Often Called…

“Instant swing” – Both upbeat and downbeat o Jazz are equally as important

“1st world music” – representative of the entire worlds culture 

Origins: 

Deeply rooted in African (West African) culture

• Caribbean migration

• Slave trade 

  • Banjo

  • Jaw bones

  • Board

Jazz musicians were often looked down 

Influential Jazz Figures…

Louis Gottschalk:

• “Louis Gottschalk recreated what he heard to popularize Jazz”

• Ragtime was an extension of Gottschalk’s music

Buddy Bolden:

•  “1st Jazz Great” 1st authentic legend

Louis Armstrong:  father of Jazz/ Jazz trumpet/ organized solo

• Consolidated all aspects of Jazz and the music that existed even before he started playing 

• Understood all aspects of music and could play anything through his trumpet (highest level of instrumental versatility)

• Father of organized solo

Dixieland: 

• First ever Jazz Recording

• Recorded became extremely important 

Jelly Roll Martin: 

• Went East to perform in Chicago and Detroit 

Sam Wooding: 

• took Jazz overseas to Berlin in 1924

• Also traced to Barcelona and South America 

“Lil” – One of the first female Jazz band members (pianist)

Mary Lou Williams – one of the first leading women in modern Jazz

Important Locations…

New Orleans: 

• provided lots of jobs through the entertainment and music industry

• Provided people with a chance to start fresh

• Though it was extremely popular in NO it was not restricted to just there

Harlem: 

• Creative people came there

• Hub for talent and nightlife

• Cotton Club

• Ellington Music: became synonymous with Harlem and black culture there

Kansas: 

• Charlie Parker

• Pete Johnson 

• Led to boogie woogie,, then to a craze in 1940’s 

In the 30’s the radio became a bands most reliable tool in spreading their music