The Emergence of Jazz In New Orleans
By: James Dalrymple
New Orleans is often credited as the birthplace of jazz music. As Gioia states, "The standard accounts focus on Storyville, a red-light district in New Orleans that existed for a scant twenty years… 1897 [to]… 1917," (29). But why was New Orleans the district that Jazz first originated? "…Historians of New Orleans Jazz have… [focused] on the city's moral dangers, linking the rise of hot music to sin and licentiousness," (29). Gioia states, "Who can be surprised that music writers have been tempted to describe the birth of jazz as a product of vice, paying more attention to bordellos, gambling, and liquor than to the contingencies of culture and economics," (29). It seems that New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz due to many different reasons: spiritual, sinister, and for pleasure. The rise of artists like Buddy Bolden (one of the first jazz musicians), the culture and moral attitude that the city was experiencing, and a need for community and unity all led to the birth of New Orleans Jazz music. In addition church jazz music, jazz bands in cabarets, and sultry jazz played in Storyville all contributed to New Orleans as the birthplace of jazz (33). Although New Orleans jazz was seen in many different areas of the city, overall, it is important to note that Jazz emerged in New Orleans due to a sense of racial unity and a common hobby that was exciting for black americans.
Jazz was first chastised as the "devil's music," (Gioia 29). Bawdy piano music often filled the clubs of storyville where prostitution was very prevalent. Jazz became known as a type of dirty music that was played in shady areas for shady people. However, this "assumption" really wasn't fully true. In fact, most "jazz bands were commonly found in the cabarets and dance halls in the district, rather than in the bordellos themselves," (29). In addition, many mexican immigrants collaborated and worked with black jazz musicians to create jazz music (Lecture). In addition to jazz in cabarets- jazz pianists had their start and played for church gatherers (29-30). Jazz was not created in one place nor did it end in one place. Jazz spread throughout other cities like Chicago and New York, places where African American artists felt they would be treated more tolerantly (34).
After exploring and considering the evidence that Gioia presents in his chapter on New Orleans Jazz, there isn't one clear cut answer as to what was the one clear origin of jazz in New Orleans- the most important factor is that New Orleans jazz was created due to a sense of racial unity. Black people came together to perform, practice, play, perform, and watch jazz music. It was a cultural thing that ended up spreading to multiple cities. The most distinctive factor about New Orleans Jazz was the fact that it experienced so much change as time went on. Artists who once started in New Orleans later moved to Chicago and New York and new forms of jazz were created. New Orleans was the birthplace and after artists played for years in this city- they moved on to other cities and started creating new music. New Orleans was a unique and fascinating birthplace that saw the creation of a music (jazz) that still impacts the world today.
