The Cradle of Jazz
New Orleans in the early 20th century was a melting pot of African-American, Creole, and European musical traditions. From this cultural collision emerged jazz - America's greatest original art form. The city's Storyville district, funerals with brass bands, and Congo Square gatherings all contributed to this musical revolution.
Characterized by collective improvisation, "hot" playing, and a swinging rhythm, New Orleans jazz marked the transition from ragtime's structured compositions to a more fluid, improvisational style that would define jazz for decades to come.
Musical Characteristics
- Collective polyphonic improvisation
- Front line of cornet, clarinet, trombone
- Rhythm section of banjo, piano, drums, tuba/bass
- 4/4 time with "ragged" but steady beat
- Blues inflections and "dirty" tones
Cultural Context
- Rooted in African-American communities
- Played in dance halls, saloons, and parades
- Oral tradition with limited sheet music
- Community music with audience participation
- Racial integration in music before society
The Great Migration
As African-Americans migrated north during World War I, they brought jazz with them to cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. This spread New Orleans jazz across America and eventually the world, though the style remained strongly identified with its birthplace.
New Orleans Jazz Pioneers
King Oliver
(1885-1938)
Leader of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Louis Armstrong
(1901-1971)
Revolutionary trumpeter and vocalist
Jelly Roll Morton
(1890-1941)
Pianist who claimed to "invent jazz"
Sidney Bechet
(1897-1959)
Soprano saxophone virtuoso
Essential Recordings
Dippermouth Blues
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band (1923)
West End Blues
Louis Armstrong (1928)
Black Bottom Stomp
Jelly Roll Morton (1926)
The New Orleans Jazz Band
Cornet/Trumpet
Played the lead melody with a bright, cutting tone that could be heard over the ensemble.
Clarinet
Provided elaborate countermelodies with virtuosic runs in the upper register.
Trombone
Played rhythmic harmonies and glissandos, filling out the middle register.
Rhythm Section
Banjo, piano, drums, and tuba or bass provided the steady harmonic and rhythmic foundation.
Preservation and Revival
New Orleans Jazz Revival
In the 1940s, a revival movement brought attention back to traditional New Orleans jazz, led by musicians like Bunk Johnson and George Lewis. This helped preserve the early jazz tradition even as jazz evolved into new styles.
Today, New Orleans jazz lives on through Preservation Hall Jazz Band and annual festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Cultural Heritage
New Orleans jazz was declared an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2019, recognizing its global significance.