The Story Behind the Music

          Due to previous knowledge in music and different styles and variations of music, and being a musician myself, I saw music as an emotional and interpretive art form that it both visual and audible. I have played various pieces of jazz and swing, yet I never took the time to look up the history of its origins. I was surprised to learn of its connection to african roots, the affect it had on society (especially black culture), and the progression and influence different music had on each other. 

           In this course I have definitely changed my perspective on the significance and influence jazz had on the United States and the rest of the world. From swing, an appeasing and well-liked form of music well received by audiences, to bebop, which drifted away from the idea of "the black entertainer" to the "individual artist celebrating black culture". I believe the most interesting theme of this course was definitely the meaning behind the music, especially the influence it had with race equality. Miles referenced an instance when "...some white gangsters [...] told B[ird] that had to go around to the back door like all the other black folks, he just ignored the mother fuckers and brought the whole band through the front door" (Miles 8). This showed the resistance to the ideology of white superiority and the confidence that the Bebop music instilled. By just doing this one act Bird set the tone that this newly formed style of music will focus on the individual and turn away from merely serving white patrons exactly what they expect. 

          Jazz is a collective compilation of different cultures and interpretations that come together to create a style of music that emanates so many various aspects. It is a style of music that conveys tradition, emotion, and the drive to improve social standards. 

Comment: Neel Sabnis

Blog Post #1: The Diversity in the Essence of Jazz

         Jazz came from New Orleans because it was a multicultural center due to the World’s industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in 1884 (Stewart). This allowed for multiple sounds  to come together and create a new style of music from traditional sounds of different cultures. For instance, because New Orleans was a center of trade with Mexico and Latin America (Stewart), jazz started to incorporate some of the styles and instruments of the Mexican musical culture. One of the most well-known Mexican bands that came to New Orleans was the 8th regimental band who performed for the previously mentioned World's Cotton Centeniel. This gave jazz performers a taste of Mexican musical culture first hand, which no doubt lead to the creation of a platform that would later be used to solidify jazz. In this respect, Mexican immigrants and the culture they brought with them where an important contributing factor the the music scene. Through teaching and training Black and Creole musicians, they produced a new style that allowed for the blend of different sounds and cultures to take in New Orleans and spread to the rest of the world.

         I believe a potent influential factor that allowed jazz to really take root in New Orleans is the cultural diversity that was prominent in the area. While African influence definitely resonates through the rhythms and intonations of the musical style, it's hard to imagine great jazz pieces without the smooth sound of a saxophone, the soprano voice of the clarinet, and especially the flourish of notes coming from a piano. In this way the influence of Mexican woodwinds, and even European piano instrument, helped mold music into jazz, leaving their “unquestionable imprints upon jazz and blues in New Orleans” (Johnson 229).

         The jazz that came out of New Orleans brought attention to its music style because the blend of cultures in a style of music was so unique. The actual sounds may have came from influences that were decades, even centuries old, but the way the different rhythms and sounds came together allowed jazz to stand out and still be a prominent style of music today. 

I commented on BLST14Delia 's blog.