The History of Jazz: From Congo Square to Avant-Garde
The History of Jazz
Early Influences (Early 1800s – 1920s)
Congo Square
Born in the early 1800s in New Orleans, Congo Square was a place where slaves were made to dance every Sunday. This fusion of African and Caribbean cultures formed the foundation of jazz.
Creole Musicians
Influenced by the Baptist church, Creole musicians were classically trained. Some even had their own slaves. Creole refers to a person of mixed European and African or Caribbean descent.
Minstrel Music
Minstrel shows featured black and white performers painted in blackface and served as a form of early entertainment. Daddy Rice was the first to popularize minstrel music with his hit song “Jim Crow.”
Ragtime
Black piano players created Ragtime music, characterized by its syncopated, off-beat rhythm.
Blues
Blues music emerged as a way to express the hardships and emotions of African Americans. The typical blues form consists of a 3-chord progression with 12 bars.
Creole and Black Musicians Unite
Creole and Black musicians, facing similar societal challenges, began playing together. Creole musicians brought their technical expertise to the collaboration.
The Roaring Twenties (1920s)
Dance Music
The Roaring 20s saw a surge in the popularity of dance music, with bands like Blue Devil and Clouds of Joy leading the way.
Rise of Independent Singers
The era also witnessed a growing focus on independent singers such as Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong.
Roseland Ballroom
Roseland became the most popular dance hall in New York City.
Louis Armstrong’s Breakthrough
In 1925, Louis Armstrong left Fletcher Henderson’s band to pursue a solo career. He is credited with inventing scat singing when the music fell off the stand during a performance of “Heebie Jeebies,” and he improvised with vocal sounds.
Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues
Bessie Smith, known as the “Empress of the Blues,” became the first black woman singer to appear in a film.
Black Swan Records
Black Swan was the first record company owned and operated by Black artists.
The Swing Era (1930s)
The Great Depression and the Rise of Swing
The 1929 stock market crash ushered in the Great Depression. By 1932, unemployment rates soared. Music, often offered for free, provided solace and entertainment during these difficult times. Swing music, also known as Big Band music, gained immense popularity, led by Benny Goodman.
Savoy Ballroom
The Savoy Ballroom, featuring two bands playing simultaneously, became a haven for dancers and showcased a variety of musical styles. It was one of the few integrated ballrooms in New York City.
Louis Armstrong’s Return to New York
Louis Armstrong moved back to New York from Chicago to establish himself as a solo artist.
Duke Ellington: Elegance and Style
Duke Ellington, known for his elegance, grace, and style, became one of the most popular band leaders. In 1930, he and his band went to Hollywood to appear in the comedy film “Check and Double Check.”
Fletcher Henderson and the Big Band Sound
Big Band Swing, an American invention, was pioneered by Fletcher Henderson. These large ensembles typically consisted of 19 pieces: 5 trumpets, 5 trombones, 5 saxophones (woodwinds), and a 4-piece rhythm section (piano, bass, drums). Big Bands typically did not feature vocals.
Integrated and Segregated Ballrooms
While Roseland remained a whites-only establishment, the Savoy Ballroom in New York welcomed both Black and white patrons.
John Hammond: Champion of Unknown Musicians
John Hammond, a wealthy jazz enthusiast, played a crucial role in promoting unknown musicians.
Benny Goodman and the Rise of Swing
Benny Goodman, hired by Billy Rose for a late-night dance show, bought arrangements from Fletcher Henderson to build his band’s repertoire. Goodman’s drummer, Gene Krupa, became a star in his own right, particularly with the song “Sing Sing Sing.”
Fake Books
Fake books, containing melodies and chords, became a valuable resource for musicians, especially those playing on radio stations.
Art Tatum: The Invisible Man of Jazz
Art Tatum, a pianist with exceptional memory and perfect pitch, was known as the “Invisible Man of Jazz” due to his remarkable talent.
Benny Goodman: The King of Swing
Benny Goodman earned the title “King of Swing” with his band’s immense popularity. His tunes consistently topped the charts.
Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra
Tommy Dorsey, a demanding bandleader, hired Frank Sinatra as his vocalist.
Glenn Miller’s Popular Swing Hits
Glenn Miller further popularized swing with hits like “String of Pearls” and “In the Mood.”
Artie Shaw: Benny Goodman’s Rival
Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman’s biggest rival, disbanded his orchestra in 1939 due to financial difficulties.
Billie Holiday: King of the Matinees
Billie Holiday, known as the “King of the Matinees” for her daytime performances, gained recognition for her unique vocal style.
Swing’s Impact on the Recording Industry
Jazz evolved into swing, revitalizing the recording industry. Record sales surged from 6 million to 50 million annually.
The Jitterbug
The Lindy Hop evolved into the jitterbug, a popular dance craze that took hold in Times Square.
Joe Glaser: Louis Armstrong’s Manager
Joe Glaser became Louis Armstrong’s manager and guided his career for the next 30 years.
Count Basie and Kansas City Swing
Count Basie’s swing music gained popularity through exposure on Kansas City radio stations. Billie Holiday affectionately called him “Daddy Basie.”
Ella Fitzgerald’s Rise to Fame
Ella Fitzgerald, who had experienced homelessness and danced for a living in New York, won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater, launching her singing career.
Count Basie’s Piano Style
Born in 1904, Count Basie learned to play piano with the help of his mother, who paid for his piano lessons. He later studied with Fats Waller. Basie’s band was renowned for its strong rhythm section. His most popular song, “One O’Clock Jump,” was played without written music, relying on memorized “head charts.”
The Saxophone’s Rise and Kansas City Jazz (Late 1930s)
Coleman Hawkins: Transforming the Saxophone
The saxophone became the popular instrument of the late 1930s, thanks in part to Coleman Hawkins, who revolutionized saxophone playing. He joined Fletcher Henderson’s band at the age of 18 and was known for his “Bean test,” a musical challenge for aspiring musicians.
Lester Young: Hawkins’ Rival
Lester Young, from Mississippi, emerged as Coleman Hawkins’ greatest rival. He played for “the Blue Devils” and admired Frankie Trumbauer’s style. Young’s unique approach included holding the saxophone sideways while playing. He traveled to Kansas City, known as “the territory,” which thrived musically even during the Depression.
Mary Lou Williams: Kansas City Pianist
Mary Lou Williams made a name for herself as a pianist in Kansas City.
Swing at Carnegie Hall
Swing music reached a new level of recognition with a performance at Carnegie Hall. Gene Krupa’s drumming saved the band during this pivotal concert.
Ella Fitzgerald Joins Chick Webb’s Band
Chick Webb hired Ella Fitzgerald as his vocalist. In 1937, she won the top female vocalist award, surpassing Billie Holiday. Chic Webb tragically died at the age of 30.
Charlie Christian: Jazz Guitar Pioneer
Charlie Christian made significant contributions to jazz guitar.
Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”
Billie Holiday’s powerful song “Strange Fruit” addressed the horrific reality of lynching in the United States.
Duke Ellington’s European Tour
In 1939, Duke Ellington embarked on a successful European tour, where he and his band were enthusiastically received.
The War Years and Bebop (1940s)
Louis Armstrong and the War Effort
During World War II, Louis Armstrong, then forty years old, contributed to the war effort through his music.
The Savoy Ballroom Closes
In 1943, the Savoy Ballroom closed due to racial tensions and concerns about interracial couples. Race riots erupted, marking the beginning of increased segregation.
Charlie Parker and Bebop
Charlie Parker, a brilliant but troubled saxophonist, became a leading figure in the bebop movement. He died at the young age of 34. The slogan “Bird Lives” emerged after his death as a tribute to his enduring legacy.
Miles Davis
Miles Davis, a talented trumpet player, struggled with addiction but eventually got clean in 1954. He became a pivotal figure in the development of several jazz styles.
Dizzy Gillespie and Bebop
Dizzy Gillespie, known for his high-note trumpet playing, was another key figure in bebop. Kenny Clarke was the first bebop drummer.
Bebop’s Musical Form
Bebop often followed an AABA form with 64 bars.
The Cool Jazz Era and Beyond (1950s – 1960s)
Louis Armstrong and Civil Rights
Louis Armstrong lent his voice to the Civil Rights movement.
Miles Davis’s Rise to Prominence
Miles Davis became one of the most popular jazz musicians of the era.
Avant-Garde Jazz
Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman spearheaded the Avant-Garde jazz movement, pushing the boundaries of improvisation and musical structure.
John Coltrane’s Intensity
John Coltrane’s music was known for its intense spirituality and exploration of time and space, influenced by Thelonious Monk.
Ray Charles and Soul
Ray Charles blended blues and jazz, creating a new genre known as Soul. His hit song “I Got a Woman” exemplified this style.
Sonny Rollins and Max Roach
Sonny Rollins, a saxophonist, collaborated with drummer Max Roach. Rollins’s album “Saxophone Colossus” became a landmark recording.
Duke Ellington at the Newport Jazz Festival
Duke Ellington’s performance of “Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue” at the Newport Jazz Festival was a legendary event. The audience demanded multiple encores, revitalizing his career.
John Coltrane’s Exploration of Time and Space
John Coltrane’s music incorporated concepts of time and space, drawing inspiration from Thelonious Monk.
Miles Davis’s “Kind of Blue”
Miles Davis’s album “Kind of Blue” became the bestselling jazz album of all time.
Ornette Coleman and Free Jazz
Ornette Coleman pioneered free jazz, a style characterized by its emphasis on improvisation and departure from traditional harmonic structures. He began performing in New York City at the Five Spot in 1959.
John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman
John Coltrane collaborated with Ornette Coleman, further exploring free jazz concepts.
Conclusion
The history of jazz is a rich tapestry of musical styles, cultural influences, and the contributions of extraordinary musicians. From its roots in Congo Square to the avant-garde explorations of the 1960s and beyond, jazz continues to evolve and inspire.