Jazz Shrinks Complex World - Jazz History

When I've had a belly full of the complexities of currentbecame in time a little lighter, and the white man often
events I find a jazz band in some out of the waya little darker.The French and the Spanish, the African
place and retreat for awhile into melody with a bigtribesmen often with royal chief's blood under their
beat.For those of you who are turned on by horns, Iheavy muscles - and even the Indian peering in - the
recommend a small watering place in Cleveland calledlong boats from Kentucky, and the Yankee mountain
the Lake Shore Club.There, Ted Witt and his Forestmen in buckskin fringes - in for a big bust and
City Jazz Band hold forth on Saturday nights with theswallowing of untaxed whiskey - all wanted music, and
best music this side of New Orleans.Located throughhelped make it, said Longstreet.New Orleans mixed it
the courtyard of an old motel, it is not the kind of jointall up, and churned it around, and made it a part of a
you would wander into cold turkey. But, take my word,new nation - that was part of a New World where
the surroundings are pleasant, the drinks unadulterated,anything could happen.Today we call it history. But then
the prices average, the food good and the clienteleit was simple people, wild people, pioneers and men on
well dressed without ostentation.I was introduced totheir way up in a hurry. All sang a lot and stomped
jazz while stationed at the U.S. Naval base in Keyaround to music.Whether it was in the Congo jungle of
West during World War II. The best honky-tonk inAfrica or in the tromped-down grass of Congo Square
town had a small jazz combo of venerable blackin New Orleans, it was rhythm that started it all.Music
players, but the soul jerking notes poured out on thoseand dancing, said the white slave masters, made the
Sunday afternoons after church when the "coloredNegroes too tired to work hard, so the wild people
folks" (their term) conducted a funeral.No matter whatfrom Africa just clapped their hands at first.Then they
day of the week a black person might happen tomade a drum on the sly and brought it out - when the
meet his Maker, the funeral was held on Sunday. ThenMaster was off somewhere else subduing the
the fishermen would be home, no one would losepassions of his own wild country - to remind them of
wages, and the mood of religious contemplation wouldtheir native jungles.An old horn was snitched from
be deepest.After regular morning services, lengthenedsome white man's junk heap, or maybe a rusty old
by a substantial eulogy to the deceased, the march tobanjo was given by a keel boatman from Ohio who
the grave yard began. The coffin rode in onedidn't give a damn about plantations and cotton
mule-drawn wagon and an assembly of horn playersanyway.At last the Negro had become part of musical
in another. The mourners marched behind inAmerica. He was ready to add a sense of freedom
swallow-tail suits, high hats and formal dresses.Theand lusty beat that created a new musical art form
parade to the cemetery was somber and featuredpeculiar to the United States.In time, jazz evolved
plaintive hymns such as "Just A Closer Walk Withthrough a variety of forms - spirituals, marches, cake
Thee," "Old Rugged Cross," "Amazing Grace," and "Willwalks, ragtime, blues and swing. But the basic
the Circle Be Unbroken." Now, 30 years later, thesefoundation was always twelve 4-4 bars of singable
tunes nearly break me up as bittersweet memoriesnotes.Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong was the last of the
flood back.The return from the cemetery, however,Golden Generation of jazz musicians. Today we rely
was jubilant as the marchers asserted their faith thaton the artistry of Pete Fountain, Turk Murphy, Al Hirt
their departed companion was well on his way to aand Ted Witt to carry on the glorious tradition of
just reward in heaven. Of course there was "Whenauthentic jazz.Ted Witt is great on the licorice stick
The Saints Come Marching In," "Washed In The Bloodand still belts out a few numbers on the "fish horn"
of Jesus," and "Down By The Riverside." But theresoprano sax made famous by Sidney Bechet. Ted's
was also a lot of high stepping to "Georgia Cakewalk,"other front men, Emmett Wiley on the slip horn and
"High Society" and "Muskrat Ramble."It was aDick Petscher on trumpet, are ably supported by John
meaningful blend of sorrow, reverence, and ChristianBittance on bass, Bert Smith at the piano, Al Gutheim
faith in a better life here after.Since those days - nowon the skins, and Bill Morehead on banjo.Somehow,
gone I am told by travelers to the southern-mostwhen those guys cut loose, such things as the
Florida Key - I have pursued the blue and golden noteseconomy, Watergate, and Mideast wars don't seem all
in New Orleans, Nashville, St. Louis, Memphis, andthat important.September 18, 1974
Chicago. For there, in the Mississippi Valley, is the true.Click here to see this article on Lindsey Williams's
home of American jazz.Strangely however, I havewebsite.Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can
found the most creative practitioners of this uniquebe contacted at: or Website: with over a thousand of
American music in Key West, Cleveland, New York,Lin's Editorial & At Large articles written over 40
and San Francisco. One of the characteristics that hasyears.Also featured in its entirety is Lin's
made jazz great is its ability to be exported, and to begroundbreaking book "Boldly Onward," that critically
assimilated by diverse cultural communities.Where did itanalyzes and develops theories about the original
all start?Stephen Longstreet, the jazz historian, says itSpanish explorers of America.
is best to begin in New Orleans, where the black man