| Music | The Jazz music that developed in New Orleans in the years before World War I came from a fusion of country blues, piano rags, gospel and marches - with small ensembles playing improvised solos in response to the other members of the band - the original 'Dixieland' jazz.
Listen to a range of original New Orleans players by clicking here:
In the 1920's a more commercial style of jazz was developed in Chicago by and for the radio and recording industries and was named 'Dixieland', marking a move away from the more traditional style. Meanwhile in New Orleans and elsewhere across the world new jazz styles emerged out of New Orleans' traditional jazz forms, with the popularity of large swing bands.
After the Second World War there was a revival of interest in American folk music following the release of Harry Smith's famous Anthology, repopularising early players and styles and 'New Orleans' became the term to differentiate the original, traditional, improvisational live jazz style from the later commercial, and more sophisticated forms. The need to keep this music alive was marked by the enstatement of the Preservation Hall in New Orleans, as the home of traditional jazz music.
New Orleans music has all the soul, rawness and earthy energy of Delta or Chicago Blues music and the spontinaity, inventiveness and virtuosity of Be-bop or Cool Jazz. Whatever kind of music you enjoy, it probibly owes a debt to New Orleans, from Bob Dylan to Jamie Cullum, from the Beatles to Nirvana, all were inspired by this exiting and original music that we try, with you help, to keep alive each week. |
