What Is Early Jazz? Michael Verity explains

  12 August 2018

Sidney Bechet plays clarinet

Born in New Orleans

New Orleans in the first two decades of the 20th century was a musical melting pot of musical styles. African music was still prominent, as drumming and dancing were some of the few freedoms allowed slaves before emancipation. Ragtime was popular, and its up-tempo and syncopated rhythms had a profound influence on later styles.

Military marching bands had begun to influence New Orleans music, in terms of musical forms and also the types of instruments that were available.

 Communities formed brass bands that played and marched in parades to accompany funerals and holidays. Musicians based in the red light district of New Orleans, known as “Storyville,” combined these styles with blues and improvisation, developing the first forms of jazz in bars and brothels.

Hot Jazz

Early jazz is often referred to as “Hot Jazz,” and sometimes “Dixieland music.” It incorporated the ......

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Epilogue

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