Formed in 1947 with performances centered around "Minami-no-Hoshi". This western mainstream music flowed into almost every region of Okinawa. But authentic jazz appeared with the formation of the Duke-Dorsey band in May of 1950. After that big band jazz spread throughout the islands of Okinawa. After Okinawa's reversion to Japan, the U.S. military bases were reduced in scale and jazz musicians lost a venue for their music. At present there are a number of big band jazz groups around, but most have changed into combos.