New Orleans was a vast contributor to the emergence of jazz in
the early 1900’s. Due to the creation of the steamboat New Orleans became a
port-city where trade for goods, food, and even people led to the cities
growth. With its establishment as a port city it allowed for a great amount of
diversity in its people. New Orleans became America’s melting pot. In the 19th
century Congo Square was created, it was a place that allowed black slaves to
express themselves through music and dancing. The tolerance that New Orleans
had with the acceptance of Congo Square was unheard of in other cities of the
South. Congo Square greatly contributed to the syncretism that occurred, where
American music was being Africanized and African music was being Americanized.
Due to all of these advances that transpired in New Orleans it allowed for a
place where jazz could develop.
The emergence of jazz occurred in New Orleans rather than other
American cities because of the mixture that ensued between the Americans and
Negros. New Orleans allowed for the syncretism of the European and African
styles of music and when the creoles came around they strongly pushed to be
categorized under the European style. After the Louisiana Legislative Code
passed in 1894, which considered all people of African decadency to be
Negros, it forced the Creoles of color to mix it up and add the black style to
their music in order to compete. Unlike other cities the melting pot of New
Orleans was the perfect foundation for the emergence of jazz music.
There were many essential contributors in the uprising of New
Orleans jazz music. Some of the most vital sources of New Orleans jazz were
Storyville, Buddy Bolton, and Jelly Roll Morton. Storyville, also know as the
Red Light District was a place unlike many others. It was a place where
musicians would come together and play their music in brothels, during this time brass bands
were especially popular in the District. It had been rumored that it was the
birthplace of jazz but from the accounts of a variety of musicians they said that most jazz musicians didn’t play in the District. Storyville is known as
the birthplace of Buddy Bolton, he was frequently recognized as the first jazz
musician. Just as Bolton was daring in his experimentation with syncopations
and rhythm he also had daring lyrics, they were very bold and his outspoken
music led to the arrests and beatings of many who would sing his songs on the
streets. Another important contributor to jazz was Jelly Roll Morton, the
self-proclaimed inventor of jazz. He did not invent jazz but greatly
contributed with his style of composing complex music that included a wide
variety of sounds.
The cultural gumbo of New Orleans is what I believe to be the
most important factor contributing to the emergence of Jazz in New Orleans. New
Orleans has diversity in its people, which was not common for many cities in the
United States. This diversity that New Orleans provided allowed for
contribution of many different minds and styles. Syncretism played a was important in the emergence of Jazz music. The mixture of races was the reason that so
much infusion occurred, for example the infusion of the European, African, and
Creole styles. The Russ Papalia’s orchestra, made up primarily of Italian
American’s, was even influenced into the jazz style. The melting pot of New
Orleans not only mixed together the people but also their musical styles, which
eventually evolved into jazz music.
