Early Jazz

Early Jazz - or Dixieland - developed in the early 20th century (1900 – 1928)¹; its four main influences were ragtime, military brass bands, the blues, and gospel music. 

The usual instrumentation of a Dixieland band was (and still is) trumpet (or cornet), clarinet, trombone, piano, string bass (or tuba), drums, and banjo (or guitar).  

The primary feature of Dixieland jazz is "collective improvisation;" that is, rather than each musician taking a solo in turn (as in most styles of jazz today), Dixieland jazz musicians all improvise at the same time.  

Each instrument has its own specific role:

1. trumpet or cornet: plays the melody (jazzed up)
2. clarinet: adds to (embellishes) the melody
3. trombone: usually embellishes the bass line but sometimes plays the melody, "afterbeats" (adding to the rhythm), and sound effects such as "smears" and "slides"
4. piano and banjo (or guitar): play chords
5. string bass or tuba: plays the bass line
6. drums: keeps the beat steady and swinging
 

Dixieland bands (excluding piano and using tuba rather than string bass) were originally small marching bands.  

Besides playing for dances and parties, in the early 1900's Dixieland bands would also play for funerals (marching along with the procession) in celebration of the life of the departed.  

There were few long solos in Dixieland jazz until the appearance of trumpeter Louis Armstrong.

1. Louis Armstrong was the first great jazz soloist (improviser) and one of the most important figures in jazz history.
2. There are those who say that without Louis Armstrong, there would be no jazz today.
 

Almost all early Dixieland jazz musicians were African American. 

Listen to recordings of early jazz:

1. King Oliver and Louis Armstrong’s "Dippermouth Blues" and the Original Dixieland Jass Band’s "Dixie Jazz Band One-Step" on The Instrumental History of Jazz
2. Louis Armstrong’s "Workingman Blues," the Original Dixieland Jass Band’s "Livery Stable Blues," Jelly Roll Morton’s "Jelly Roll Blues," and Bix Beiderbecke’s "Singin’ the Blues" (click below)