Jazz History: The Advent of Jazz Dawn of the 20 th Century

Jazz Origins Jazz music is the first true American music form. Developed out of the African American community Symbol of individuality and inclusiveness

The Rise of Jim Crow After Plessy v. Ferguson, a set of laws stating that “separate but equal” was constitutional were formed called the Jim Crow Laws. –With these laws in place, African American people were even further disgraced. –One of the reasons why Jazz symbolizes freedom and equality No rules about how to play it Anyone can play.

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound The birthplace of jazz Long before jazz: popular place for classical music Before it was American, (part of the Louisiana purchase) it was a French city and then before that it was Spanish shipping port.

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound Many different styles of music coexisted together in one place –Ragtime (track 6) –Blues (track 7) –New Orleans Funeral Bands (track 4) –Tradition African and Latin music (track 3) –Classical piano and opera (track 1-2) –Traditional gospel music (track 8)

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound The African American people of New Orleans added the importance of rhythm to the mix of music. –On Sunday afternoons in Congo Square, slaves were permitted to dance and sing. (3) –The music they played for this was a mix of African and Caribbean: The Caribbean islands were a stop on the slave trading route, thus the music became part of African American music.

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound “Creoles of color” were light skinned descendents of white slave owners and their black wives. –Creole musicians were classically trained as well as knew how to play jazz music. Thought of themselves as better –Creole musicians could read music (1,2)

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound Ragtime is a style of music that uses syncopated rhythms and stride piano. –Scott Joplin was the first African American composer to become well-known for Ragtime music. –(6)

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound Black refugees from the cotton fields brought the blues Blues definition: (7) –Originally started as just vocal music, but later on instruments were added. –Only ever uses three chords –Allows for a lot of improvising. Blues is about finding hope in a troubled world.

New Orleans: Melting Pot of Sound Gospel music at the same time was almost identical to blues music, but with a religious meaning behind it. –Church people looked down on blues because it was “good-time music” and not Christian. (8) All these styles mixed together at once created Jazz!

Buddy Bolden No ones for certain who was the first to actually play Jazz, but it most likely was Buddy Bolden –Played the cornet in dance clubs and then formed his own group called Professor Bolden. –Loved playing dance music and people loved to dance to his music. –Made other people want to play like him

Jazz: National Sensation Phonograph made Jazz national The first group to have recorded hits was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and their songs were “Dixieland Jazz Band One- Step” and “Livery Stable Blues. (13,14)

Sidney Bechet Creole child prodigy on clarinet and saxophone. Toured Europe with his group Southern Syncopated Orchestra. Had a huge sound on his instruments! Lived in France at the end of his life and continued to play until he died. (17,18)

Louis Armstrong and Joe Oliver Both born in New Orleans, prodigies on trumpet. Louis learned how to play in New Orleans, spent his summers on steamboats playing for dancers. Joe Oliver started his group Creole Jazz Band and became a success in Chicago Later, Louis joined him and learned more from him. –Oliver- 21, Chimes Blues, 22, Snake Rag –Louis- 23, Sugar Foot Stomp, 24, St. Louis Blues

Great Migration In the 1920s, African Americans left the south to get away from the Jim Crow laws. They traveled right up the Mississippi river into Chicago. –From , more than ½ million people made the journey Chicago soon became a center for Jazz musicians.