Jazz is known as being one of the only styles of music created in America, though it is a mixture West African and Western music traditions. Jazz’s began in New Orleans, around the 1900’s, but its roots can be traced back hundreds of years earlier when slaves who were brought to America developed spirituals and blues in order to communicate with one another and express sadness, desires and religious beliefs. The music was passed along orally with each new generation making their own unique changes to the songs, which were often of a call and response form and unaccompanied by musical instruments.
Rhythms and melodies from the black community were combined with European compositions leading to the development of Ragtime music around 1895. “Ragging” a song meant dragging out certain notes and livening up music by rearranging notes. Ragtime and Jazz are similar but Ragtime music is predominantly sole piano music while Jazz music is played in ensembles.
Though jazz is closely associated with blues and ragtime, one of the most important elements of jazz music is that it is improvisational music–well-known notes and lines are a starting point for musicians to develop unique songs around. Early jazz musicians often could not read music but they thrilled audiences by bringing emotion, excitement and the unexpected to their pieces. While ragtime music was popular in restaurants, clubs or hotels, Jazz was mobile, versatile music played at funerals, parades, weddings, and at festivals.
The 1920’s were known as the Jazz Age as New Orleans jazz was brought to nightclubs in Northern cities such as Chicago and New York. It was more upscale than the music of New Orleans, and New Orleans Jazz distinguished itself as being a more folksy and spontaneous form of Jazz. Throughout the 20th century, many variations of Jazz music were popular including Dixieland, bebop, Big Band, swing, cool jazz, soul jazz and Latin jazz.
All forms of jazz music and the types of music that inspired it or have preceded it are celebrated during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The event began in 1970 as means of showcasing the musical heritage, arts, crafts and cuisine unique of New Orleans. The first Jazz Festival had a lineup that included Duke Ellington and Fats Domino and only about 350 attendees.
Quickly the Festival’s popularity grew and it now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, world-renowned singers and the top talent of New Orleans and Louisiana. This year, artists including Rod Stewart, Jon Mayer, Harry Connick Jr. and ZZ Top are set to play in the event which will take place during the weekends of April 27-29 and May 4-6.
2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival attendees are invited to stay at the Hotel Maison de Ville in the French Quarter so that in addition to seeing the festival performances, they’ll be right by jazz clubs and bars where they can hear intimate performances by traditional and contemporary jazz artists who have been inspired by the earliest performers.
By: Carolyn Polinsky
Jazz is known as being one of the only styles of music created in America, though it is a mixture West African and Western music traditions. Jazz’s began in New Orleans, around the 1900’s, but its roots can be traced back hundreds of years earlier when slaves who were brought to America developed spirituals and blues in order to communicate with one another and express sadness, desires and religious beliefs. The music was passed along orally with each new generation making their own unique changes to the songs, which were often of a call and response form and unaccompanied by musical instruments.
Rhythms and melodies from the black community were combined with European compositions leading to the development of Ragtime music around 1895. “Ragging” a song meant dragging out certain notes and livening up music by rearranging notes. Ragtime and Jazz are similar but Ragtime music is predominantly sole piano music while Jazz music is played in ensembles.
Though jazz is closely associated with blues and ragtime, one of the most important elements of jazz music is that it is improvisational music—well-known notes and lines are a starting point for musicians to develop unique songs around. Early jazz musicians often could not read music but they thrilled audiences by bringing emotion, excitement and the unexpected to their pieces. While ragtime music was popular in restaurants, clubs or hotels, Jazz was mobile, versatile music played at funerals, parades, weddings, and at festivals.
The 1920’s were known as the Jazz Age as New Orleans jazz was brought to nightclubs in Northern cities such as Chicago and New York. It was more upscale than the music of New Orleans, and New Orleans Jazz distinguished itself as being a more folksy and spontaneous form of Jazz. Throughout the 20th century, many variations of Jazz music were popular including Dixieland, bebop, Big Band, swing, cool jazz, soul jazz and Latin jazz.
All forms of jazz music and the types of music that inspired it or have preceded it are celebrated during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The event began in 1970 as means of showcasing the musical heritage, arts, crafts and cuisine unique of New Orleans. The first Jazz Festival had a lineup that included Duke Ellington and Fats Domino and only about 350 attendees.
Quickly the Festival’s popularity grew and it now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, world-renowned singers and the top talent of New Orleans and Louisiana. This year, artists including Rod Stewart, Jon Mayer, Harry Connick Jr. and ZZ Top are set to play in the event which will take place during the weekends of April 27-29 and May 4-6.
2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival attendees are invited to stay at the Hotel Maison de Ville in the French Quarter so that in addition to seeing the festival performances, they’ll be right by jazz clubs and bars where they can hear intimate performances by traditional and contemporary jazz artists who have been inspired by the earliest performers.
Have you ever wondered why the Utah Jazz is named as such? New Orleans, Louisiana was the birthplace of jazz, right? In fact, the NBA squad, the Utah Jazz, was originally the New Orleans Jazz. The Jazz played in New Orleans from 1975-1979. When the team moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, it retained the original team name.
Here are some interesting facts about Utah:
Utah’s name originates from the Ute Native Americans
Utah’s nickname is the “Beehive State”
The state bird is ironically the California Sea Gull
The Utah state flag contains a beehive, which symbolizes diligence
Major industries include farming, mining, natural gas, oil, and steel production
The Utah Jazz’s premiere season in the NBA included some sour notes. They lost their first game to the Portland Trailblazers, and ended the season with 24-58 record. Although the Jazz’s first season was disappointing, they were beginning to create a solid foundation on which to build the franchise.
Less than two decades after entering the NBA, the Jazz’s team was playing sweet music. In particular, the duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone created one of the best one-two punches in the league. In 1996-1997, the Jazz earned a franchise-best 64-18 during the regular season.
The Jazz would glide through the playoffs. They sank the Los Angeles Clippers (3-0), drowned the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1), and eliminated the Houston Rockets in a war (4-2). In the NBA Finals, the Jazz faced Michael Jordan and the mighty Chicago Bulls. Though the Jazz played the Bulls closely, the Bulls overpowered them and won the series (4-2).
Having established a solid team, the Jazz would play all the right notes during the next regular season, finishing with an outstanding 62-20 record. In the playoffs, the Jazz would battle back to shoot down the Houston Rockets (3-2), unseat the San Antonio Spurs (4-1), and then drain the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0).
Many NBA experts chose the Utah Jazz to end the Bulls’ five-championship dynasty. However, the Jazz fell behind in the series 3-1, and never recovered. In Game 6, Michael Jordan willed the Bulls to victory and a 4-2 series win.
How have the Jazz fared since their last trip to the NBA Finals? While they have made seven playoff appearances and won three division crowns, the farthest they have advanced was to the Western Conference Finals (2007).
Throughout their history, the Jazz have retired the jersey numbers of seven players:
Adrian Dantley – #4 (Forward): 1979-1984
Mark Eaton – #53 (Center): 1982-1993
Darrell Griffith – #35 (Guard): 1980-1991
Jeff Hornacek – #14 (Guard): 1993-2000
Karl Malone – #32 (Forward): 1985-2003
Pete Maravich – #7 (Guard): 1974-1980
John Stockton – #12 (Guard) 1984-2003
It is inevitable that some of these players will also enter the basketball Hall of Fame.
While the Utah Jazz has earned two trips to the NBA Finals, it has not completed its song. Use Utah Jazz merchandise to cheer on the team to the sweet sound of an NBA Championship!
By: Rick Grantham