🎷Music History – Jazz Unit 3 – Jazz Age: Armstrong, Oliver & Bechet

Key Figures and Their Backgrounds

• Louis Armstrong born in New Orleans in 1901, grew up in poverty, learned to play cornet in a boys' home
• Armstrong began his career playing on riverboats and in jazz bands in Chicago and New York City in the 1920s
• King Oliver, Armstrong's mentor, was a prominent cornetist and bandleader in New Orleans and Chicago
  • Oliver led the Creole Jazz Band, one of the most influential early jazz groups
• Sidney Bechet born in New Orleans in 1897, learned to play clarinet as a child
  • Bechet spent time in Europe in the 1920s, where he was a major influence on the development of jazz
• Bechet known for his virtuosic playing and improvisational skills on the soprano saxophone and clarinet
• Armstrong and Bechet both part of the migration of African American musicians from New Orleans to Chicago and New York in the early 20th century

Musical Innovations and Styles

• Armstrong pioneered the solo improvisation style, moving jazz away from collective improvisation
  • His solos often featured a melodic, singing quality and a strong sense of rhythm
• Armstrong's use of scat singing, wordless vocalization, became a hallmark of his performances
• Oliver helped popularize the use of mutes in jazz, altering the sound of the cornet or trumpet
• Bechet was one of the first jazz musicians to make extensive use of the soprano saxophone
  • His playing style featured a wide vibrato and a powerful, expressive tone
• Bechet's clarinet playing influenced by his experience with Creole music and opera in New Orleans
• Armstrong and Bechet both incorporated elements of the blues into their jazz performances
• The "Hot Five" and "Hot Seven" recordings showcased Armstrong's innovative approach to jazz

Influential Recordings and Performances

• Armstrong's 1920s recordings with his Hot Five and Hot Seven groups are considered classics of early jazz
  • Notable tracks include "West End Blues," "Potato Head Blues," and "Struttin' with Some Barbecue"
• Oliver's recordings with his Creole Jazz Band, such as "Dippermouth Blues," helped establish the New Orleans jazz style
• Bechet's 1923 recording of "Wild Cat Blues" showcased his virtuosic clarinet playing and improvisational skills
• Armstrong's 1928 recording of "West End Blues" featured a groundbreaking solo introduction and scat singing
• Bechet's performances at the 1919 Peace Conference in Paris introduced European audiences to authentic New Orleans jazz
• Armstrong's extended solo on "Potato Head Blues" demonstrated his ability to create compelling improvisations
• Oliver and Armstrong's 1923 recording of "Weatherbird Rag" featured their innovative cornet duet playing

Cultural Context and Impact

• Jazz emerged in the early 20th century, blending African American musical traditions with European influences
• The Jazz Age of the 1920s saw jazz become a popular form of music and dance in the United States
  • Jazz was associated with the cultural changes and social freedoms of the Roaring Twenties
• Armstrong, Oliver, and Bechet were part of the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to northern cities
• Jazz was often performed in speakeasies and dance halls during the Prohibition era
• The popularity of jazz challenged traditional social and cultural norms, particularly regarding race and sexuality
• Jazz influenced fashion, literature, and art in the 1920s, as seen in the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Harlem Renaissance
• The spread of jazz to Europe in the 1920s helped establish it as an international art form

Collaborations and Rivalries

• Armstrong and Oliver had a complex relationship, with Armstrong initially serving as Oliver's protégé and later surpassing him in popularity
• Armstrong and Bechet collaborated on several recordings in the 1920s, including "Cake Walking Babies from Home"
  • Their contrasting playing styles, with Armstrong's melodic approach and Bechet's more aggressive tone, created a dynamic tension
• Bechet and Oliver recorded together in 1923 as part of Clarence Williams' Blue Five
• Armstrong and pianist Earl Hines formed a successful musical partnership in the late 1920s
• Rivalries between jazz musicians were common, as they sought to establish their reputations and compete for audiences
  • Armstrong and Bechet were known to engage in "cutting contests," improvisational battles on stage
• Collaborations between Armstrong, Oliver, and Bechet helped shape the sound and style of early jazz

Legacy and Influence on Later Jazz

• Armstrong's innovations in solo improvisation and scat singing influenced generations of jazz musicians
  • His melodic, singing style of playing set the standard for jazz trumpet and cornet
• Oliver's use of mutes and his leadership of the Creole Jazz Band helped establish the New Orleans jazz style
• Bechet's virtuosic playing and use of the soprano saxophone inspired later musicians like John Coltrane and Steve Lacy
• The recordings of Armstrong, Oliver, and Bechet served as a foundation for the development of swing, bebop, and other later jazz styles
• Armstrong's popularity and charisma helped bring jazz to a wider audience and establish it as a mainstream art form
• The improvisational techniques and musical vocabulary developed by these early jazz pioneers continue to be studied and employed by contemporary jazz musicians

Technical Aspects of Their Playing

• Armstrong's playing style featured a bright, clear tone and a strong sense of rhythm
  • He often used a variety of articulations, including glissandos and lip trills, to add expression to his solos
• Armstrong's use of the upper register of the trumpet, often reaching high C, was groundbreaking for its time
• Oliver's use of mutes, particularly the plunger mute, created a distinctive, "talking" effect in his playing
  • He also employed a variety of growls, slurs, and other tonal effects to add depth to his sound
• Bechet's clarinet playing was characterized by a wide, fast vibrato and a powerful, expressive tone
  • He often used a "double-tonguing" technique to play rapid, staccato passages
• Bechet's soprano saxophone playing featured a similar vibrato and expressive quality, adapted from his clarinet style
• All three musicians were known for their ability to create compelling, emotionally charged improvisations

Critical Reception and Contemporary Views

• Armstrong was widely regarded as the most influential jazz musician of his time, with critics praising his technical skill and innovative style
  • Some critics, however, felt that his popularity and showmanship overshadowed his musical contributions
• Oliver was respected as a pioneer of the New Orleans jazz style and a mentor to younger musicians like Armstrong
  • His declining health and career in the late 1920s led to a reassessment of his legacy
• Bechet was recognized as a virtuoso and a major influence on the development of jazz, particularly in Europe
  • His fiery temperament and offstage controversies sometimes overshadowed his musical achievements
• The recordings of Armstrong, Oliver, and Bechet were widely reviewed and discussed in the jazz press of the 1920s
  • Critics debated the merits of their individual styles and their contributions to the evolution of jazz
• Contemporary scholars and musicians continue to study and celebrate the work of these early jazz pioneers
  • Their recordings and performances are considered essential listening for anyone interested in the history of jazz