Jazz. The melting pot of New Orleans

I chose a very well written paper about jazz music and its origins written by a jazz musician Billy Taylor. He explains jazz music is a form of personal expression, beyond the social norms. It pushes musical standards and allows for change. Jazz is a different language among artists. Jazz was originally improvisations and musicians would learn by trial and error of replicating others. 

African music was their foundation of freedom from work, and bad home life. It was the way to escape harsh life realities, motivate others, and enjoy life. Africans were sold as slaves to the United States and coming from multiple tribes music was their language of choice. According to this article, when African slaves reached the states they were not allowed to use their instrument of choice; the drum. This was difficult, but they formed a new language and kept their strong heritage and traditional melodies in tact.

 

The paper describes the initial root of jazz music was implemented in a group called spirituals. Spirituals are slaves who would sing about their dream of freedom. Using knowledge of drum rhythm, the spiritual music elaborated into musical elements of harmony and timbre. Spiritual was the combination of taking culture and improv and making melodies, harmonies, and truly the beginning of jazz.

Spirituals were sparked blues and ragtime. 

The article is very detailed and interesting. It goes on to explain the different types of jazz, such as hard bop, progressive, third stream, funky,  the strong musicians of these styles, and the evolution of the music itself.

Ending the paper was the most interesting part of the whole 13 page essay, 

"In true “melting pot” style, jazz has absorbed many diverse

elements; but it has developed its own concepts and traditions by fusing those elements

together in a manner which is unquestionably tied to the time and place of its origin. Jazz

is truly America’s classical music."

I really liked how this paper was focused purely on the music itself. Many other articles I read said that 'The origin of jazz music was in New Orleans' 'It was a melting pot' 'many different ethnicity's were involved'. Those articles were moreso focuses on the geographic location of jazz and the involvement of people making the music. But this article, explained how the music style itself changed. It went in depth of how the elements of music changed through each style.

 I had a deep appreciation for this article and would recommend anyone to read it

http://www.billytaylorjazz.com/Jazz.pdf