Jazz in New Orleans

Jazz is a musical symbol for freedom and liberation.  It’s fusion of uniquely different cultures, styles, and musical elements created an authentic art form that emerged out of the vital aliveness of New Orleans.

In the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, New Orleans was the cosmopolitan trading center of the South.  The constant exchanges and trade allowed New Orleans to expand tremendously as a port city.  “…the most seething ethnic melting pot that the nineteenth century world could produce” (Gioia, 7). The city consisted of people of all nationalities and colors, which many other cities did not have, and was the place into which newly freed people of color from France and the Caribbean settled down in.

Because of the French and Spanish culture that was implanted in New Orleans in the early 18^th century, the city adopted a more liberal approach to slavery than the English had in the past.  Unlike other places, this Latin version of slavery allowed intermarriage, and acknowledged the rights of freedom that the slave had (The Age of the Soloist, Jan. 24).  This sense of liberty allowed more slaves to be free, and a Creole class was formed.  The Creoles identified with the European traditions, looking down on black people with an expression of superiority.  This separates New Orleans from any other city, because with an English system of slavery elsewhere, Creoles would be considered slaves.  However, this separation and freedom came to an end with the Jim Crow Era, segregating anyone with African descent from the white population (The Age of the Soloist, Jan. 24).  “Creoles of color were pushed into closer and closer contact with the black underclass they had strenuously avoided for so long” (Gioia, 34).  This change forced the Creole musicians to mix and play with black performers, emerging as jazz.

            The late 19^th century fused together two types of music known as ragtime and blues. At the turn of the century, ragtime was a fad that swept the country and was frequently played in brass bands (Gioia 33).  Brass bands were small ensembles that blended ragtime and blues, and permeated social life.  Blues emerged from the African desire for freedom, and was about sculpting something meaningful out of a difficult situation.  This syncretism of lively, African rooted ragtime and emotional blues played by the black community transformed music in New Orleans. 

            According to Gioia, Buddy Bolden is considered the “Elusive Father of Jazz” (34).  I think he is credited with this honor because of his innovativeness, intense energy, and outspokenness that he fused into his songs.  Bolden “can be viewed as symbolic of the more outspoken attitudes of the younger black men of his day” (Gioia, 36).  The evidence of his influence as a both a public voice of opinion and a musician makes me think that Buddy Bolden was a key figure in spurring the transformation to jazz music. 

            From the liberty of the Latin slave system to the integration of a myriad of cultures, ragtime and blues united under one musical identity known as jazz.  Although these historical events were significant and key to the development of jazz in New Orleans, I think that the most important factor is the tolerance of the happenings at Congo Square.  Congo Square was an official location where slaves could dance and sing with white supervision.  The tolerance of this event allowed slaves to continue dancing their African traditions, and the music provided an authentic glimpse of Africa.  Without these African aesthetics and traditions, jazz music wouldn’t be what it is today.