree flights of fancy or love.
While the varied sub-genres of Jazz can be as different as chalk and cheese, they all hold a similar quality; and that’s the love of the musicians for the music they are making – a love often missing in mass-produced music such as modern chart pop and dance music.
Instruments Used in Instrumental Jazz Music
To really ‘get’ instrumental jazz music, it really helps to know and identify what musical instruments are used in its creation.
Here are some of the most commonly used instruments in Jazz:
- Piano
- Guitar
- Drums
- Double Bass
- Woodwinds
- Saxophones
- Trombones
- Trumpet
- Flutes
- Clarinet
These are only a few of the most recognisable instruments that define instrumental jazz music; one of the favorites is the saxophone.
Saxophone and Instrumental Jazz Music
The saxophone is probably one of the most recognizable instruments in any band, jazz group, concert band or folk music. The saxophone is usually made out of brass and of various keys and pads to control the notes; it uses a single reed (reed is a thin piece of wood attached to the mouthpiece which vibrates when you blow on it) to create it’s sound.
The most common styles of sax that make up the saxophone section in instrumental jazz music are:
- Alto saxes
- Tenor saxes
- Baritone saxes
The less common ones are:
- Bass saxes
- Soprano saxes
Instrumental jazz music played with the saxophone in the band creates a sensual atmosphere, which is both relaxing and stimulating. While the Saxophone is often associated with romance, Jazz and Big Band music very often uses the diferent types of saxophone in unison and harmony to create a very warm, soft, flowing sound like a river – one which the rest of the song glides smoothly along.
Where can I hear Instrumental Jazz Music?
Whether Vocal orĀ Instrumental, you will find Jazz being played at all sorts of different venues and occasions.
Due to its relaxing nature, Instrumental Jazz is often played in Supermarkets, shopping centres and elevators, which is often negatively termed ‘Muzak’. Aside from this often negative image, Jazz is a perfect accompaniment to a romantic meal in a restaurant or at home, and is often found played at weddings and other functions, too.
Jazz is regularly used in movies where the filmmakers want to achieve an atmosphere of ‘cool’, which is a very postitive representation. Usually in these circumstances Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin or any of the classic crooners are used (and rightfully so, as these guys are the undisputed kings of cool).
Instrumental Jazz Music is often used in the movies as incidental music, ocurring in the background.
With jazz music you can dance, sit back and relax or just enjoy it as a background mood-setting device; its soothing notes will take you into the relaxing, dreamy world of jazz bringing you inner comfort and tranquility.
Instrumental Jazz music can be found everywhere, and for good reason – its mood-setting ability can be used to transform the feeling and atmosphere of a room or situation in mere moments.
You can listen to Instrumental Jazz on the Internet through various free Instrumental Jazz Music Internet Radio stations, such as accuradio.com’s Jazz channel

November 18th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I agree. Instrumental jazz music is becoming popular again, as well it should. It expresses one’s feelings in a way that other music cannot. It lifts you up!