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July 1996
Volume 60 |
Number 7
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| New Orleans and
All That Jazz: The Musical Heritage of New Orleans |
The April 1996 NEWSLETTER article about "N'Awlins'"
rich heritage, steeped in French and Spanish culture, provided
a historical synopsis of this diverse and entertaining city. ASA
is proud to have the Crescent City again host its Annual Meeting
on October 19-23, 1996.
New Orleans musicians truly represent an eclectic mix of musical
richness, performing everything from zydeco and gospel to jazz,
rhythm and blues. Jazz is just one of the many prevalent styles
of music that dominate the New Orleans airwaves. Music is literally
in the air -- at street parades, seasonal festivals and a plethora
of venues around the city.
It is estimated that music has an economic impact of more than
$1.5 billion yearly on the city. The music industry supports approximately
40,000 jobs and creates more than $33 million in tax revenues
alone. And these figures are growing as the city is constantly
expanding its musical draw with new developments and events.
Since music is such a large part of New Orleans, it is important
to understand New Orleans' musical roots. Knowing the city's musical
heritage can only enrich your experience when you travel to the
Big Easy and hear for yourself.
The Birthplace of Jazz
Best known as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans celebrated
the 100-year anniversary of its musical child's origin just last
year. Why New Orleans? It has been theorized that two major factors
contributed to the birth of jazz in New Orleans: the worldly seaport's
demand for entertainment and the resultant popularity of dancing.
New Orleans was the center of commerce at the turn of the century
because of its proximity to the mouth of the Mississippi River,
a flourishing trade route for America, the Caribbean and Europe.
As a seaport that catered to travelers from around the world,
it developed a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a high demand for entertainment,
opening myriad taverns and dance halls and even sectioning off
a portion of the city known as Storyville as a prostitution district!
This "party" atmosphere created such a demand for live
music that there was a continuous need for musicians and fresh
material; musicians stretched their styles and threw all sorts
of musical influences into odd combinations to keep up. This New
Orleans music ultimately became what we now call jazz.
While it is commonly thought that jazz evolved directly out of
ragtime and the blues, few of the pieces that circulated among
the earliest jazz bands were blues pieces or rags. The earliest
jazz was intended for dancing; the tremendous popularity gain
of dancing in the New Orleans party atmosphere as well as the
evolution of new styles of dancing created a skyrocketing demand
for new rhythms. New Orleans parade bands and dance bands put
together new combinations of styles and added effects like syncopation
to create arrangements that would satisfy the dancing crowds.
Continuing the Legacy
The Crescent City is still best known for its jazz, which made
some of its most significant advances thanks to several native
music pioneers. Often referred to as the "Father of Jazz"
or "Pops," New Orleans-born Louis Armstrong became one
of the first great soloists in history, and Jelly Roll Morton,
a pianist, composer and bandleader from New Orleans, was one of
the first jazz pianists and important jazz composers. Other jazz
greats, both early and contemporary, from New Orleans include
clarinetist/saxophonist Sidney Bechet, clarinetist Johnny Dodds,
clarinetist Pete Fountain, trumpeter Nick LaRocca (founder of
the band that recorded the first jazz record), the talented Marsalis
family, clarinetist Jimmy Noone, trumpeter Joe "King"
Oliver and trombonist Kid Ory.
The New Orleans jazz scene is thriving, with hundreds of jazz
clubs across the city and musicians on almost every street corner.
Home to the world-famous New Orleans Jazz Festival, the Big Easy
takes in more than $140 million in economic impact and attracts
more than 400,000 national and international visitors during the
festival, which began in 1968.
Traditional jazz can be found at establishments like Preservation
Hall and the Palm Court Jazz Cafe, while modern jazz abounds at
venues all across the city, including the famous Snug Harbor Restaurant
and Cafe Brasil.
This City's Got the Blues
Rhythm and blues developed in New Orleans in the late 1950s,
when local artists like Fats Domino topped the music charts. The
new music was so hot that major record companies started sending
their stars to New Orleans to record, including Big Joe Turner
and Little Richard. Another local rhythm and blues legend was
pianist Professor Longhair. Rhythm and blues still lives on in
New Orleans. Award-winning Louisianians who still play the blues
in the local clubs include Frankie Ford, Ernie K-Doe, the Neville
Brothers, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint. Popular rhythm and
blues establishments include Tipitina's, the Maple Leaf and House
of Blues.
Gospel and Cajun/Zydeco Gospel music is prospering in New
Orleans through hundreds of gospel groups, many of which perform
at commercial venues. Perhaps most well-known was New Orleans native
Mahalia Jackson. Some other well-known local singers are the Zion
Harmonizers, the 60-member Gospel Soul Children and soloist Joe
Cool Davis, who all can be heard at local clubs like the House of
Blues and Tipitina's.
And don't forget to check out the unique, ethnic flavor of Cajun/zydeco
music, which has survived and evolved since the Cajun's ancestors
migrated from Nova Scotia in the 1700s. You can "cut a rug"
to live Cajun music at restaurant clubs like Mulate's, or Michaul's,
where free Cajun dance lessons are offered.
While music is a major part of the Big Easy's culture, New Orleans
has a multitude of other attractions and activities for young and
old. We hope you enjoy this year's Annual Meeting host city and
take advantage of all the attractions there are to see.
Remember to review this year's ASA Social Activities Program, which
lists the many activities being offered throughout the Annual Meeting.
The program booklet was included with the ASA Annual Meeting registration
materials mailed in June.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of jazz
in New Orleans, ASA is offering a motor coach tour of New Orleans
jazz history during the ASA Annual Meeting; check the Social Activities
Program booklet for more information.
Fun for the Entire Family
New Orleans has a lot for visitors and families other than music
and nightlife. It offers a multitude of activities that children
and adults alike are sure to enjoy:
* The Aquarium of the Americas, located on the edge of the Mississippi
River and within walking distance of the Morial Convention Center,
offers walk-through replicas of natural underwater habitats and
is home to more than 4,000 sea creatures.
* City Park boasts several family attractions, including golf,
tennis, paddle boats, amusement rides and Storyland, a children's
fairy tale theme park with 26 colossal story book exhibits for
climbing, sliding or pretending.
* The Louisiana Children's Museum lets visitors captain a tugboat,
build a dam, anchor the news, leave their shadow on the wall,
simulate physical impairment, learn about physical fitness and
much, much more!
New Orleans has comfortable weather during the month of October
with an average daily temperature of 71 degrees. Evenings may
be chilly, so remember to bring a jacket or sweater for nighttime
jaunts.
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