Jazz Bands- How It All Started

The Jazz style of music originated in the beginning of the 20th century among the African American communities. It has its stylistic origins from the blue and the folk style of music. The actual term ‘jazz’ referred to music played in Chicago in the years around 1915. Jazz also gave birth to a number of derivatives including reggae and funk music.

A jazz band is an ensemble of musical instruments that plays jazz music usually without a conductor. A jazz band consists of two sections, the rhythm section and the horn section. Some of the bands also use the harp and strings, sometimes more for the visual appeal than functionality. Of course, the notes they produced sometimes served to add an extra layer of ear-pleasing sounds.

The rhythm section of a jazz band typically consists of the percussion, bass guitar, one instrument that plays the chords, such as the piano, guitar or Hammond organ.

The rhythm sets the feel and the foundation of the music piece. The horn section typically consisted of the wind and the brass instruments. They were responsible for the melody of the musical piece. The instruments included 4 to 5 trumpets, saxophones, trombones, etc. Sometimes flutes and clarinets were also used.

Some notable jazz performers included James Brown, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, etc. Louis Armstrong was a trumpeter, bandleader and singer himself.

The music of New Orleans has a significant effect in the creation of early jazz music. Buddy Bolden, led a band that is often mentioned as the prime mover behind the style that later came to be known as jazz. He played his music in New Orleans in the years 1895-1906. However, no recordings of his music can be found now. Early jazz musicians played in the brothels and bars. This kind of music was also played in funeral marches arranged by the African American and European American communities.

However, the 1920s and 1930s saw this style of music being considered immoral. But the Dixieland music revived in the 1940s with the re-issue of musical pieces by some record companies. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Dixieland style was the most commercially popular one in continents across the world. The 1960s and 70s saw the introduction of jazz funk and fusion styles. However in the late 1900s and 2000s, an older audience retained and interest in traditional jazz and some well-established musicians of this genre continue to perform and record. 

www.traditional-jazz.com Filmed at the Pakefield Now You Has Jazz Jazz Jazz Festival on Friday 6th March 2009. The Ragtimers specialise in recreating the arrangements of the Muggsy Spanier and Bob Crosby Bands. The line up features Alan Gresty, trumpet, Brian White, clarinet, Geoff Cole, trombone, John Crocker, tenor sax (depping for regular member Goff Dubber who was unwell) Colin Bray, piano, Tony Bagot, bass and John Petters drums.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

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