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Our class has formed strong opinions regarding jazz in America and uses this format to discuss what we have learned. Feel free to join in!
http://www.neajazzintheschools.org/home.php
ReplyDeleteHello Music History Class!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJazz helped give many African Americans a release from their lives. It gave them something of their own to be proud of for all Americans. Duke Ellington's quote talks about jazz as a primitive measure of freedom, just as the African American's freedom was new to them. Jazz defined America as something. After slavery, a new era began where all people were welcome in the society. As jazz took a while to take hold, the new ideas took time to become popular as well. Jazz musicians used their music to express themselves as Americans. There were not any rules to follow, and improvisation was the way to go. Jelly Roll Martin claimed jazz was not merely notes one page, but a rhythm and style. He was exacty right. Jazz eventually helped bridge the gap between the races by whites wanting to know how to play this new type of soulful music.
ReplyDeleteMusic has always been a way for individuals or groups of people to express how they are feeling and what is going on in the world. Jazz is no different. Jazz music was a way for African Americans to get their live story into the open.
ReplyDeleteThis new style of music was a cry for freedom, that is why there are not rules to be followed when performing or creating this genre. With jazz there was no segregation of skin color. Jazz turned into a lifestyle, it has rewritten our history. Without African Americans moving past the conceited views of Caucasian people the world as we know it could be a much darker place.
Jazz derived from many forms of music. African Americans were allowed very few freedoms and this was their cry to the world. They used music to get them through the hardships of everyday segregation and racial crisis. Jazz brought people together, music has no color, and therefore all races joined in on this new genre of music. Music helped African Americans get through their hardships and Jazz helped everyone get through events such as the Great Depression. People were able to dance their way through their worries and financial issues. If Jazz had the ability to play a role in ending segregation and could get all through the hard times in history then imagine what we could accomplish now if every person put their mind to it!
ReplyDeleteChicago in the 1920's, where "jazz developed most intensely in the third decade of the 20th century", proved to be the most influential movement in music. The United States became the most powerful force in the elaboration of musical rhythms. Unknown to me, the famous novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald referred to the era as the Jazz era. I personally have always been interested in the roaring '20's. Walking through the dirty city streets, brightly lit with colorful lights and hearing a glorious new foundation of music would be wonderful. Louis Armstrong is the father of jazz with his intensely innovative musical scales. I listened to "The West End Blues" (1928) and his singing "The Lazy River." Although I have never been exposed to the actual musical styles of music, I liked listening to each piece I heard through the website. Especially "The Lazy River" revealed his "his cheerful rasp and his relaxed use of language." Although raspy, it wasn't harsh or unpleasant to the ear.
ReplyDeleteThe Jazz Age most importantly provided a gateway from the worst economy crisis of the United States history. The Jazz Age is linked to the Classical Period by it's marked complexity and complicated styles of rhythms by allowing a intricate focus on the irregular and individual scales. When will future eras match this precision and universal diversity?
I think that the definition of Jazz is expressed through the way it is performed. Jazz music is derived from many different types of music. It was the music that helped people through the hard times. Jazz is the only American made music. Black musicians evolved this music, making it the most popular. To be American during this time was a very proud thing. The music expressed their freedom.
ReplyDelete"It's not what you play, but how you play it" Jelly Roll Morton
ReplyDeleteI believe that this quote means that jazz can be played in different ways, but not all these ways are the right way. Jazz has a different feel than most types of music. I think that the definition also connects to being an American. The white man did not compose jazz music, but rather it was the black race. They have fought for many years to become part of the history of the United States, and I think that they finally did it with jazz music. The blacks are a part of the history of the United States because of jazz and this defines who is an American. I think that an American needs to be someone or a particular race that contributes to the United States' history in some way, shape, or form.
Class: I've enjoyed reading your comments and am glad that you are finding out about our wonderful American idiom that is Jazz. Ellen says that jazz has no rules to be followed when creating and performing. Au contrair: there are highly developed rules to be followed-just different rules than some other forms of music. And remember: Jazz is now a genre that evokes great happiness as well as other forms of emotion, but it was born of great hardship with question/answer calls form from the fields of slavery and hardship. And Bailey is right on when she sights Jelly Roll Morton's quote--jazz is all about different rhythms and different chord structures than were being played by the "establishment" at the time.
ReplyDeleteI think jazz was a step forward for the black population. It was music created through gospel and blues of black decent. Jazz gave a new look on how America saw music. I never before gave jazz much thought, but now I see the background behind it. It was a chance to allow the black population to express their thoughts and feeling through music. I have found a new appreciation for composers of jazz and the music itself.
ReplyDeleteJazz is free expression in music. Just like jazz is free, being American means to be free. Jazz was scrutinized when it first arose, and America has also been scrutinized against varies things. Jazz is historical and tells a story. People play jazz to express what they feel. The quote, "It's not what you play but how you play it" by Stanley Crouch, is very true. It is not what we do in this land we call America, but how we do it. We are very productive people, who want things to be done perfect, but if there are mistakes who cares? Jazz is just like being human, you may mess up, but there is always an upside to everything.
ReplyDeleteWell jeez mr. creger...i was just saying that jazz is a free spirit music and doesn't have to follow rules like classical music..however because of the "golden means" compels our minds to put everything into a certain count.
ReplyDeleteWithout Jazz, I don't know how America would have evolved into what it is today. Jazz came early in the 20th century, at a time when African Americans were being denied rights. It began in New Orleans and expanded across the country from there. African Americans began playing, singing, and swinging. I like Jelly Roll Morton's quote, "It's not what you play, but how you play it." There were many guys in jazz and they played saxophones, trumpets, clarinets, cornets, and piano. It didn't matter what they played, it's how they played their music. Jazz is a very important part of history, and I don't know where we would be today without it.
ReplyDeleteI am an ignoramus on the subject of jazz, only learning what you guys have written and recognizing the music when I hear it. My question is did jazz evolve from the blues or are they two separate genre, evolving for different reasons, in different places. All I know is the "Southland Gave Birth to the Blues." (Was it Beale St. in Memphis?) Hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteI just love this era of Jazz music. Jazz music has brought America its groovin moves and unique sounds. It is so calm and relaxing, yet the best party music. Jazz emerged in the 20th century. It was a time when blacks were denied their rights. It is cool that we can say Jazz originated in America. All other genres developed in other countries or mainly Europe. Honestly what would this country be like if Jazz had never developed? Would our society as a whole be different?..........I just wonder.
ReplyDeleteJazz and blues have the same roots and seem to corollate with each other. Each has been influenced African-American ancestry. Jazz is an actual art and blues is the genre of it. The musical forms incorporate blue (lower) notes and are innovated from personal taste and preference. Jazz became mainstream beginning in the south and branched throughout the world. It later became tied with classical because it replicates the intricate and precise flow of notes.
ReplyDeleteJazz evolved from the blues. Blues was developed by black refugees who worked in the cotton fields of the Mississippi River Delta. They played no instruments, but just sang. Eventually instruments were added and this new music was called jazz.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Gruhn. From what I have learned, blues is a genre of jazz. Whether blues came first it is hard to say. The blues were being sung long before jazz was identified as a kind of music, but the idea of jazz came before the blues. So with that the jazz genre came first and in later years the blues were thrown into the jazz mix. The blues did start in the south land by slaves working in the fields. It was never defined as a kind of music until later years after the development of jazz. People all see it in different ways, so there really is not a clean cut answer, but this is how I see it.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Mrs. Gruhn's question, when the African Americans from the cotton fields of the Mississippi River Delta moved to the city, they sang vocal music. As time moved on, people added instruments and jazz evolved from that.
ReplyDeleteThat makes a lot of sense Luke. Slaves would have began with singing sad (blue) notes and progressed it into a more modern form involving jazz and instruments.
ReplyDeleteBarb I agree with what you said about Jazz allowing the black population a freedom of expression. The first forms of jazz really have true emotion put in the music. All of the hard ships and pains they went through is incorporated in song. This makes jazz original and American.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Luke when he said that jazz was a huge step for the black population. This is the time in the United States that blacks really became a part of the culture and music. Racial segregation was just starting to end because of the integrated military bands. Without jazz, maybe African Americans still wouldn't have full rights.
ReplyDeleteI love that Amanda mentioned that the only music America can claim as our own in jazz. That speaks volumes for the people of America. Without jazz, a happy, upbeat music, would the African Americans have taken the strides to become free. Jazz gave them confidence because the whites wanted to make music like them. Jazz and freedom should be simultaneously thought in one's head.
ReplyDeleteIn my research though, it expressed that jazz was the type of music. The previous being swing and the next being bebop. Blues was nowhere to be found except just merely being a genre. I understand now that blue was first, but wasn't recognized until after.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I like what you said about jazz being the only true American music. Not only was it formed in America, but by a population with little to no rights. This mere event gave blacks the step towards acquiring more freedoms.
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact Jazz did evolve from the blues, but that was only one type of music Jazz evolved from. It came from Church music, operas, ragtime, and many others. It is said that New Orleans was the melting pot of sound. Many types of music came into the city and Jazz came out of it all. The blues was created so African Americans could express their feelings about their past and present. Jazz was used to express the same feelings. The first person known to play jazz music was the grandson of slaves, Buddy Bolden. Obviously hearing and seeing what your family had gone through, and was still dealing with, makes a person need to release some feelings and he did so through music giving America a sound that is still played today by many. All African Americans wanted this escape, even if the could not play music, they could dance to, and sing along with, the musicians which gave them their freedom from reality.
ReplyDeleteJazz did evolve from blues. Buddy Bolden, more than likely, is the one who first began to play Jazz. Most music types come from another type of music. Musicians put their own flare into music to change it slightly, but end up making a whole new form of music. Jazz was started in New Orleans, as well as many other forms of music, that is why New Orleans is known as "the melting pot of sound." The people of New Orleans brought with them many different styles of music, some of which are African, Latin, funeral band marches, classical piano, ragtime, opera, blues, and so much more. It makes sense to say that all of these musical styles had an influence on each other.
ReplyDeleteKaitlin I love how you compared jazz to America because all that you mentioned was correct. The quote, "It's not what you play, but how you play it." has more meaning after playing "Birdland in band. If a person does not put accents on the right notes, or just improvises differently, the sound comes out very differently. Jazz allows people to freely improvise with the music.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what bailey said first...slaves in the cotton field were expressing their emotions through songs...obviously they were not happy about being slaves. Their songs must have been filled with grief and depression. They sang the blues with out instruments to give themselves hope. Later generations would then express what was happening in their life using instruments too.
ReplyDeleteThe Blues developed before Jazz. Blues music is very fun and meant for a good time, although the church disagreed with those who played this music. The funny thing is Blues was oh so similar to the music played inside the church. The reasons for playing this type of music was to get away from the bad times. For example, African Americans were denied basic rights, and most African Americans were either slaves or a tenant farmer. So this was their escape, and they really enjoyed it. After the Blues had been around for a while, a new music trailed off from the Blues. This new genre was Jazz. The Blues and Jazz are like brother and sister. They have quite the relationship between them. The Blues inspired Jazz.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with those of you who said jazz was a stepping stone for the black population. It was something they could use to express themselves. Music could be said to have help integrate the blacks and whites. And Bailey I wonder the same question, if there was no jazz and the freedom that came with it, would African Americans have full rights?
ReplyDeleteI like how Luke said, "All of the hard ships and pains they went through is incorporated in song." I agree with that fully. African Americans were being walked all over and actually being dehumanized. Most African Americans were not given the education to write down their feelings on paper or speak out against the way they were being treated. Could we actually look at the Blues and Jazz as a civil protest in a way?
ReplyDeleteBut I also agree with luke. Jazz was recognize as a music genre first, blues was later added into the jazz category. It all depends how you want to look at it. It is kind of like the question what came first the chicken or the egg. because with out the slaves singing in the cotton field we wouldn't have jazz..but without jazz being recognized as a music type blues would have never come into a widespread view.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Gruhn....Jazz originated in the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. As the popularity of jazz was growing, slaves from the cotton fields along the Mississippi River were migrating to New Orleans. They brought with them the blues. The blues "followed no rigid structure." However, once jazz musicians started to play the blues, a set form developed. The blues influenced the development of jazz music. So to answer your question, it all depends on how you look at it. Some say blues came first because slaves sang them in the cotton fields, while others say that jazz began when the music of different culture came together in New Orleans.
ReplyDeleteCarrington I really like your post. It is down the the point with all the really important facts we need to know. I know that I listen to music to escape from troubled times. It is sad how this music came about, but I am really happy it did.
ReplyDeleteGood thought carrington mentioning all the other music types jazz evolved from. everyone else was so focused on jazz and blues, but you added other very important parts of jazz.
ReplyDeletelol i didn't even know amanda was posting about carrington too...
ReplyDeleteIn response to Bailey's and Kaitlin's question, "if there was no jazz and the freedom that came with it, would African Americans have full rights?" I believe that African Americans had gone through so much at that point in time that they would have fought through and still found another way to get the freedoms they deserved. Maybe it would have been a more violent way though since all the anger would still be boiling inside. Without Jazz and the venting it allowed, perhaps more people would have followed Malcom X and few have followed Martin Luther King jr.
ReplyDeleteLuke I agree it is really hard to pin point which genre came first. They both reflect each other in so many ways it really is difficult to actually tell. I did not know that the names of these genres came way later after they had already been developed. But like I have said before I am sure happy we had both! Where would we be today if we did not have them in our lives?
ReplyDeleteI believe that blues came before jazz. I think that the blues began with the salves singing it in the cotton fields, and there were no instruments involved. Jazz had to come from blues because jazz performers have instruments. Both jazz and blues songs sound alike to me, but jazz seems happier. The blues always sound depressing. I agree with Amanda that I am glad we have both. Jazz and blues are both really important in our American history.
ReplyDeleteWell, what a literate bunch of writers you have all become! Very, very interesting dialogue. I learned a lot! I'll keep reading and see if all this takes you into gospel music. That could be an interesting chat, too! Have a Happy Easter!
ReplyDelete