New Orleans: The Cultural Breeding Ground of Jazz Music

New Orleans in the nineteenth and twentieth century was one of the most vibrant and developed cities in the South. The incredible degree of syncretism allowed for vast cultural diversity and the birth of many hybrid art forms, one of which is Jazz. During the colonial ages Louisiana had been under Spanish and French rule before it was acquired by the United States during the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The comingling of different cultures which was especially prominent in New Orleans formed the fertile environment for the creation of Jazz. The New Orleans native culture showed an unmatched fascination for celebration, festivals, parades and musical as well as performances of the arts in general.  The extraordinary passion for music together with the city’s enthusiastic relationship with music provided cultural tolerance towards hybrid art forms (Gioia 5).

Other reasons for why Jazz developed in New Orleans rather than other large North American cities, it its geographical location which created immense cultural diversity. New Orleans is located on the Mississippi constituted one of the major hubs for trade and migration. The trade networks extended to the Caribbean, South America and all the way to Africa creating a melting pot of cultures and goods that passed through the city. This geographically advantageous location created a flourishing economy as well as a prosperous, cosmopolitan environment that few cities sin the new world could match” (Gioia 27). Furthermore the presence of a significant Latin-catholic culture in New Orleans during the nineteenth century, which had experienced discrimination and oppression but had established its position within society, was more tolerant and accepting to influences of African culture and art forms created by cultural hybridization (Gioia 6).  This is underlined in “The history of Jazz” in which the author Ted Gioia states that “music of all types permeated New Orleans social life; whether high or low, imported or indigenous, it found a receptive audience in this cosmopolitan city” (Gioia 32).

Additionally, New Orleans offered a rich cultural mixture due several legislative measures which affected the way in which local minorities could express their indigenous cultures. This created a poly-ethnic melting pot of art and culture. The Black community in New Orleans was granted more freedom compared to those in many other cities in the South, which increased their confidence in expressing their own music forms. The jurisdiction in New Orleans provided laws that were more lenient regarding how slaves could achieve freedom. The fact that slaves were able to purchase their freedom based on an adjudicated contract created a greater population of “free” Afro-American people and strengthened the influence of African culture on forming New Orleans very own local music forms such as Jazz (Gioia 6). This tolerance toward African culture is further exemplified by the decision of the New Orleans city council in 1817 to establish an official site for slaves to perform their music and dances, while many other cities were working towards passing laws to ban any form of African music.

Lastly Creole population played a significant role in the evolution of Jazz in New Orleans. Originally creole was a term implemented by individuals of French or Spanish decent who were born in the Americas,  indicating their distinguished descent as the first settlers of the new world, thereby giving them a more prestigious societal standing. Eventually it evolved into a term referring to the descendants of interracial relationships between Blacks and Whites. This population enjoyed increased freedom and rights over the Black population and distinguished themselves from the black community by acquiring certain norms and behaviors which were prominent in the White culture in New Orleans.  When however, in 1894, the Louisiana legislative code No.111 passed the creole population was classified as equals of the Black underclass. This created an additional and almost forced blending of white and black culture thereby facilitating the cultural transcendence of music and creating a fertile environment for the development jazz music (Stewart).

When investigating the origin of Jazz the main cultural source that comes to mind is the Afro American influence. African elements such rhythm, musical plurality, improvisation as well as the blending of artist and audience are prominent features of Jazz. In addition the Creole influence helped shape jazz the way we know this musical genre today. Many creole musicians had acquired classical musical training emphasizing a more structured and less improvisational approach. After the Louisiana legislative code No.111 passed this population of “polished creole ensembles”   who had previously experienced extended rights and freedom now found themselves “forced to fight for work and assimilate with black bands” (Gioia 32). This blend of improvisational and rhythmic African tendencies coupled with structured musical education is what shaped New Orleans Jazz the way we know it today. What is often neglected is the influence of Mexican culture on early Jazz in New Orleans. In 1884 the Mexican government sent a military band to play at Cotton Exhibition in New Orleans. Many artists decided to stay and joined local bands or ensembles creating direct influence of Mexican musical culture on the New Orleans music scene. These Mexican musicians served as mentors to many Jazz legends such as Jerry Roll Morton (Johnson 226). Furthermore indirect influence of Mexican culture on the development of Jazz was provided by the introduction of certain instruments such as the woodwind instruments.

The interesting question that arises when investigating the origin of Jazz in New Orleans is which ethnicity or culture deserves credit for inventing this music genre. In my opinion no single culture deserves credit because Jazz would not be what it is today if it was not for the hybridization and integration of cultures in the poly-ethnic and multiracial environment provided by New Orleans. I agree that the Afro American influence played the predominant role in the evolution of Jazz. However, no matter how minute the influence of a specific culture is; if it was present and influential in the music scene in New Orleans when Jazz evolved it should be acknowledged and credited for its contribution. What makes New Orleans Jazz so unique is multicultural origin.  

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References:

“Jazz”, Scott Deveaux, Gary Giddins. W.W. Norton and Company, First Edition. 2009

“The History of Jazz”, Ted Gioia. Oxford University Press. Second Edition. 2011

“Sobre Las Olas’: A Mexican Genesis in Borderlands Jazz and the Legacy for Ethnic Studies”, Gaye Theresa Johnson, Comparative American Studies, Vol. 6 No. 3, September 2008, 225–240