New York & New Orleans: A Cross-cultural Analysis of Women in Jazz

Spotlight: New York

In the early twentieth century, New York was a lively place to be. The town of Harlem was packed with many music venues and theatre halls, so it was not surprising when many acclaimed Jazz musicians, such as Duke Ellington and New Orleans jazz pioneer Clarence Williams, migrated to the neighborhood form Chicago in the 1920s. Although the Great Depression hindered most American industries at this time, the music and entertainment industries flourished. Jazz began to takeover the nightclub scene in New York. This spurred collaboration between great musicians and catalyzed the creation of new styles with the world of Jazz. Most notably, Harlem musicians created a nuanced piano style, known as “stride.” This highly rhythmic styles required great coordination and challenged some of best New York jazz musicians in the 1920s and 30s. The influx of jazz players generated a great fan following on the north side of New York City and with the musicians, several clubs began to gain popularity as well. One of the most notable clubs was the Cotton Club. In 1938, jazz was brought to Carnegie Hall for the first time when the Duke Ellington Orchestra performed there with Bennie Goodman and members of the Count Basie Orchestra. This pivotal moment was also the first time jazz was played for the masses by a racially integrated group.
            As the 1950s began, jazz entered it most successful eras. Musicians like Miles Davis were becoming world-renowned and pianist Dave Brubeck was awarded the first platinum album for jazz music. Also around this period, many major music labels, such as Atlantic, Prestige, and Riverside were becoming very popular, releasing major hits frequently. Many of these labels continued their success into the coming decades. Jazz began to transform itself in the 1960s. New styles were emerging, such as soul-jazz, post bop, avant-garde, and fusion. Mile Davis was one of the premier pioneers of fusion in the 1970s when the trumpeter released his albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. Fusion jazz was even further developed in the 70s when musicians began to incorporate electronics into their style of play. Recording techniques improved and synthesizers were often integrated into the jazz. Jazz as a genre was revolutionized when groups started to fuse jazz with rock, funk, and even Latin music, creating a very new sound that only slightly resembled the jazz of the 20s and 30s. To this day, New York is recognized as a birthplace of jazz. Jazz clubs are still a lively place for musical creation and performance and New York City is still home to some of the best jazz in the world. 
 

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