"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."
-Louis Armstrong
From New Orleans to Chicago to New York to all over the world, jazz, or the so-called Devil's Music, has come a long way to what it is today.
Origins
Jazz made its first appearance in the honkatonk clubs of Storyville, New Orleans. It emerged as a result of racial segregation, black musicians were not allowed to play at proper "white" establishments and so they would congregate and share their music in honky tonk clubs. At this time, jazz was commonly referred to as the "New Orleans" sound because the term jazz had not been used yet and the music had not yet spread far beyond New Orleans. In the early 1920s, jazz music had not yet made an appearance nationwide despite many artist's efforts to spread its influence. Jazz really started to boom when musicians like King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Kid Ory surfaced with their musical talent.
Spreading and Opposition
However, once jazz started gaining popularity, people began to criticize its liberal qualities and deemed it to be the "Devil's Music". As a result of this violence, many of the original musicians were forced to leave New Orleans. Along with them they brought their musical talent and this newly discovered style of music, jazz. Hence, jazz music spread to places like Chicago, New York, and Kansas City. Migration also played its part in the spread of jazz music. Thousands of African American left the South to find work in industrial cities in the North, bringing jazz with them. As jazz began to gain momentum, people like Edison criticized it, saying that it "sounded better playing it backwards". Jazz broke the rules and created a new atmosphere of freedom and liberalism that threatened the white elites. However, it is important to understand that jazz was not enjoyed by all blacks. W. E. B. Du Bois, a black rights advocate and leader during the Harlem Renaissance preferred European classics like Beethoven as opposed to jazz. Like Du Bois, many WASP ridiculed jazz and described it to be "trashy" and much rather preferred the sophisticated classical music of European culture.
Integration of Jazz into "White" Culture
Although jazz was largely a form of expression for the African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance, this style of music gradually assimilated itself into white culture. Because of the prohibition stated in the 18th amendment in 1920, the only venues that sold alcohol were "gangster-run" nightclubs that hired black musicians. As a result, white youth would often go to these clubs for the alcohol but simultaneously would be exposed to jazz music.
King Oliver
Oliver began his jazz career with the trombone but eventually switched to the cornet. When Oliver played for "Kid" Ory's band, Ory named Joe Oliver the "King" of the cornet, hence, "King" Oliver. He is best known for his success and talent in his Creole Jazz Band.
Louis Armstrong
Armstrong was invited by "King" Oliver to join the Creole Jazz Band as the second cornetist. Soon after that, he became tremendously popular and drew even more attention to the band. His pieces such as "What a Wonderful World", "Hello Dolly!", and "Potato Head Blues" are world renowned even in the modern age.
Significance of Jazz in the Modern Age
Although it is debatable whether or not jazz was truly a masterpiece in itself during the 1920s, it is obvious today that jazz has made a significant impact in our modern day world. It exists and thrives in jazz pubs, Christmas or holiday music, and pop culture. The idea behind jazz is what is truly inspiring as it marks the beginning of the clash of cultures and the beauty behind diversity. It symbolizes freedom of expression through art to shine light on racial and social prejudices. Jazz embodies the concept of the ability for an individual or a group of people to create a culture and environment that is unique to themselves.
Sources:
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/tbacig/studproj/is3099/jazzcult/20sjazz/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/jazz.html
http://www.thetoptens.com/best-louis-armstrong-songs/
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#q=louis%20armstrong%20quotes&safe=active&ssui=on
Spreading and Opposition
However, once jazz started gaining popularity, people began to criticize its liberal qualities and deemed it to be the "Devil's Music". As a result of this violence, many of the original musicians were forced to leave New Orleans. Along with them they brought their musical talent and this newly discovered style of music, jazz. Hence, jazz music spread to places like Chicago, New York, and Kansas City. Migration also played its part in the spread of jazz music. Thousands of African American left the South to find work in industrial cities in the North, bringing jazz with them. As jazz began to gain momentum, people like Edison criticized it, saying that it "sounded better playing it backwards". Jazz broke the rules and created a new atmosphere of freedom and liberalism that threatened the white elites. However, it is important to understand that jazz was not enjoyed by all blacks. W. E. B. Du Bois, a black rights advocate and leader during the Harlem Renaissance preferred European classics like Beethoven as opposed to jazz. Like Du Bois, many WASP ridiculed jazz and described it to be "trashy" and much rather preferred the sophisticated classical music of European culture.
Integration of Jazz into "White" Culture
Although jazz was largely a form of expression for the African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance, this style of music gradually assimilated itself into white culture. Because of the prohibition stated in the 18th amendment in 1920, the only venues that sold alcohol were "gangster-run" nightclubs that hired black musicians. As a result, white youth would often go to these clubs for the alcohol but simultaneously would be exposed to jazz music.
King Oliver
Oliver began his jazz career with the trombone but eventually switched to the cornet. When Oliver played for "Kid" Ory's band, Ory named Joe Oliver the "King" of the cornet, hence, "King" Oliver. He is best known for his success and talent in his Creole Jazz Band.
Louis Armstrong
Armstrong was invited by "King" Oliver to join the Creole Jazz Band as the second cornetist. Soon after that, he became tremendously popular and drew even more attention to the band. His pieces such as "What a Wonderful World", "Hello Dolly!", and "Potato Head Blues" are world renowned even in the modern age.
Significance of Jazz in the Modern Age
Although it is debatable whether or not jazz was truly a masterpiece in itself during the 1920s, it is obvious today that jazz has made a significant impact in our modern day world. It exists and thrives in jazz pubs, Christmas or holiday music, and pop culture. The idea behind jazz is what is truly inspiring as it marks the beginning of the clash of cultures and the beauty behind diversity. It symbolizes freedom of expression through art to shine light on racial and social prejudices. Jazz embodies the concept of the ability for an individual or a group of people to create a culture and environment that is unique to themselves.
Sources:
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/tbacig/studproj/is3099/jazzcult/20sjazz/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/jazz.html
http://www.thetoptens.com/best-louis-armstrong-songs/
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#q=louis%20armstrong%20quotes&safe=active&ssui=on
Nice piece that covers the early history of jazz pretty well. Where did jazz go between the 20s and the modern day though? It evolved quite a bit even after the 20s, going from big band to bebop and hard bop and other forms, and I would like to know where these trends started.
ReplyDeleteAnother important key component of jazz was improvisation, which as you mentioned symbolized freedom of expression. Improvisation was an essential part of jazz music, allowing musicians to create their own harmonies on the spot. It took lots of creativity and individuality to be a good improviser, especially considering that many times, this improvisation had to take place in the context of the playing of other members of the same band, who provided the accompaniment and the bass line. Artists like Louis Armstrong actually rose to fame because of their unique ability to create music on the fly, and they pioneered the art of improvisation, which at the time was a completely new and innovative way of playing.
ReplyDeletehttp://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm