Following the Louisiana Purchase, New
Orleans became a hub of economic, social, and cultural prosperity that led to a
growth in population, intermixing of races, and a melting pot of ideas and
cultures. The city’s tolerance towards slave dances as well as the use of drums
and instruments by greatly attributed to the growth of jazz (Gioia 7). However,
“historians of New Orleans jazz have preferred to focus on the city’s moral
dangers, linking the rise of hot music and sin and licentiousness” to the
growth of jazz (Gioia 29). The creation of Storyville, or the red light
district, led to an influx of prostitution, gambling, and drinking, but with
this came an environment inclined towards music that matched the changing
times. Due to the influx of new cultures and the desire to push social and
musical boundaries, New Orleans helped jazz become an extension of the changing
and diverse culture of the city. It was not a single tradition, style, or
culture that played an integral part in the growth and complexity of jazz, but
the combination of them all.
Sources that led to the emergence and
changing trends of jazz are attributed to many cultures, races, and ideals
beginning with the influence of African American tradition. By blending
movement and purpose in art, African culture helped build the foundation of
jazz. Jazz is greatly known for its consciousness of expression and vivacity of
sound, beat, and rhythm (Thompson 7). In addition, Jazz’s duel functionality as
both aesthetically pleasing and serving a purpose can be attributed to African
influence (Thompson). Jazz was heard in all aspects of daily life; it was
performed by marching bands, at festivals, and in conjuncture with both the
celebration of life and death, and even had connections to the church.
Although Jazz has been stigmatized and
linked with devil music and the poor morals of Storyville, it also
can be traced to church gospel as well. Buddy Bolden was believed to have gained
great influence from Baptist rhythm linking the sound of jazz with the house of God (Gioia 29-30). “But the birth of this music would have been unthinkable
without the extraordinary local passion for brass bands” (Gioia 31). Brass
bands played for almost every type of social gathering reaching a diverse
amount of people. The adaptation of brass bands and their ability to play music
corresponding with trends in dance and music allowed for their growth in
popularity and led to the “blurring of musical genres…central to the creation
of jazz music” (Gioia 31).
Mexican contribution to jazz is pivotal
to the legacy of jazz music and jazz as a community. Many Mexican musicians
visited New Orleans in 1884 for the Cotton Exposition joining regional bands
touring the US. However, “the most enduring cultural legacy of Mexico’s
attendance at the fair was the presence of the Eight Mexican Regimental Band”
(Johnson 229). Saxophonist Florencio Ramos, developed the city’s musicians
union and is credited with bringing the saxophone to New Orleans. Mexican
musicians not only contributed to the sound of jazz with the introduction of
woodwinds and classical training, but perpetuated the importance of cultural
blending in jazz, displaying its many dimensions and histories.
New Orleans as a cultural melting pot
greatly attributed to the unique, multi-dimensional, and innovative style of
jazz. The combination of African Art and its functionality as well as theatrical
and unconfined style helped to create a foundation for the ever-evolving style
of Jazz. With the addition of Western and European style came more western
influence such as organized notes and harmonies, where a Latin tinge can also
be heard through the contribution of woodwinds and classical training. The
combination of different cultures, sounds, and traditions is most important to
the evolution and emergence of jazz.
