Thoughts on the origins/definition of jazz

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Posted by Brian H P (A) on December 11, 2020 at 15:53:09

In Reply to: My new writing gig posted by John Marks on December 7, 2020 at 18:08:56:

Wynton Marsalis once observed that the ONLY major features distinguishing jazz from other improvisational musics are the swing beat and the consistent use of the the minor third and seventh "blue notes" in the melody.

Ragtime was a major ancestor, but not the only one. What happened in New Orleans, in the years right before and after WWI, was a fortuitous collision of several musical styles. Ragtime was well established as a sophisticated urban piano style. But then there were the rural guys who heard they could earn better money portering on the docks than chopping cotton -- THOSE were the guys who brought the blues to town, and started the first jug bands. Military marching bands provided a template for the early jazz brass bands, and before long just about every volunteer fire dept. and fraternal lodge had its own marching band -- because in New Orleans, everybody loves a parade. Cajun and Creole folk styles found their way into the mix, as did the influence of Gospel singing. European influences -- particularly in the use of counterpoint -- were always in the background.

And thus it all came together -- and continues to come together, as jazz is a mighty river fed by numerous tributaries. Musicians with open minds and ears have always understood that genres are fluid things which slop over into each other, and have always done their best to steal one another's best tunes and licks.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - My new writing gig - John Marks 18:08:56 12/07/20 (14)

RE: My new writing gig - HiOnFi 08:02:22 12/25/20 (0)

Thoughts on the origins/definition of jazz - Brian H P 15:53:09 12/11/20 (2)

Thanks for your contribution; I was way over my word limit, as it was - John Marks 09:48:11 12/13/20 (0)

RE: Thoughts on the origins/definition of jazz - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 09:28:45 12/12/20 (0)

Best Wishes John (nt) - Bill the K 20:25:06 12/10/20 (0)

RE: My new writing gig - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 12:10:28 12/10/20 (1)

RE: My new writing gig - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 12:18:49 12/10/20 (0)

RE: My new writing gig - Leefy 10:04:22 12/08/20 (1)

Then, you are exactly the kind of reader I was writing for! - John Marks 12:55:16 12/08/20 (0)

My new writing gig - Steelhead 08:49:55 12/08/20 (0)

RE: My new writing gig - mcondo 07:45:29 12/08/20 (0)

RE: My new writing gig - hahax@verizon.net 20:36:08 12/07/20 (1)

Thanks! - John Marks 05:11:38 12/08/20 (0)

RE: My new writing gig - mrod 19:31:19 12/07/20 (0)

Follow Ups

Thoughts on the origins/definition of jazz - Brian H P 15:53:09 12/11/20 (2)

Thanks for your contribution; I was way over my word limit, as it was - John Marks 09:48:11 12/13/20 (0)

RE: Thoughts on the origins/definition of jazz - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 09:28:45 12/12/20 (0)

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