Jazz

Jazz“Celebration of life…it deals with it…”

Tanya ShegogThe Grange P-12 College/Swing Patrol

Outline of this Session Links to AusVELS and VCE Unit 1 20th

Century History Overview of the era 1918-1945 Jazz Age – 1918-1929 Great Depression – 1929- 1935 Swing Era/WWII – 1935-1945Finally…we dance!

Ausvels link – year 10 Covered in the Overview “Overview content for the Modern World and Australia

includes the following:the inter-war levels between World War I and World War II, including the Treaty of Versailles, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, continuing efforts post-World War II to achieve lasting peace and security in the world, including Australia’s involvement in UN peacekeeping , the major movements for rights and freedom in the world and the achievement of independence by former colonies”

VCE Study Design – unit 1 20th Century history Area of Study 3 – Cultural Expression “Jazz, whose roots lay in the slave heritage of

Afro-Americans, became the new popular music of the century. Movements, groups and individuals who worked in the creative arts reflected, promoted and resisted the political, economic and social changes of their times. In some political and social settings they were subject to persecution and censorship, in others their works provided a platform for the propagation of independent views.”

Outcome 3 Key knowledge The work of a cultural or artistic movement, group or

individual in the first half of the twentieth century; for example, actor and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, the Surrealists, the Bauhaus group, Josephine Baker

Responses to, or the effect of, the work of the movement, group or individual; for example, was it celebrated, reviled, censored, universally popular or known only to the avant-garde?

The relationship between cultural expression and political, social or economic developments of the period.

Overview 1918-45 - Keywords Time of great extremes Start with the aftermath and recovery of WWI Boom of the ‘Roaring 20s’

Prosperity, new ideas, renaissance, universal suffrage in the U.S, excess, Prohibition, Gangsters, immorality, artistic and sexual liberation , flappers

Trough of the Great Depression Poverty, unemployment, improvisation, survival,

segregation, integration, swing Unity and Patriotism/Fear and Pain of WWII

Energy, Adventure, Strength,

History of Jazz Music Origins of the word are contested – ‘Jass’ of ‘Jazz’

possibly the term for sexual activity. African-American music style, rooting in the

slaves of the South – Mainly New Orleans – mix of class (White, Creole and Black)

Incorporates the styles of Blues, Ragtime, Gospel/Spiritual, Minstrel/Vaudeville

Instruments that are characteristic – Brass (military trumpets left over from Civil War/WWI), Banjo, Drums and later, Piano (to cross the class barrier)

The First Jazz Band - 1917

The Roaring Twenties (US) Period of economic, social and political boom and

freedom Key events of 1920 – Prohibition Act and Universal

Suffrage in US Also, stock market boom – financial security and

prosperity Definitely in the throes of Jim Crow - Segregation

All of these factors that contribute to the period of excess, immorality and freedom that the 20s are known for – most characterised by the Flapper and Gangster

F. Scott Fitzgerald says… “It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was

an age of excess, and an age of satire. We were the most powerful nation. Who could tell us any longer what was fashionable and what was fun scarcely had the citizens of the Republic caught their breathe when wildest of all generations those that were adolescents during the confusion of the war brusquely shouldered them out of the way and danced into the limelight. It was a whole Race gone hedonistic, deciding on pleasure. The Jazz age now raced along on its own power, served by great Filling stations full of money.”

The Flapper Women with hair cut

short, short dresses Drink alcohol and

smoke in Speakeasies (secret illegal booze halls)

Sexually liberated In a word – immoral BUT – represented the

new age of freedom brought about by the new ability to vote in US elections

Gangsters (kids like this one…) Robin Hood status –

heroes to some, criminals by law

Opportunists, entrepreneurs

Made a fortune by bootlegging alcohol and cocaine mainly

Cut throat, corrupt, self-serving, murderous

For reference – Boardwalk Empire, The Untouchables etc.

Harlem Renaissance Time of cultural, social and artistic

explosion in Harlem. Many came to Harlem from the South

and the oppressive caste system Nurtured artists, poets, writers,

scholars and musicians, most with an African-American agenda

Harlem was the place that did not adhere to Jim Crow – racial segregation, particular in Jazz clubs

“While it may have contributed to a certain relaxation of racial attitudes among young whites, perhaps its greatest impact was to reinforce race pride among blacks.” Richard Wormser

The Music 1920’s is what is referred to as the

‘Golden Age; Influential artists - King Oliver, Louis

Armstrong, Kid Ory, and Duke Ellington Jazz music influenced all aspects of

society. Jazz poetry, fashion, and industry were effected by the "basement" music that took the United States by storm.

Became mainstream – popular and iconic American music genre

What the Music Did… United the races – Ballrooms of New York –

Cotton Club, Apollo Theatre, Roseland and most important – The Savoy Ballroom

HOWEVER… Despite the overwhelming knowledge of Jazz being an African-American genre, it was still appropriated and claimed by the White Americans. This caused tension

Gave some kids from the poorest homes in Harlem, Chicago and New Orleans a life – Case Study: Louis Armstrong

It also pushed some artists out to Paris, the European epicentre for Jazz – Case Study – Josephine Baker

Dance – Norma Miller and the Savoy Ballroom

http://www.youtube.com/user/visionaryproject/search?query=norma+miller

Introduction and significance of the Savoy + Other primary sources

Louis Armstrong Cornet and Trumpet player Born in the worst area of New Orleans,

known as the ‘Battlefield’ Suffered extreme poverty, mother

resorted to prostitution and he often starved

Served a few stints in ‘Home for Colored Waifs’ for delinquency, including a long term stay for shooting a pistol on NYE

Wore a Star of David his whole life in honour of the generosity of the Karnofsky family, a Russian-Jewish family he worked for and treated as family

Was influenced by the music of the red light district dance halls

Played the riverboats of New Orleans Big break came when he joined Joe

‘King’ Oliver’s band

Josephine Baker La Revue Negre star in Paris –

Singer/Dancer/ Comedienne “Black Venus” French critics Famous for walking a Cheetah

down the Champ d’Elysses Paris became fascinated with

all things African – “primitive, savage, exotic”

Originally from St. Louis, but could never find fame

Later, became advocate of African-American in the Civil Rights Movement

The Dance Black Bottom and Cakewalk morphed into the Charleston! Charleston hits its peak in 1927 Danced in a couple or solo Other dances popular in the 20s include the Shimmy,

Turkey Trot, Possum (and other animal-style dances) and Peabody

Done by all races - “We watch them in their epidemic Negroidism, the Charleston…this interest is an active and participating interest…maybe these Nordics at last are learning to speak our language…” Rudolph Fisher, The American Mercury

Also the era of Ballroom – Tango, Foxtrot and Quickstep became very popular

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s58iTzznkp0 The masters – Al Minns & Leon James

Roaring 20s in Oz The music, dance, economic

boom and party lifestyle did hit our shores

However, the ‘authentic Jazz’ from the US was not heard much, as British music took precedence

Australia did produce some Jazz of its own

Did not have prohibition, but still had sly grog, cocaine sellers and speakeasies (Underbelly: Razor & Squizzy)

Australia’s fascination and love for Jazz continues today.

Great Depression/Swing Era 1929-1935 The Stock Market crash of 1929 signified the end of

the celebrated Jazz Age ¼ all men, 1 in 6 Black men unemployed Men from the South flocked North, overcrowding

places like Harlem Phonograph records burnt to keep warm and most

record companies went out of business Record player production halted, but radio sales

went up Jazz “called upon again to lift the spirits of a

frightened nation”

Saxophonist Jerry Jerome “I said, "Harry, why do, where do people get

the money to come hear us?" 'Cause we, you know we had people come hear us. He says, "You know, Jer, they save their pennies for the weekend so they can get ... some beer and go out and pay whatever it costs to go to a dance with their wives or girlfriends, have a ball, forget about their trouble and then ... after it's all over, start all over again, get that money back.”

Music Jazz started to develop into Big Band Swing music Beginning of the ‘Swing Era’ Influential artists – Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Charlie

Parker, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb Tenor Sax became most identified instrument above the

swing orchestras The upcoming artists of the 20s were now massive Jazz

stars Brought joy to otherwise dismal lives Harlem was at its peak at the Jazz centre of America Sing Sing Sing by Benny Goodman Orchestra 1938 – Most

famous song of the Swing Era

Dance Birth of the Lindy Hop –

named after Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic

Savoy Ballroom is open and swinging every night of the week and cheap (50c weekdays, 75c Saturday)

Savoy and other ballrooms gave the people a respite

Birth of the ‘air-step’ or aerial by Whitey’s Lindy Hopper dancer Frankie Manning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsNltZkaVPM Air Step

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RZK-LyksG4 Spirit Moves documentary from 1950

WWII Years – 1935-45US & Aus Just as the Depression lifts, another calamity

occurs Australia and the US fight in two vastly

different theatres of war – Europe and the Pacific

However, this allowed travel and communication of ideas, including music and dance

Nightly blackouts, higher taxes, curfews and the draft greatly impact on the Jazz/dancehall scene

Jazz & the Third Reich Jazz had taken Germany by storm during

the 1930s Groups such as the Swingjugend (Swing

Youth) developed into an anti-fascist protest group

Rejection of Nazi militarism, uniformity and ideology – restricted personal freedom

Jazz stood for freedom of expression, non-conformism, internationalism

“Art of the Sub-Human’ – Joseph Goebbels Who started radio swing band that

broadcast popular American swing tunes with anti-Semitic lyrics

Making Woopie (German version 1942) Another war, another profit, another

Jewish business trick,Another season, another reason for makin' whoopee!We throw our German names away,We are the kikes of USA.You are the goys, folks,We are the boys, folks —We're makin' whoopee!

Music Benny Goodman &

Artie Shaw – Jewish, Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker African-American

Celebrated for their differences

"Bandsmen today are not just jazz musicians," said Down Beat, "they are soldiers of music."

Popular Glenn Miller disappears during a mission, his music (In the Mood) becomes synonymous with WWII

BUT… it all starts and ends with the Savoy…

Savoy Ballroom was locked and closed, beginning the segregation of Harlem

Dance By this stage, the Lindy Hop was the American

national dance and became an international export

The refuelling of the passion for swing music and the energetic dance style (especially the aerials) spread throughout the world

This photo shows American G.Is dancing with Australian girls in Sydney on Victory Day

Classroom Activities Students can compose a 12 bar blues Case Study of a major Jazz Artist See/Think/Wonder for visual sources Doodling – Play jazz/swing/blues piece and

students draw what it makes them think of Role Play – African-American performer at

an all-white ballroom Of course…you can dance!

Resources http://

teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm

http://www.jazzinaustralia.org.au/history.html http://

www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_harlem.html

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/ PBS Ken Burns ‘Jazz’ documentary series Spirit Moves - http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RZK-LyksG4

Now we dance…Stompin’ at the Savoy – Benny Goodman Basic 20s Charleston Mamie Taps Black Bottom Shouts Truckin’ Crazy Legs Itches