Creation of Jazz

Most people when they think of jazz music, they think of Louis Armstrong, the famous trumpet soloist, Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald who sang effortlessly, but they don't know where jazz music originated from. Jazz music first originated by the inspiration of African tribe music. Slaves from West Africa brought their musical traditions with them to America. Many slave owners encouraged slaves to sing because they thought it would make them work harder and make them less likely to rebel. Tribal music included many rhythms at once and syncopation, which are still key aspects to jazz music today. African Americans started picking up instruments and creating their own little bands, performing in their cabins. What really started the jazz craze was the big bands and the signature dixieland sound in the city of New Orleans.

People flooded New Orleans in the early 1900s to hear this new music, which included syncopation, ragtime, swing, and big brass bands. This is where Louis Armstrong started out, playing in small bands in clubs and hotels. Pianists started to play multiple rhythms at once, called ragtime. One of the most famous of these ragtime songs is "Maple Leaf Rag." Many immigrants from Haiti, called Creoles, came over to New Orleans and had a huge influence on the music there. One of the best of these early Creole jazz musicians was Edward "Kid" Ory. He was a major influence to Armstrong. Eventually, people ventured out to Chicago and New York, making new records. The public always was looking for that new sound, especially after the Victorian Age, which encouraged people to be proper and appropriate. The public felt oppressed and wanted change.

Eventually, some musicians stepped out of the big band sound and became known for their solos. Soloists became popular in jazz music, especially in Louis Armstrong's band in the 1920s. People admired that instrumental solo, especially when it was improvised. Solos added something different and exciting to this 'new' music, which shaped into jazz. Singing also was introduced and became more popular in jazz music, when before it was just the instruments that were highlighted. Louis Armstrong sang in almost all of his records, along with his signature instrumental solos. Some singers that peaked was Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others. Many of them were African Americans who came from rough backgrounds with little money. What brought them to the top was their unique sound and individualism. Every new musician coming onto the scene strived for individualism, in order to be noticed in the jazz world.

Jazz spread across Europe and other countries as well. Everyone loved hearing that fresh sound, that ignored the old traditions of the Victorian Era. Jazz music spread like a plague, and jazz still influences music today. Many agree that Jazz music was the inspiration for Hip-Hop, Rap, and R&B. Many African Americans were able to use jazz music as an outlet and an escape from the oppression of racism and segregation. Jazz musicians were able to make an impact and make something of themselves. They could have a voice and be important, but only for a moment. Many famous jazz singers and musicians still had to obey the rules for the "black people." Yes, they were famous, but they still didn't have the same rights as white Americans, but that's a different book....

My next book will be specifically on Ella Fitzgerald. I admire her very much and would like to know her story. I want to know her influence on jazz music. I hope to focus my paper on her.