New Orleans
Possibly the Birth place of Jazz but…
• We must keep in mind that slaves were first
brought to the America’s in 1619 to Virginia were
African & European musical traditions most likely
first mixed
• Also the first recorded instrumental Jazz was
produced in New York around 1917.
• Pinning down Jazz music’s exact time & place of
birth is somewhat of an Historical mystery
• New Orleans is certainly a good place to look at
New Orleans
The term DIXELAND JAZZ…
• Early New Orleans bands did not refer to
themselves as “Dixieland” jazz bands.
• One popular group “The Original Dixieland Band”
helped popularize the name.
• The term was later used to distinguish between
white bands and Creole bands.
• It wasn’t until the music and musicians had
reached out of New Orleans to Chicago and New
York that the term reached back to describe all on
early New Orleans bands.
New Orleans
Various styles in “Early New
Orleans” bands come from…
• Parades
• Funerals
• Dancing
• *Youtube examples
New Orleans
“Early New Orleans” bands
• Tolerant of all races - music of Africa
and Europe merge
• Music in African American clubs was
“rough”
• Music played for white dances had a
“sweeter” style
• Melody was fixed - everything else
was improvised
Storyville
• Section of New Orleans were Alderman Sidney
Story confined the red-light district to a 38 block
section adjoining Canal Street
• Lots of night life and clubs
• Larger clubs would employ small ensembles and
most employed at least a piano player
• Street bands were very active in the main parades
and street parties
• District was shut down in 1917 by the Navy, but
played an important role in the development of
New Orleans Jazz up until then.
Early New Orleans Bands (Instrumentation)
Frontline player
• Cornet (type of trumpet) – loudest instrument
played melody – could decorate but not change
• Clarinet (duel role) –
1. played harmonic counter-melody above the
pitch of the trumpet
2. created momentum with faster lines than the
other instruments could play
• Trombone - played bass note lines to help fill out
chords of the two other melodic instruments
Early New Orleans Bands (Instrumentation)
Rhythm section (2nd Line)
• Banjo
• Tuba
• Drums
• All played straight rhythm parts as they would in a
standard Marching Band
• Parts were improvised
• Early bands played a straight 4 feel that would
later change to a ragged 2 feel when Ragtime and
Dixieland merge
• Early New Orleans Bands
• No piano in early Dixieland
• Later the piano is added to some groups when..
• merge with Ragtime
• & music is played more in clubs than on the street
• Polyphonic music
• *YOUTUBE BAND EXAMPLES
Dixieland form ( A B B’ B’’ ect.. A )
• (A) Ensemble chorus - all played melody
• (B) Solo choruses – improvised solos
• (A) Return ensemble chorus - all played melody
Charles “Buddy” Bolden
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Led one of the earliest New Orleans marching bands
Played the Cornet
1st Trumpet player to be called “King”
Was 18 when Congo Square stopped have Sunday music
& dancing
Credited with establishing the instrumentation of Dixieland
Jazz
He mostly used the same instruments from his marching
bands
He completely quit playing in 1907
Unfortunately there are no records at all of Bolden’s
playing
• *YOUTUBE BIO VIDEO
Joe “King” Oliver 1885-1938
• Last trumpeter called “King”
• Successive Trumpeters since Bolden had been
called “King” of New Orleans Trumpets
• Band leader - King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
• His style is exemplifies WWI (1914-1918) era
Jazz
• However, he did not record much before 1920
Joe “King” Oliver 1885-1938
• Early New Orleans groups relied on ensemble
more than individual solos
• Oliver was one of the exceptions as his solos are
still today considered essential to his groups music
• “Dippermouth Blues” is a song that most modern
trumpeters play the exact solo by Oliver even he
was improvising
• LISTENING JOURNAL
Dippermouth Blues (track 11)
• Becomes a Mentor & Teacher of Louis Armstrong
• YOUTUBE – VIDEO King Oliver’s influence
Sidney Bechet (1897-1959)
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Child prodigy (highly talented child, extraordinary)
Being playing professional at age 6
Heavy, rich vibrato style
First Famous Jazz player of the Soprano Sax
Played with King Oliver in New Orleans plus his own
bands
• Eventually moves to to Chicago & New York
• Tours extensively to Europe
• Lives between New York & Paris for a time
• LISTENING JOURNAL
*New Orleans Foot Warmers - “Maple Leaf Rag
*YOUTUBE BIO VIDEO
&
(DVD our language 38:00-46:45 )
Louis Armstrong 1901-1971
• Considered one, if not THE Greatest
Jazz musician of all time
• Still remembered as one, if not THE
greatest influence on modern Jazz
musicians
• Took up trumpet in reform school
• Studied with “King” Oliver and was
Oliver’s protégé
Louis Armstrong 1901-1971
• Oliver has great affection for him
• When Oliver leaves New Orleans he leaves
Armstrong his chair in a popular band he is
in.
• Oliver sends for him to come to Chicago in
1922.
• Goes on the lead his own groups & has one
of the most successful and long lasting
careers in Jazz
Louis Armstrong 1901-1971
• Had great tone, stamina and big range on
the Trumpet
• Also a Great Jazz Singer
• Showman and Comedian
• Believed in presenting music to the public
was just as important as creating it.
• LISTENING JOURNAL
“WEST END BLUES” L Armstrong & His Hot Five
*YOUTUBE - “Mack the Knife”, “Wonderful World”
*YOUTUBE – BIO VIDEOS
Out of New Orleans
• Jazz moved to Chicago in 1916
• Moved to New York in 1917
• First “Jazz” recording in 1917 by
• “The Original Dixieland Jazz Band”
in NEW YORK
– All white musicians
– Copied the “black bands”
– *YOUTUBE Example
Chicago Style JAZZ (the roaring 1920s)
• Chicago was prosperous
• Many job opportunities
• Close to Detroit, model T’s and model A
Fords
• Prohibition (1920-1933)
• Gangsters ruled Chicago
• Like the Storyville, Chicago provided
musicians with many night clubs to play
• Recording studios mostly in Chicago and
New York
Chicago Style JAZZ (the roaring 1920s)
How Chicago style differed from New Orleans style
• Still used cornet (trumpet), trombone and
clarinet
• Added piano
• Replaced tuba with string bass
• Added saxophone
• Guitar replaced banjo
• Accent on beats 2 & 4 rather than 1 & 3
Bix Beiderbecke (1903 -1931)
• From Iowa, moved to Chicago
• Was influenced by King Oliver
&Armstrong
• Played with top paying Orchestras in town
including the very popular Paul Whiteman
Orchestra
• Some of his best recordings were with small
groups
• *YOUTUBE Bix small combo & Paul
Whiteman (Showboat)
Bix Beiderbecke (1903 -1931)
• Became the Best known “white” trumpet player in
Chicago
• His approach was more laidback than most Chicago
trumpeters
• Considered the first “COOL” Jazz player.
• Died early due to depression & alcoholism
• Listening Journal
• “Singing the Blues” Frank Trumbauer & His
Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke
• *YOUTUBE Bix bio
• DVD - Our Language 25:30 – 38:00