Beginning of Jazz

This week (week 2) we studied in the beginnings of jazz following the popularity of ragtime. Jazz music appeared in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. James Europe and his Society Orchestra, the first black groups to sign a deal with a record company, were among the first of those to perform what would eventually become jazz. The jazz “fad” kicked off with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band with their recording of Tiger Rag in 1918. Listening to this track you can hear the beginnings of the jazz sound, including improvisation and the syncopation which came from ragtime but differed from other music of the time. The different lines weaving in and out Making it sound very polyphonic. This song also has stop time sequences as well as the shout course which is reflective to the call-and-response of the African American music traditions mentioned in earlier chapters.

Starr and Waterman’s listening guide mentions that “there is no strongly identifiable melody throughout much of the performance. This means that the listener’s attention is focused on other aspects of the music, including the ensemble interaction, the variations played by individuals, and rhythmic drive of the performance.” (2018 p.87) In the recorded performance provided by the text you could hear the conglomeration of the different parts making a contrast to those stop time sections mentioned before and making the music so much more impactful when it changes. This make me think of how modern musicians use similar concepts to present major ideas of music or create an impact. A great example is electronic dance music. The “drop” of EDM creates the impact of the song, usually at several climax points but before each of the drops there is usually some polyphony occurring with a drum being a focus to drive the section of the song to a high or impact point.

As the music continued to progress Joe Oliver in his Creole Jazz Band played a major part in the expansion of jazz as popular music. With their recording of Dipper Mouth Blues, a contrast to the Tiger Rag, you can still hear the influence of the ragtime craze that happened before the jazz fad. The rhythms have the bouncy feeling ragtime has. You can still hear the many different parts that are played, but with a more melodic mainline through the polyphony. It mixes the counter melody and supporting lines in a cleaner, more organized fashion. This recording is a perfect example of “the first authentic evidence of a mature jazz style.” (Starr and Waterman 2018 p.87). That style was strengthened and improved upon by one of the trumpet players in that band.

That trumpet player was Louie Armstrong.  With 60 years of being in the music industry West End blues was one of the most Influential recordings that he did. This song would pave the way for the swing era. This song’s many solos, easy to follow melodic lines, and well-crafted supporting musical harmonic backdrop would be a basis for the sound of the next 20 years. Beyond that it would be a major influence of the sound and style of other genres which would follow as well.

With all the excitement of the jazz “fad” there were others in Tin Pan Alley that were hard at work creating music which derived more form European influences while taking some ques from the jazz sound. In the song I’ve Got Rhythm, you can hear the African American influences with the European traditions through its syncopated rhythms and jazz chords. The ballads of other Tin Pan Alley songs were used in Broadway musicals and the form and style of old British Ballads could be heard in many songs. One to mention is My Blue Heaven. The influence of these tunes would be a basis for many future songs. The form may have changed but the singing style and themes of these songs would be something that would carry through the years. Starr and Waterman mention “the ideal of romantic love, a theme inherited from European songs and poetic tradition…” (2018 p.110). These themes which were sung about in Tin Pan Alley and still sing about today can be traced back to European roots. In contrast some of the early jazz pieces were more about thinking about a scene, and usually instrumental. The two streams of popular music would continue to evolve and contribute to our many options we have today.