Why Jazz Happened - TribecaY Ta

The title "Why Jazz Happened," captured my interest but it was a misnomer.  Marc Myers hour talk should have been called, "Why Jazz Styles Morphed from 1942-72."  Nonetheless, learning what major factors played in the evolution of jazz made for an enlivened lecture with the audio & visuals he utilized to beat home his themes.  Myers is a WSJ music contributor & JazzWax.com (Jazz Jounalists 2012 Blog of the Year.)  I'll briefly outline the reasons jazz has changed from (1942-72.)   First, for any artform to survive, it is vital to coninuously reinvent itself. The 3 key elements inducing change were:  technological advancements, cultural influences and business adaptations.  Myers spoke of the early 40's musician's strike, the development of long playing records, emphasis on promoting artists & concerts, the civil rights movement, California suburban sprawl & the British invasion.  Audio recordings along with visuals of the artists made it interesting to discern the arch of jazz styles:  swing, Bebop, Pop Jazz, Cool Jazz, Protest Jazz and Jazz  Rock Fusion.  I'm not inclined to read Myers' book "Why Jazz Happened," as it addresses a jejune metamorphisis of jazz.  As an avid fan of jazz, understanding its ORIGINS & listening to Cool Jazz interest me.