New Orleans, when brought
into the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase, saw great economic
prosperity as a result of the lifting of trade restrictions. In short, this
caused a migration to this area through a desire by many for the wealth
available there. The movement of people into New Orleans “made Louisiana into
perhaps the most seething ethnic melting pot that the nineteenth-century world
could produce” (Gioia, 16). This collection of cultures created a great
potential for syncretism that could not be found anywhere else in the United
States for jazz.
The jazz that New Orleans
bred spawned from multiple sources. One source was the other African-American
musical forms that preceded jazz, such as work songs, spirituals, and minstrel
songs. The syncretism between African and American musical forms (as well as
culture) brought about a unique musical form that we now call jazz. Also, the
red-light district of Storyville was accounted as the “birthplace of jazz music”
(Gioia, 55). Also known as “The District”, it allowed black musicians to make
their music careers into livings; jazz was the form of music played in brothels
and performers could make a good amount of money off of tips. For this reason,
Storyville encouraged the growth of jazz in New Orleans.
Latin tradition was
infused into New Orleans culture even before the birth of Jelly Roll Morton
(noted as one of the founding fathers of the musical form). The Mexican
government sent a large “Mexican cavalry band” to play at the “1884-1885 World’s
Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans” (Gioia, 15). The immigrants were
trained in the techniques of classical music—training that was not so easily
acquired in the United States unless you were an elite member of society. Many
of the Mexicans that were sent to perform at the exposition stayed in the
United States longer than they were required to. By doing this, they brought
their culture and musical traditions into the amalgam of those already present
in New Orleans and situated themselves “well before the arrival of jazz on the
scene” (Gioia, 15). They brought classical training for black people unable to
acquire it through other means. For this reason, Mexican immigrants had a great
influence on the formation of jazz in New Orleans.
According to the evidence
presented by Gioia, there were many factors that caused the formation of jazz
in New Orleans. However, the one factor that all others seem to tie back to is
the characteristic of New Orleans as an ethnic “melting pot” during this time
period. This mix of cultures created a potential for syncretism between many
forms of music that may not have been possible in any other area of the United
States.
New Orleans, being a city
of unique geographic location and culture in the United States, created a form
of jazz unique to itself. Due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the city
developed a population of Caribbean and Mexican immigrants. This addition of
cultures into the already brewing melting pot created a unique blend of
traditions (and furthermore, musical forms) in New Orleans. Also, due to the
influx of trade and goods into the area, along with the fact that the city was
more culturally accepting than other areas of the South, caused many ideas and
traditions to be shared and, hence, influencing the jazz that New Orleans
produced.
Commented on Will Holland’s
blog.
