Overview
The history of jazz rightly begins in the city of New Orleans. In this section, we will learn about great New Orleans jazz musicians and their early recordings in Chicago. In the process, will also learn about the emerging Chicago jazz scene and some of the artists from that area who helped develop early jazz musical styles. Finally, we will do a short overview of early jazz in New York.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to do the following:
- Define collective improvisation
- Identify early jazz musicians and their contribution to jazz music
- Appreciate the significance of Dixieland jazz
- Recognize the impact Chicago had for musicians of early jazz
- Recognize the growing importance of New York for further developments in jazz
- Define chord substitutions
| Artist | Profession | Known for | Collaborations | Selected Recordings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe "King" Oliver | Cornetist and band leader | Some of earliest recordings of New Orleans Jazz in 1923 | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, which included Louis Armstrong | Dippermouth Blues ♫ (note polyphonic texture) |
| Jelly Roll Morton | Composer, pianist and band leader | One of the first musicians to bring together elements of ragtime piano and blues in a rhythmic manner that suggested swing eighth notes. | Red Hot Peppers | Black Bottom Stomp ♫ |
| Louis Armstrong | Trumpeter | First great solo improviser; Known for spontaneous, swinging melodies |
Hot Five; Hot Seven |
Struttin' with Some Barbeque ♫ (written by his wife, Lillian Hardin Armstrong) |
| Sidney Bechet | Clarinetist and soprano saxophonist | Blues-infused improvisations | Collaborated with other prominent New Orleans musicians | I've Found a New Baby ♫;
Blue Horizon ♫ |
| Bix Beiderbecke | Trumpeter | One of first white jazz musicians of note;
His improvisation conveyed advanced harmonic conception. |
Collaborated with Frankie Trumbauer | Singin' the Blues ♫ |
| Frankie Trumbauer | Saxophonist | One of first white jazz musicians of note;
Linear approach to improvisation; Played distinctive C melody sax |
Collaborated with Bix Beiderbecke | Singin' the Blues ♫ |
| James P. Johnson | Pianist, composer | Father of Stride Piano | The Charleston ♫;
You've Got To Be Modernistic ♫ |
|
| Earl Hines | Pianist | Horn-like (or linear) style of improvisation | Member of Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven | West End Blues ♫ |
Louis Armstrong was cast in the 1936 film Pennies from Heaven, starring Bing Crosby. This led to frequent appearances in TV and film, adding to his fame.
