Bix Beiderbecke once said, “One thing I like about Jazz, kid, is I don’t know what’s going to happen next.” This quote by Beiderbecke certainly helps demonstrate the point I made with my assigned EOTO on the Jazz Age. What is that point exactly? It’s that this age brought new experiences for all people in the U.S. It was also a trailblazing age for multi-racial crowds and entertainers. Those involved, as Beiderbecke pointed out, truly didn’t know what would happen next.
Jazz music is said to have originated from African American communities in New Orleans. The music style was very influenced by the roots of blues music and ragtime style. In the 1920s, it became known as a major form of musical expression.
Jazz Music is characterized by call & response vocals with swing and blue notes and polyrhythms/improv. The music style became a staple as illegal speakeasies during the prohibition era. With over 32,000 speakeasies within New York and Chicago, we can only imagine the amount of Jazz music played.
Fitting with the “counterculture” of speakeasies, Jazz was perfect for the illicit environment. Al Capone, one of the most notable crime bosses ever, was a huge fan and supporter of Jazz music and always hired struggling musicians to play.
In fact, Capone was known for hiring all races of musicians and would regularly give them a challenge. If they could play a set he hadn’t heard, he would generously tip them with an extra $100.
As those of all different races collectively shared a love of this genre, the discrimination gap began to shrink some. While there were still many race issues for some time after the Jazz Age, this was the start of acceptance for multi-racial crowds and hobbies. Most consider this age a big stepping stone for our society.
Notables during the Jazz Age include Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_Age
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/a-culture-of-change/
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