Summarize Argument
The author concludes that later music featuring improvisation that strays far from the melody should not be classified as jazz. This is because early jazz’s improvisation did not stray far from the melodies.
Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that straying far from the melody is a determining factor in whether something should be classified as jazz. (This overlooks the possibility that there may be other features about the later music that should justify classifying it as jazz.)
A
For a piece of music to be classified as jazz, it must feature some amount of improvisation.
The author never suggested that jazz cannot have improvisation. The issue is whether that improvisation strays far from the melody. The author thinks if it does, it shouldn’t be classified as jazz.
B
The later music featuring improvisation was heavily influenced by early jazz.
The author never suggested that the later music wasn’t heavily influenced by jazz. What the author cares about is the level of improvisation. We want to weaken the author’s assumption that straying far from the melody should prevent a music from being jazz.
C
Some of the later music featuring improvisation was performed by artists who had been jazz musicians earlier in their careers.
The identity of the performers has no clear impact on whether music should be classified as jazz. Jazz musicians can perform non-jazz music.
D
Many types of music other than jazz feature a great deal of improvisation.
The author never assumed that only jazz contains improvisation. The issue is whether straying far from the melody should prevent a music from being classified as jazz.
E
The later music featuring improvisation has much more in common with early jazz than with any other type of music.
This suggests that if we are to classify the music based on similarities/differences, there’s no more reasonable option than classifying it as jazz. Other types of music are more different than early jazz is, even if the later music’s improvisation strays further from the melody.