Jazz In New Orleans

Jazz was born in New Orleans through the rich diversity of the people that populated the state. New Orleans had a spectrum of races like mention in lecture “White men and women, and of all hues of brown, and of all Classes of faces, from round Yankees to grisly and lean Spaniards, black Negroes and negresses, curly and straight-haired, Quadroons of all shades…) The spectrum of races allowed for the blending of cultures which lead to the creation new music. The music in new Orleans originated in slaves gathering in Congo Square to celebrate their African heritage. After the civil war, Creole brass band emerged, which was the beginning of a movement towards jazz. Ragtime was another type of music born out of the liveliness of New Orleans. The music that encompassed new Orleans allowed for a fusion of the genres which lead to the birth of Jazz.
When listening to Jazz you can hear components that make Jazz, for example, the attack in the music is much like African culture, which empowers people to dance in ways that reflect African styles depicted in Thompson article “African Art and Motion.” Another aspect of Jazz is found in the influence from Creole musicians; Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton. Some of Bolden’s influence to Jazz is through the use of roll call of instruments playing back and forth, which gives the music a distinct sound, which Gioia says Bolden learned from participating in church bands. Morton’s influenced jazz strongly through his composition of jazz music, and Gioia says he described himself as “the worlds greatest hot tune writer.” Jazz would not be the same if it was not composed of each of these influences. New Orleans jazz created a dialogue in the community because it allowed African culture to emerge into the public