源於美國，是爵士樂的一種分支音樂類型。它充滿快拍子和即興創作，善用和聲多於旋律。於1940年代初中期開始出現，音樂的速度一般比較快。其後衍生出混合藍調和福音的硬波普（Hard bop）。

这种音乐的外在表现是以小型的基于原声器乐的演奏团体形式出现，在这种音乐中有两个重要因素：一是即席创作，这时就更偏向于爵士风格；二是其中的民族乐（Ethnic）元素，因此上它也吸取了世界各地文化的传统音乐。这种音乐的创作倾向于新古典主义的音乐美学以及受到印象派的影响。

A genre developed in France that combines Jazz with several aspects of Gypsy Music. Although many instrument lineups are possible, the guitar and violin are the most common solo instrument, standing starkly in contrast to typical Jazz, where saxophones, trumpets, etc. are far more common. Clarinet and accordion are also commonly used, and the rhythm guitar is often played with a percussive technique known as "la pompe", largely replacing the drums. Django Reinhardt is often credited with creating the genre.

A popular form of Jazz developed in the twenties, Hot Jazz artists took early New Orleans Jazz, (a combination of Ragtime, Marches, and Blues, which featured heavy use of musical improvisation), increased the complexity, often played at breakneck speeds, and upped the improvisation considerably. Overall, Hot Jazz saw much greater commercial success and came to redefine New Orleans Jazz and the sound of the "roaring twenties". Famous "Hot Jazz" artists include Joe 'King' Oliver, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong & his Hot Five, and some early Duke Ellington.

In the nineties, Hot Jazz once again saw mainstream radio play with the release of "Hot!" by North Carolina's Squirrel Nut Zippers, only to be quickly assimilated into and (over-shadowed by) a generation of new Swing bands who also saw extensive, mainstream radio play.

Mbaqanga is a style of South African music, originated in the early 1960s, with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today.

Like the terms electronica and jazz, nu jazz is a loosely defined umbrella musical style. It ranges from combining live instrumentation with beats of jazz house (exemplified by the French St Germain, the German Jazzanova and Fila Brazillia from the UK) to more band-based improvised jazz with electronic elements (such as that of the The Cinematic Orchestra from the UK, the Belgian PhusionCulture, Mexican duo Kobol, nu jazz improvisation collective, the Norwegian "future jazz" style pioneered by Bugge Wesseltoft, Jaga Jazzist, Nils Petter Molvær, and others.)

Genre developed in Brazil in the early sixties, that consisted in a mixture of elements of samba and bossa nova with some elements of jazz (especially cool and bebop).

Swing music began in the 1920s, with its prime era between 1935-1945, and was one of the most popular styles of American music until shortly after World War Two. Swing Jazz relies on a larger backing rhythm section (comprised of drums, guitar, bass (stand-up or electric), piano or organ, and sometimes a tuba, in varying groupings) than other Jazz styles. This lays the groundwork for the 'lead' section, usually including brass (e.g. trombone, trumpet) and woodwinds (e.g. saxophone, clarinet). Creative and intricate soloing takes the fore on the bandleaders instrument of choice, giving each song its particular character. Swing is an up-tempo music that is highly danceable, its most famous dance perhaps being the Jitterbug. Swing enjoyed a brief but powerful revival during the late 90s, and its well-known original artists such as Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, and Count Basie (& His Orchestra) remain popular to this day among Jazz enthusiasts.