Thesis Statement
How did Jazz Music influence the 1920s?
- Jazz music was born during the 1920's and gave way to entirely new genre of music. It was uplifting music that could always be heard playing. It did many wonderful things such as uplift citizens spirits during the great depression. It also gave African Americans a new found way to express themselves more, due to the fact that there were many African American jazz musicians during this time period.
- The original birthplace of jazz music was New Orleans.
- Jazz was a mix of instrumental rag time and blues.
- Created an entirely new genre of music.
Origins
One might ask; where exactly did jazz music originate?
Tracing the origins of Jazz music in it's very first years (approximately 1895-1917) is not an easy task. Recordings of Jazz did not begin until 1917, and even then the severe technical limitations of the primitive acoustical recording equipment distorted the true sound of the bands as they would have been heard in person. Ear-witness accounts of early Jazz bands of the turn of the century, like Buddy Bolden's band, vary widely. Nothing that they played was written and even if it was, it would be of little value. No musical notation has yet been devised that accurately describes the feel of an improvised performance.
The history of Jazz music origins is attributed to the turn of the 20th century in New Orleans, (specifically the 1920's). However, this unique, artistic medium occurred almost simultaneously in other North American areas like Saint Louis, Kansas city and Chicago. Traits carried from West African black folk music devolved in the Americans, joined with the European popular and light classical music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, became the catchy rhythms of ragtime and minor chord voicings characteristic of the Blues.
Jazz and Blues are among America's greatest cultural achievements and exports to the world community giving powerful voice to the American experience. Born of a multi-hued society, it unites people across the divides of race, region and national boundaries and has always made powerful statements about freedom, creativity and American identity at home and abroad.
In a 1924 interview, trombonist Peter Clark said, "Jazz is restless. It won't stay put and it never will"
Tracing the origins of Jazz music in it's very first years (approximately 1895-1917) is not an easy task. Recordings of Jazz did not begin until 1917, and even then the severe technical limitations of the primitive acoustical recording equipment distorted the true sound of the bands as they would have been heard in person. Ear-witness accounts of early Jazz bands of the turn of the century, like Buddy Bolden's band, vary widely. Nothing that they played was written and even if it was, it would be of little value. No musical notation has yet been devised that accurately describes the feel of an improvised performance.
The history of Jazz music origins is attributed to the turn of the 20th century in New Orleans, (specifically the 1920's). However, this unique, artistic medium occurred almost simultaneously in other North American areas like Saint Louis, Kansas city and Chicago. Traits carried from West African black folk music devolved in the Americans, joined with the European popular and light classical music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, became the catchy rhythms of ragtime and minor chord voicings characteristic of the Blues.
Jazz and Blues are among America's greatest cultural achievements and exports to the world community giving powerful voice to the American experience. Born of a multi-hued society, it unites people across the divides of race, region and national boundaries and has always made powerful statements about freedom, creativity and American identity at home and abroad.
In a 1924 interview, trombonist Peter Clark said, "Jazz is restless. It won't stay put and it never will"
Background Information
The period from the end of the World War I until the start of the Great Depression in 1929 is known as the "Jazz Age".
Jazz had become popular music in the United States, although older generations considered the music immoral and threatening to old cultural values. Dances such as the Charleston and the Black Bottom were very popular during the period, and jazz bands typically consisted of seven to twelve musicians.
Important orchestras in New York were led by Fletcher Henderson, Paul Whiteman and Duke Ellington. Many New Orleans jazzmen had moved to Chicago during the late 1910s in search of employment; among others, the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and Jelly Roll Morton recorded in the city. However, Chicago's importance as a center of jazz music started to diminish toward the end of the 1920s in favor of New York.
In the early years of jazz, record companies were often eager to decide what songs were to be recorded by their artists. Popular numbers in the 1920s were pop hits such as "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Dinah" and "Bye Bye Blackbird". The first jazz artist to be given some liberty in choosing his material was Louis Armstrong, whose band helped popularize many of the early standards in the 1920s and 1930s.
Jazz had become popular music in the United States, although older generations considered the music immoral and threatening to old cultural values. Dances such as the Charleston and the Black Bottom were very popular during the period, and jazz bands typically consisted of seven to twelve musicians.
Important orchestras in New York were led by Fletcher Henderson, Paul Whiteman and Duke Ellington. Many New Orleans jazzmen had moved to Chicago during the late 1910s in search of employment; among others, the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and Jelly Roll Morton recorded in the city. However, Chicago's importance as a center of jazz music started to diminish toward the end of the 1920s in favor of New York.
In the early years of jazz, record companies were often eager to decide what songs were to be recorded by their artists. Popular numbers in the 1920s were pop hits such as "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Dinah" and "Bye Bye Blackbird". The first jazz artist to be given some liberty in choosing his material was Louis Armstrong, whose band helped popularize many of the early standards in the 1920s and 1930s.