JAZZ HISTORY IS BLACK HISTORY
Scott Joplin (1868–1917), often hailed as the "King of Ragtime," was a pioneering American composer and pianist whose work significantly shaped the development of American popular music. Born in Texas, Joplin’s early exposure to music set him on a path that led to the creation of iconic compositions like Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer. His intricate, syncopated rhythms and melodic inventiveness laid the foundation for the evolution of jazz and other American genres. While ragtime was the dominant style of his time, Joplin’s sophisticated approach to rhythm and form influenced the emerging jazz movement, blending structured forms with improvisation. Despite facing financial hardships and health struggles due to syphilis, Joplin’s compositions became foundational to later music forms, and he is recognized for his role in elevating ragtime into a genre that would inspire jazz and other modern American music.
Although Joplin's work went largely unrecognized during his lifetime, his music saw a revival in the 20th century, largely through the efforts of musicians like Joshua Rifkin. Rifkin’s 1970 recording of Scott Joplin: Piano Rags helped spark the "Joplin Renaissance" and brought attention to his pivotal role in shaping jazz. The 1973 film The Sting, which prominently featured Joplin’s music, further cemented his place in popular culture and brought his compositions to a broader audience. Today, Joplin is celebrated not only as a ragtime icon but also as a key figure in the development of jazz, with his legacy preserved at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site in St. Louis. His innovative fusion of syncopation and melody continues to influence musicians across genres, and his work stands as a testament to his role in shaping modern American music.
Joseph "King" Oliver (1881 -1938) was a trailblazer in the early days of jazz, whose contributions significantly shaped the genre's development. As a gifted cornet player and bandleader, Oliver was instrumental in popularizing the New Orleans style of jazz, bringing it to a wider audience through his innovative use of mutes and his mastery of improvisation. His recordings with the Creole Jazz Band in the early 1920s, particularly featuring his protégé Louis Armstrong, helped establish the foundational sounds of jazz. Not only did Oliver influence countless musicians, but his compositions such as "Dippermouth Blues" and "Doctor Jazz" remain iconic within the jazz canon. His inventive approach to music, including the use of plunger mutes and other techniques, was revolutionary, and he is considered a pioneer in jazz's evolution.
As a Black man in early 20th-century America, Oliver's achievements were all the more significant. Despite facing racial and economic challenges, including poverty and business exploitation, he rose to prominence and became one of the foremost figures in jazz. His mentorship of Louis Armstrong, whom he mentored both musically and personally, helped shape the future of jazz. Armstrong’s tribute to Oliver—"if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today"—highlights the profound impact Oliver had not only on jazz music but also on the cultural legacy of African Americans in the arts. Oliver's pioneering role in jazz serves as a testament to his skill, vision, and the transformative power of Black musicians in shaping American music history.
Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971), born in New Orleans, was one of the most influential figures in the birth and development of early jazz. Growing up in poverty in a racially segregated society, Armstrong’s natural talent for music emerged in his youth. He learned to play the cornet while in a home for troubled boys, which eventually led to his mastery of the trumpet. Armstrong’s early work with the great King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band helped shape his distinctive style, and his innovative approach to music, including scat singing and improvisation, played a pivotal role in the formation of modern jazz. His virtuoso trumpet playing and charismatic vocals brought jazz from the streets of New Orleans to a global stage, making it a respected art form worldwide.
As a Black musician in the early 20th century, Armstrong faced the harsh realities of racism, but he broke down racial barriers through his talent and perseverance. His success in a predominantly white industry made him a trailblazer and a symbol of Black excellence in American culture. Armstrong also found success in film and television, further elevating his status as a cultural icon. His appearances in Hollywood films like High Society and The Glenn Miller Story, along with television spots, showcased his unique personality and charm, extending his influence beyond music. Armstrong’s contributions to jazz not only defined the genre but also reshaped how Black artists were perceived in the world of mainstream entertainment, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and artists worldwide.
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, better known as Jelly Roll Morton (1890 - 1941), was a pioneering American blues and jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader born in New Orleans in 1890. A key figure in the development of early jazz, Morton is recognized as one of the genre’s first arrangers, demonstrating that jazz could retain its improvisational spirit even when written down. His 1915 composition "Jelly Roll Blues" is one of the first published jazz pieces. Although Morton controversially claimed to have invented jazz in 1902, his contributions to jazz composition and arrangement, such as "King Porter Stomp" and "Wolverine Blues," left an undeniable mark on the music world. Throughout his career, Morton toured extensively, from brothels in New Orleans to vaudeville acts, and later, the recording studios of Chicago. His band, the Red Hot Peppers, became one of the era’s most influential jazz ensembles.
Despite his early successes, Morton faced significant challenges later in life. His arrogance and boastful claims alienated many of his peers, and financial struggles compounded by the Great Depression led to his fading fame. In the 1930s, Morton moved to Washington, D.C., where he played at the Music Box nightclub and recorded interviews for the Library of Congress. These recordings, which preserved his reflections on early jazz, have since been revered as essential historical documents. Morton’s health deteriorated after a violent attack in 1938, and he died in 1941 at the age of 50. Though his life was turbulent, his musical legacy remains substantial, with his influence still felt in jazz today.
Duke Ellington (1899 - 1974) stands as one of the most important figures in the history of American music, renowned not only for his pioneering work in jazz but also for his lasting impact as a Black composer in the 20th century. Born in Washington, D.C., Ellington began his music career at a young age, eventually shaping the future of jazz with his innovative approach to composition and performance. He was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, using his orchestra to create a sound that melded classical structures with the spontaneity and rhythm of jazz, raising the genre to new artistic heights. His compositions, like "Mood Indigo" and "Take the 'A' Train," became iconic, and his orchestral works expanded the scope of what jazz could be, influencing generations of musicians.
In his early career, Ellington broke barriers, becoming a jazz pioneer who proved that jazz could be sophisticated and complex, capable of addressing themes of love, identity, and cultural pride. By the 1920s, he had become a central figure in New York’s vibrant jazz scene, first with the Washingtonians and later as the bandleader of his own orchestra. His ability to blend improvisation with composed sections led to the creation of timeless pieces that transcended the boundaries of popular music. Throughout his career, Ellington’s leadership and creative vision solidified him as one of the most significant Black composers, reshaping the perception of jazz as a legitimate art form while challenging racial boundaries in the music world.
William Henry "Papa Charlie" Jackson (1887–1938) was a pioneering American bluesman and songster known for his distinctive performances on banjo guitar, guitar, and ukulele. His career began in the 1920s, and he made his first recordings in 1924, marking the start of a significant, though underrecognized, influence on the blues genre. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jackson’s early years are shrouded in mystery, but his music career is well documented. He played extensively in Chicago, performing at clubs and busking at Maxwell Street Market. He is credited as the first self-accompanied blues artist to make records and was one of the originators of the hokum style, blending comic, suggestive lyrics with lively rhythms. His best-known songs include "Airy Man Blues," "Shave 'Em Dry," and the iconic "Salty Dog Blues."
In addition to his solo work, Jackson was an important accompanist for notable blues singers, including Ida Cox, Hattie McDaniel, and Ma Rainey. His collaborations with Blind Arthur Blake, especially the unique "Papa Charlie and Blind Blake Talk About It" in 1929, are considered high points of his career. Despite his influence on the development of blues and his recording of songs that became standards, Jackson’s legacy remains relatively overlooked by historians. However, his work has continued to resonate with later generations, with his music covered by artists like Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions and the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Jackson's songs, including "Shake That Thing" and "Loan Me Your Heart," are still remembered for their significant impact on the evolution of American blues.
Noble Sissle (1889 -1975) and Eubie Blake (1887 - 1983) were pivotal figures in shaping 20th-century American music, particularly through their groundbreaking work as Black musicians in Broadway and jazz. Their 1921 musical Shuffle Along was a landmark achievement, as it was the first successful all-Black Broadway show to move away from minstrel traditions. The musical, featuring songs like "I’m Just Wild About Harry," was not only a commercial success but also a cultural milestone, representing a new form of Black artistry on the stage. Their collaboration helped establish African American composers and performers as central figures in popular music, contributing to the Harlem Renaissance and the broader cultural shift of the Jazz Age.
As musicians and composers, Blake and Sissle were key players in the early development of jazz, vaudeville, and ragtime music. Their influence extended beyond Broadway, with Sissle’s work with the Harlem Hellfighters band during World War I introducing jazz to France, and Blake’s later resurgence as a ragtime pioneer in the 1950s. Together, they broke down racial barriers in music, redefining the landscape for Black artists in a racially segregated America. Their contributions laid the groundwork for future generations of African American musicians, and their legacy continues to inspire artists across genres.
Jimmie Lunceford (1902 - 1947) was a highly respected bandleader and alto saxophonist, known for his expertly crafted swing orchestra and groundbreaking musical arrangements. He formed the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra in Memphis in 1927, and by the early 1930s, the group had become a major influence in jazz, recognized for its tight arrangements, witty humor, and dynamic stage performances.
Tragically, Lunceford’s life was cut short in 1947. After a performance at the Bungalow dance hall in Seaside, Oregon, he collapsed and passed away suddenly at the age of 46. The circumstances surrounding his death sparked rumors, with some speculating that Lunceford may have been poisoned. The band had encountered racial hostility in Seaside, including an incident where a local restaurant initially refused to serve them and only offered food after a confrontation. It’s suggested that the food provided to Lunceford and his band was tainted, as many members became ill during their performance that night—yet the band continued playing even after Lunceford's death.
While the theory of poisoning was never conclusively proven (no charges were filed), the mystery surrounding his passing remains a dark part of his legacy, highlighting the challenges faced by African-American musicians in a segregated and often hostile America. Despite his untimely death, Lunceford’s impact on jazz remains profound, and his music continues to inspire musicians today.
The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra is honored to celebrate the enduring contributions of pioneers like Jimmie Lunceford. We invite you to join us this Friday evening in paying tribute to these iconic figures—whether on the dance floor or as part of the audience—and to celebrate their lasting influence on American music.