jarabe Traditional Mexican dance form with multiple sections in contrasting meters and tempos, often performed by mariachi ensembles.

jazz A musical style created mainly by African Americans in the early twentieth century that blended elements drawn from African musics with the popular and art traditions of the West.

jazz band Instrumental ensemble made up of reed (saxophones and clarinets), brass (trumpets and trombones), and rhythm sections (percussion, piano, double bass, and sometimes guitar).

jia hua Literally, "adding flowers"; an embellishment style in Chinese music using various ornamental figures.

jig A vigorous dance developed in the British Isles, usually in compound meter; became fashionable on the Continent as the gigue; still popular as an Irish traditional dance genre.

jongleurs Medieval wandering entertainers who played instruments, sang and danced, juggled, and performed plays.

jongleuresses Female jongleurs, or wandering entertainer/minstrels.

jota A type of Spanish dance song characterized by a quick triple meter and guitar and castanet accompaniment.