Jazz, in definition, would take volumes.
There is really no one description of jazz
that would adequately define this evolving
music. Jazz is a multiformity of music
styles and originating influences.
It would be even hard to pinpoint when jazz
began. It has been said the the
spelling of the word changed for years from "jass,"
"jasz" to JAZZ.
To trace this history takes us to African
American music forms of the blacks that
came to and grew up in the South of the
United States of America. The jug bands,
field hollers, church music of the early
colonies, blues, juke joint music "juking" and
the many work songs that were born in
the cotton fields and railroads of the South.
Early 1900s there had existed for nearly
two decades "shout piano" or "jig piano."
Piano ragging was an improvisational and
the style began to be applied by the
different banjo players, minstrel show
entertainers, various string bands and the
buck dancing began to spread this new
form of music that was evolving.
As the Jazz of New Orleans roots show the
influences of jazz also came from the
Caribbean, Spanish, French and South American
musicians. Brass instrument,
string instruments, the piano and many
instruments all began to be used in jazz
music. Other cities like St. Louis,
Kansas City, New York, Memphis and other
towns gave to the Jazz experience.
Names like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Mamie
Smith, Count Basie, Scott Joplin
and too many to mention now. Jazz
was immensely popular as a dance music,
and the music being played in road houses,
dance clubs, juke joints, medicine
shows, vaudeville stops, movie theaters,
home parties and many other places
around the country saw this early music
form grow with the growing nation. Jazz,
like Hillbilly music is for sure an American
creation and tradition.
to be continued
© 1998-2010 Benford
E. Standley. All Rights Reserved.
This can in no way be copied
or distributed.
We would love your help
continuing this story...if you have any important dates or
information that helps
us tell the story of the evolution of the music and
entertainment business
send them to us and we will add to KICKIN' UP DUST
