The popularity of jazz musicians by black artists has experienced particularly high levels of advancement in Kansas City throughout history. "For a brief period from the late 1920s through the late 1930s, Kansas City was a mecca for Midwestern and southwestern black jazz musicians. Some extraorginary music resulted from the healthy competition and collegiality that grew among musicians of significantly different backgrounds and styles. Among the musicians who marked the sound of Kansas City then were Bill "Count" Basie, Bennie Moten, Lester Young, Eddie Durham, Jesse Stone, Walter Page, Oran "Hot Lips" Page, Mary Lou Williams, Eddie Barefield, Henry "Buster" Smith, Ed Lewis, Jimmy Rushing, Joe Turner, Pete Johnson, Jay McShann, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Dick Wilson, and Charlie Parker. It is an extraordinary role call for a relatively small city of the period," (Pearon 182). With consideration for these individuals, it is apparent that the most significant time period in Kansas City history, in regard to the spread of black jazz music, is the 1920s and 1930s.
One of the most indirectly responsible musicians who aided in the spread of black jazz music in Kansas City is Bill "Count" Basie, a character who "deserves to be [known by] anyone claiming to have more than a passing interest in the historical development of jazz," (Dunford 321). He was the "most important piano player and the most important band leader to emerge from Kansas City..." (Richards). "Basie, unlike most of the other territory musicians, was not a native Midwesterner. Originally from New Jersey, he was stranded in Kansas City when a touring group he was with broke up. He then played for a while as an accompanist in silent movie theaters until he joined the Blue Devils in 1928 and Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra in 1929. When Moten's group disbanded in 1932, its core musicians, including Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones, became the core of the Count Basie Orchestra".
Bennie Moten is a second important individual with regard to the advancement of black jazz music in Kansas City history. "A Bennie Moten ensemble had been around since the early 1920s. And by 1924, on its third record date and with its personnel expanded from six to eight, it had its first hit in a piece called "South." Indeed, a 1928 stylistically updated Moten remake of "South," with ten instrumentaliststwo trumpets, a trombone, three reeds, and four rhythmcould be found in jukeboxes in the South and Southwest well into the 1940s," (Williams 172).
Jazz as a general genre reached its peak in the thirties. Jazz was incredibly popular with both the Black community, and the white community; however, Jazz reached the adolescents the most. Jazz music was associated with the African American culture during this time of increible racial tension, subsequently the ‘teens’ of this generation began to tune into this genre for its rebelistic qualities. Popular forms of jazz music often included, Dixieland/’hot’ jazz, classical jazz, and bebop. The defining artist of hot jazz was Louis Armstrong. This music was characterized by collective improvised solos, around melodic structure, that ideally built up to an emotional and "Hot" climax. The rhythm section, which typically consists of percussion, bass, banjo, or guitar helps to support this crescendo, many times in the style of a
Throughout history, and even today, music has shaped America’s culture, society, and even politics. One of the most outstanding and enduring musical movement has been from African American artists, ranging from bebop to jazz to hip-hop to rap. During the 1920’s , jazz artists stepped into the limelight and began their impact on American and even world history. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential leaders during the Harlem Renaissance and his jazz legacy and impact of American history is everlasting. A master of his craft, Armstrong and his music heavily influenced America’s white and black populations from the 1920’s and up until his death.
Jazz is referred as “America’s classical music,” and is one of North America’s and most celebrated genres. The history of Jazz can be traced back to the early era of the 20th century of the U.S. “A History of Jazz” presents From Ragtime and Blues to Big Band and Bebop, jazz has been a part of a proud African American tradition for over 100 years. A strong rhythmic under-structure, blue notes, solos, “call-and response” patterns, and
Jazz is one of the only uniquely American forms of music. Its roots date back all the way to the Atlantic slave trade. Jazz is still alive and well today. This paper will walk you through Jazz’s rich history. We’ll start with the basics of African music and its influences. Then we will take you through the decades leading to modern Jazz.
Looking for a new sound, he started to work with the arranger Gil Evans, and this cooperation gave birth to a new wave of “cool jazz”. Later, this genre called West Coast cool jazz brought many other new sub-genres. During the same year, Miles formed his own band with a nine members in it where he combined in addition to himself a trombone, a baritone saxophone, an alto saxophone a tuba, and a French horn. At that time, the band included such musicians as John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Kai Winding, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz and J. J. Johnson. All of them have brought into music relaxing notes.
This essay, as the title suggests, will be about the origins of jazz music. Starting from the roots when African slaves arrived in North America, they helped the development and the emergence of early jazz a great deal. It is also important to not forget the significance of the Congo Square which kept the music alive in New Orleans, never letting it die out. Then, continuing on with the slavery theme, the essay will talk about why and how jazz music appeared in its widely considered birth place, New Orleans. Also, as early jazz developed into different styles, the text will mainly be focusing on its two most prominent ancestors: ragtime and blues. Additionally, jazz would not exist as it is known today without the assistance of some of the
The Jazz Singer, released in 1927, is a black and white film that centers on a young man who wishes to conquer his dreams in becoming a professional jazz singer. This film, directed by Alan Crosland, demonstrates new developments from the decade of the 1920’s. During the decade, many new advances; such as the introduction of musicals and other technological advancements, were created. The Jazz Singer utilized these new advances of the decade and incorporated them into each scene. This is evident due to the elements of being the first talkie film, the introduction of the new musical genre and the introduction of the Hollywood stars system. By utilizing the new advances of the decade, Crosland’s film, changed the way cinema would be seen forever.
The jazz community and the music we know today would not be the same without the contributions of Louis Armstrong, who is widely considered to be a founding father of Jazz. The works of Louis Armstrong who was a trumpet and cornet player, composer, actor, and singer have profoundly shaped and impacted all American music. His ingenuity and his musically inventive mind have given us a style that dominates the Jazz community. Armstrong’s innovations and progressions single handedly changed the face of Jazz, his innovations are still effecting music today. Many musicians today work in the shadow of Louis towering figure and bask in his legacy he left behind. His style of trumpet playing revolutionized the world of Jazz, and he became one of
By the end of World War I, Black Americans were facing their lowest point in history since slavery. Most of the blacks migrated to the northern states such as New York and Chicago. It was in New York where the “Harlem Renaissance” was born. This movement with jazz was used to rid of the restraints held against African Americans. One of the main reasons that jazz was so popular was that it allowed the performer to create the rhythm. With This in Mind performers realized that there could no...
In the New York City neighbourhood of Harlem in particular attracted many african americans intellectuals and artists. Jazz first became popular in the nightclub cultures of big cities, but it wasn't Harlem clubs that one could see the artists fresh and uniquely american music. Jazz came to view in the African American. Jazz was from the mixed influences of ragtime, blues, hot jazz, and even band music that played in Funerals. Works produced during the Harlem Renaissance appealed not just to African Americans but it crossed over to white audiences as well as the musical “Shuffle Along” which in fact became a smash hit on Broadway. The rapid growing record industry who quickly became interested in performers such as Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Fletcher Henderson, Cab Calloway, etc. One of the many great legends was Edward Kennedy Ellington but his friends simply called him Duke. Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington orthodoxe black jazz orchestras that began performing at nightclubs in Chicago and for a long run the Cotton Club in New York. They both employed some of the most accomplished Jazz Musicians such as Louis
Subsequently, these new artists drove jazz into even more popularity during the 1920s. Musicians, such as Paul Whiteman, King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong, formed dance bands to accompany dancers, while their bands, along with other greats, like Willy Smith, Duke Ellington, and Jelly Roll Morton, recorded with some of the era’s most noticeable and rising record companies such as Gennett Records, Paramount Records, and Okeh Records. From listening to the radio or at various venues, artists would pick up influence from other artists, taking their own twist on the tunes, style, and music to create subgenres of jazz, such as ragtime, as favored by Fletcher Henderson, and blues, as sung by Bessie Smith. These artists, furthermore, created music that spoke to America whether through a joyous, fast-moving ragtime or a sympathetic, slow, and steady blues.
Jazz music prospered in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Jazz was created by African Americans to represent pain and suffering and also represented the adversity that racial tension brought. (Scholastic) African American performers like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie “Bird” Parker came to be recognized for their ability to overcome “race relati...
Jazz is not just music, it was a way for people to express themselves and their emotions. It also had a part in fashion and poetry. “Jazzy clothing” and “jazzy poems” also arose. Jazz was unique because it broke many social and musical rules. Instead of the regular and usual structure, jazz would be improvised by the musician. It provided a way for people to express themselves, gave them character which set them apart, and cultural freedom. New dances were being created lie the Charleston and the One Step. The birth of jazz music is generally credited to African Americans, but expanded and over time it became socially acceptable to middle-class white Americans. White performers were used for the popularization of jazz music in America. Even though the jazz movement was taken over by the middle class white population, it facilitated the blend of African American traditions with the white middle class society. Cities like New York and Chicago were cultural centers for jazz, and especially for African American artists. Some famous black artists of the time were Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.
The jazz band I observed played a series of six different songs. Although all the songs were categorized as jazz, each song had its own special style and sound to it. The band consisted of three different players. Paul Meyers, the guitarist and composer, Andy Eulau, the bassist, and Dave Rataczak, on drums. The songs performed were entitled “Love for Sale” by Cole Porter, “Once I Loved” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, “Stars” by Paul Meyers, “Blues for Mel” also by Paul Meyers, “Last Night When We Were Young” by Harold Arlen, and “Samba Novo” by Luis Eca.
Not only is it nearly impossible to pinpoint jazz’s conception in time, many locations are accredited with its origin, the United States allowed for jazz to start gaining popularity and leading into the change it had to the music scene. When jazz is brought up, many first think of its birth place being New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans has always been a big musi...