Early Jazz (New Orleans)

We will start the television series Jazz (Ken Burns)today focusing on New Orleans and the beginnings of jazz.
Notable names to consider:
Louis Armstrong

This week we also work on our research of a jazz artist and a review of recordings from the artist.

Ragtime, Western Swing, and Chicago Blues

We will continue our discussion of American Music with a focus on two genres: Ragtime and Western Swing. These two genres led directly to the formation of jazz/


Ragtime was a blend of music from the European tradition (especially the marches of John Philip Sousa) and African rhythms. It could be viewed as a predecessor to jazz.

Ragtime:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragtime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc

Western Swing borrowed heavily from country music

Bob Wills
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Wills

What is Western Swing? (READ FOR HOMEWORK)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_swing

Early Blues

I want to stress that country music and blues music were not entirely separate.
The music had a similar structure and, often times, used similar instruments.
Both were also influenced by gospel music from white and black churches.
Both forms of music borrowed from each other heavily.

LINKS:
A Blues History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRwXVNt0i3k


ROBERT JOHNSON!!!

Bessie Smith