Friends , though this is in continuation of my Story narrated in Part-I , it is self-contained & product of my research work , - put across in simple verse for easy reading ! Kindly refer my Foot Notes for better appreciation . Hope to compose Part -III later ! Dedicated to all lovers of Music & Jazz ! Kindly read its true story !
THE STORY OF JAZZ MUSIC : PART-II
THE STORY OF JAZZ MUSIC : PART -II
**BY RAJ NANDY**
NEW ORLEANS : THE CRADLE OF JAZZ !
BACKGROUND :
Straddling the mighty bend of the River
Mississippi ,
Which nicknames it as the ‘Crescent City’ ;
And was founded in 1718 as a part of French
Louisiana Colony ;
Stands the city of New Orleans !
New Orleans* gets its name from Phillippe II,
Duc d’ Orleans , the Regent of France ;
A city well know for its music and fondness
for dance !
The city remained as a French Colony until
1763 ,
When it got transferred to Spain as a Spanish
Colony !
But in the year 1800 , those Spanish through a
sectret pact ,
To France had once again ceded the Colony
back !
And finally in 1803 the historic ‘Louisiana
Purchase’ took place ,
When Napoleon-I sold New Orleans and the
entire Louisiana State ,
To President Thomas Jefferson of the United
States ! **
THE CONGO SQUARE :
The French New Orleans was a rather liberal
place ,
Where slaves were permitted to congregate , -
For worship and trading in a market place , -
But only on Sabbath Days , their day of rest !
They had chosen a grassy place at the edge of
the old city ,
Where they danced and sang to tom-tom beats , -
Located north of the French Quarters across the
Rampart Street ,
Which came to be known as the Congo Square ;
Where one could hear clapping of hands and
stomping of feet !
There through folk songs , music and varying
dance forms ,
The slaves maintained their native African musical
traditions all along !
African music which remained suppressed in the
Protestant Colonies of the British ,
Had found a freedom of expression in the Congo
Square by the natives ; -
Through their Bamboula , Calanda and Congo dance !
The Wolof and Bambara people from Senegal River
of West Africa ,
With their melodious singing and stringed instruments ,
Became the forerunners of ‘Blues’ and the Banjo !
And during the Spanish Era , slaves from the Central
African forest culture of Congo ,
Who with their hand-drummed polyrhythm beats ,
Made people from Havana to Harlem , to rise and
dance on their feet ! ***
CULUTRAL MIX :
After the Louisiana Purchase , English-speaking
Anglo and African-Americans flooded the state !
Due to cultural friction with the Creoles , the new-
comers settled ‘uptown’ , -
Creating an American Sector , separate from older
Creole ‘downtown’ !
This black American influx uptown brought in , -
The elements of the blues , Spirituals and rural
dances into New Orleans’ musical scene !
These African cultural expressions gradually
diversified , -
Into Mardi Indian traditions , and the Second Line ,^^ -
And eventually into New Orleans jazz and blues ;
As New Orleans became a cauldron of a rich
cultural milieu !
THE CREOLES :
Creoles were not immigrants but were home-
bred ;
They were the bi-racial children of their French
Masters and their African women slaves !
Creole subculture was centered in New Orleans .
After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 , -
The Creoles rose to the highest rung of society !@
They lived on the east of Canal Street in the
French sector of the city .
Many Creole musicians were formally trained in
Paris ,
Played in Opera Houses there , and later led Brass
Bands in New Orleans !
Jelly Roll Morton , Kid Oliver , and Sidney Bechet
were famous Creoles ;
About whom I will write as this Jazz Story unfolds !
In sharp contrast on the west of Canal Street lived
the Negro musicians ,
They lacked the economic advantages the Creoles
had posessed !
They were schooled in the Blues , Work Songs ,
and Gospel Music ;
And played by the ear with improvisation as their
unique characteristic !
But in 1894 when Jim Crow’s racial segregation
laws came into force , #
The Creoles were forced to move West of Canal
Street to live with the Negroes !
This mingling lighted a ‘musical spark’ creating
a lightening musical flash ;
Igniting the flames of a ‘new music’ which was later
called - Jazz !
INFLUENCE OF THE EARLY BRASS BANDS :
Those Brass Bands of the Civil War which played the
marching tunes ,
Became the precursors of New Orlean's Brass Bands ,
Which later played at funeral marches , dance halls,
and saloons !
After the end of the Civil War those string and wind
instruments and drums ,
Were available in the second-hand stores and pawn
shops ,
Within reach of the poor for a small tidy sum !
Many small bands mushroomed and each town had
its band stand and gazebos ,
And entertained the town folks putting up a grand
show !
Early roots of Jazz can be traced to these Bands and
their leaders like Buddy Bolden , King Oliver , Bunk
Johnson and Kid Ory;
Not forgetting Jack 'Pappa' Lain's Brass Band leading
the way in our Jazz Story !
The Original Dixieland Band of the cornetist 'Nick'
La Rocca ,
Which was the first ever Jazz Band to entertain US
service men in World War -I and also to play in Europe,
came later ! (1916)
I plan to mention the Harlem Renaissance in my Part -III,
Till then dear readers kindly bear with me !
CONTRIBUTION OF STORYVILLE :
In the waning years of the 19th century ,
When Las Vegas was just a farming community ,
The actual ‘sin city’ lay 1,700 miles East , in the
heart of New Orleans !
By Alderman Story’s Ordinance of 1897 ,
A 20-block area got legalized and confined , -
To the French Quarters on the North Eastern side , -
Called Storyville , a name acquired after him !
This 'red light' area resounded with a new
seductive music ‘jassing up’ one and all ,
Which played in its bordellos , saloons and
dance halls !
The best of bordellos hired a House Pianist ,
Who also greeted guests and was a musical
organizer ;
The girls addressed him respectfully as -
‘The Professor’ !
Jelly Roll Morton++,Tony Jackson author of
‘Pretty Baby’ and Frank ‘Dude’ Amacher , -
Were all well-known Storyville ‘Professors’ !
Early jazz men who played in Storyville’s
Orchestra and bands were all legends ; -
Like ‘King’ Oliver, Buddy Bolden , Kid Orley ,++
Bunk Johnson and Sydney Bechet ! ++
Louis Armstrong who was born in New Orleans ,
As a boy supplied coal to the ‘cribs’ of
Storyville ! ^
He had also played in the bar for $1.25 a night ;
Surely the contribution of Storyville cannot
be denied !
But when America joined the First World War
in 1917 , -
A Naval Order was issued to close down Storyville ! %
Since waging war was more important than making
love the Order said !
And from the port of New Orleans the US warships
had set sail !
Here I now pause my friends , to take a break !
( To be continued...) - Raj Nandy of New Delhi .
FOOT NOTES :-
*New Orleans one of the oldest of cosmopolitan citites of
Louisiana , - the 18th State of US , & a major port .
**Louisiana was sold by France for $15 Million , was later
realised to be a great achievement of Thomas Jefferson !
***Many African Strands of Folk Music & Dance forms had
merged at the Congo Square !
^^Second Line Music= Bands playing during funerals &
marches , evoked voluntary crowd participation , with songs
and dances as appropriate forming a ''Second Line'' from behind!
@Those liberal French masters offered the Creoles the best
of Education with access to their White Society !
#’Jim Crow'’= Between 1892&1895; 'Blacks' gained political
prominence in Southern States ! In 1896 land-rich whites
Disenfranchised the blacks completely ! A 25 yr's long
hatred & Racial Segregation began ! Tennesse led by
passing the ‘Jim Crow’ Law ! In 1896, Supreme Court
upheld this law with its ‘’Separate But Equal’’ status for the
Blacks! Thus segregation became a national institution!
This segregation divided the Black & White Musicians also!
+ Birth of Jazz was a slow and evolving process , with Blues
and Ragtime as its precursor ! “Jazz Is Quintessence of
Afro-American Music born on European Instruments !”
++ Jelly ‘Roll’ Morton(1885-1941)-at 17 yrs played piano in the brothels – applying swinging syncopation to a variety of music ! A great Transitional Figure- between Ragtime & Jazz Piano-style.++ Buddy Bolden(1877-1931)- his cornet improvised by adding ‘abalues’ to Ragtime in Orleans:1900-1907,-which later became Jazz! Bunk Johnson(1879-1849): pioneering jazz trumpeter, inspired Armstrong! Lost allhis teeth & played with his dentures !King Oliver(1885-1938): Cornet player&bandleader;, mentor&teacher; of LouisArmstrong; pioneered use of ‘mute’in music !KID ORY(1886-1973): a pioneering Trombonist developed the '‘tailgate style’' playing rhythmic lines underneath the trumpet & cornet ,- propagating Early Jazz ! Sydney Bechet(1897-1959):Pioneered the use of Sax & a composer & a soloist , inspired Armstrong ! His pioneering style got his name in the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame ! Louis Armstrong(1890-1971): Trumpeter, singer & great improviser ! First international soloist , who took New Orleans music to the World ! % = After America joined WW-I in 1917 , a Naval Order was issued to shutdown Storyville , to check the spread of VD amongst sailors !
^’cribs”= cheap residential buildings where prostitutes rented rooms !
During the 1940s- Storyville was raised to the ground to
make way for Iberville Federal Housing Project !
** ALL COPYRIGHTS RESERVED BY THE AUTHOR : RAJ NANDY **
E-Mail : rajnandy21@yahoo.in
great history of the jazz story. I am looking forward to part three eagerly.
but for yu i could not know all these. thanks for yor efforts
but for yu i could not know all these. thanks for yor efforts
Wow! My friend Raj Randy, what a great contribution to us of the History of Jazz! Thank you! I love music in general but I was not fully aware about the deep background of Jazz, now more clear thank to you by writing this extensive and clear historical write! Keep inspiring the World with more such great works! Love and Peace for always! Romeo from New York City!...
a resourceful writing. thanks for sharing
thank you so much, sir... i like jazz music... it's just that it was cut... but anyway, i hope i could learn more about jazz... thanks again...
True product of sheer dedication, Sir; Its really great to read the wonderful story of Slave music in your words. Yes, this is a fusion of music, history and poetry. Thanks. I'm saving this page.
very well said, Raj..many thanks for this wonderful work of yours. I can only stand in awe!!
This is very interesting and speaks volumes on your extensive, painstaking literature survey on Jazz music. You have created a beautiful fusion of music, history and poetry here. You have even managed to incorporate rhyme and rhythm to this fabulous piece. You are truly a great historian.
very extensive research done on this ! you have become an historian on jazz.
Wow. Impressive and very fascinating! La, the history is quite interesting and engaging! It begins to make more sense especially to me why a fellow poet once compared jazz music to the ultimate romance or something like that. Beautiful and colourful, informative. Excellent!
My most sincere thanks for this most wonderful contribution to the pages of PF...What an education...so detailed...I feel as though I just sat in at Jazz College...I am so appreciative. Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing and looking forward to part III
Thank you Raj, for this interesting and informative history of Jazz. You brought names back from my memory like King Oliver, Jerry Roll Morton, and Bunk Johnson, I was a great traditional Jazz fan in my late teens, I can feel my feet tapping now! This is really terrific work and should be read by a wider audience than Poetfreak. I am going to Bookmark and reccommend this so others will read it.
thank you Raj, for this wonderful saga of Jazz; As others have said, you should publish a book with lots of photographs. Your work deserves a bigger audience. I can't even imagine how much work must have gone into it.
Raj/ I hope you plan on the cajun influence of the arcadian folk music into jazz as well in part three. the music of this ethnic group, combining blues and European folk music into the melting pot of new orleans. This is the real american mix of musical cultures and even the indians/native americans with the creoles which you mention but skip over the indian connection a bit. It all comes together in new orleans. It's fantastic all these cultures collide into a whirlwind of music that could only happen right there form all these sources. New Orleans has a sad but proud heritage. Delta blues and lidico as well. A poet friend//RH Peat
Marcia Schechinger:- Thank you again Raj for your outstanding work in research and your wonderful piece on some of my favorite music Jazz. Quite interesting to know of its roots, it makes the soulful music even more enchanting. :)USA : 8/8/2011 10:53:38 AM
Wow Raj , it is a great work! Many to learn from this piece ,thanks !
This sounds like it would make a wonderful book, You have spent a lot of time in study of this! Well written report! Cat
Talk about things I never knew! What a fantastic history lesson on the greatest explosion of music history made! God bless and thank you once again Raj, Linda
informative, and in-depth work, Raj...good of you to remind us of great aspects of our world culture
Real history lesson on Jazz indeed great work to read ...regards
I am also agree with Stella says. Brilliant write Raj. tfs
I have to say the same thing what Stella said. Good luck!
bravo Raj...i eagerly wait for part 3
A cursory read through all your research is never enough and already have read this rhymed manuscript twice - - a saga indeed and a worthy addition to history's account of the birth of jazz in the musical world. A big thank you dear Raj.
I echoed the comments by Stella, you can put this wonderful informative tale in book. This a pain staking works you had done to wrap up with researches. This a brilliant write my friend.
Whoow!!!!!!!! Wonderful write! Not very keen on school books, I can not know if your facts are even mentioned there, with your poem, I can see the way history should be taught. Art! Seem to be the last row, while I think that anything even science could be taught in connection with Art. I feel that those are strong connected with human soul... Than we can have the happy child not only understand but crave for more. I read your poem and in the middle of it I try to find a few unnown names putting myself in a great mood by rediscovering dear tunes ~by you tube little movies most easy way hahaha to ( see for example " Adam Swanson Tiger rag Jelly Roll Morton"or other selections of " Old Time Piano Contest") After dancing self through, back to your poem to give honestly heartfelt thanks for this brilliant work. Million thanks!