In the 1920’s, big jazz bands began to form. This was when jazz began to be played on the radio. Many early groups traveled - playing at picnics, riding in advertising wagons while playing, and marching in streets while playing jazz music. Most early jazz was played in small bands or by solo pianists, for there weren’t a lot of places that jazz musicians could play, especially for money. Jazz was even popular during World War I.

White and Black Jazz had a lot in common. One thing that they had in common was their tune. There were a lot of things in common with their tune, like their rhythm. Something that was different was their music. In Chicago, where white and black jazz met, the white musicians started copying off of the black jazz music. African-Americans became very angry about the whites copying their music, and soon started making up a more complex and detailed music. Of course, it was so complex that it did not become popular, like Dixieland or Swing. For example, many of their pieces had a different tune, and many more of their pieces had a different sort of rhythm, which made the music sound differently.

In the early 1930’s, Black Jazz was beginning to have better luck. Jazz singing became extremely popular. For example, Ella Fitzgerald made tremendous fame from her wonderful singing. Jazz musicians were getting their jobs back, and people were more eager to hear, and dance, to jazz. By 1934, things were beginning to look better. There was also a new kind of jazz that was invented between 1934-1935. It was invented in Kansas City. The music was now smoother, and could hold out longer notes, called legato notes. Jazz musicians still had their jobs, and jazz became more popular than before.