The Jazz Era

Ragtime was a written form of music, whereas, jazz depended on improvisation. Jazz musicians used a lot of syncopation in their playing, however, thereby keeping a spark of ragtime alive.

Jazz made its mark on the American public in the early 1900s. The development of jazz as previously mentioned, stems from African slaves who carried over their folk songs and spirituals to the United States from their native country. As time passed, European musical culture, with its melodies and new harmonic structures, bonded with the African rhythms and melodies.

Jazz was not written or printed music as was its predecessor, ragtime. The musical form of jazz is improvisational. Improvisation is an extemporaneous performance by the musician of a melody. Almost all southern plantations had a brass band of their own, and since black musicians didn't know how to read music, they could only play the notes which originated in their minds. In other words, they improvised.

New Orleans was considered the home of jazz. The city played a major role in the development of this music style. But New Orleans was not the only place where jazz was played. Jazz was also heard in St. Louis, Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, Baltimore and New York.

One reason New Orleans boasted of so many jazz musicians was because of the many available places to perform this new brand of music. There were numerous social clubs, political and fraternal organizations plus dances, parties, new store or company openings, picnics, funerals and music for the "sporting houses."

Another reason for the popularity of jazz in New Orleans, was the influx of people of different cultural backgrounds. There were African Negroes, American Negroes, Creoles, French, Spanish, Italian, Irish, German, Portuguese and Cubans, each displaying his own musical interpretations.

New Orleans was also famous for its band competitions. The main objective was to see which band could play the loudest, the longest, and produce the most brilliant intonations. Some musicians were trained to read music, but others had to play by ear and rely on improvisation. Most musicians worked full time as carpenters, bricklayers, barbers, tailors, cigar makers, truck drivers and other kinds of work---anything to earn a weekly paycheck. Music was a means of making extra money, although they were willing to play for nothing as a labor of love.

Band competitions, including a "carving contest"---in which one musician played against another on the same instrument. The most outstanding carving contest were between "Buddy" Bolden, considered to be the greatest cornet player at that time, and his challengers. Cornet and trumpet players challenged Bolden and always lost. During his lifetime, Bolden never lost a competition.

Charles "Buddy" Bolden (1868-1931) was born in the black uptown section of New Orleans. During his childhood, he heard many brass bands performing in parades and funeral processions. He watched Negroes perform dances brought with them from West Africa at a section in New Orleans called "Congo Square."