If it aint got that swing

Jazz, a word that has come to signify that American musical art form which originated at the begining of the twentieth century, is said to have originated in southern states from the forced marriage (through slavery) of a West African musical sensiblity using Western (European) theory and song structure.

One of the main qualities that differentiate jazz from its European counterpart is the huge empahsis on "swinging." We've all heard the singable line "It don't mean a thing if it aint got that swing, doo wop doo wop!!!!....." In these things are signs......One must reflect on what "swinging" is about and what Duke Ellington was saying. Now in a limited sense he's talkin bout straight up "gettin' light" (to use a term from one of my friends which refers to dancing) but in the broader, more scientific sense we are learning something more about motion and progress. It doesn't matter, it isn't relevant, literally it isn't ALIVE if it isn't in motion, vibrating, and downright swinging! In physics "motion" is defined as a constant change in the location of the body through applied force. So Jazz's urge, calling and inherent requirement to "swing" is meant as a type of motivation as well as being an initial act in creating a new reality in the lives of people, who had been politically and socially oppressed and shackled, which ended up transcending the African in America to profoundly touch the lives of humanity.

CHECK THIS OUT BELOW, THIS IS AMAZING. It took place in 1943, crazy poder about how I wasn't even thought of in the grand scheme of things yet, hell, not even my parents.