Jazz as America's Popular Music

Jazz as America's Popular Music

Period Covered: End of the Great Depression, World War II, into the 1950s

Introduction

  • Jazz became prominent as America’s popular music during the late Great Depression through the 1950s.

  • Previous lecture focused on the integration of radio into American life, which provided entertainment during economic hardship.

The Role of Radio

  • Impact of Radio:

    • By the late 1930s, radio ownership reached one in every four American households.

    • Radio advertising significantly increased from $4,800,000 in 1927 (across 681 stations) to $215,600,000 in 1940 (with only 84 new stations).

    • The modern equivalent of the 1940 ad spend would be over $4,000,000,000 today.

    • Jazz music became a staple of evening broadcasts, with several live shows reaching audiences nationwide.

Evolution of Jazz Bands

  • Changes in Jazz Instrumentation:

    • Early jazz bands (1910s-1920s) typically featured one or two musicians per instrument.

    • The emergence of the big band style, derived from orchestral jazz ensembles from artists like Paul Whiteman and Fletcher Henderson.

    • Introduction of head arrangements, allowing for increased musical textures and improvisation.

Popularity of Big Bands

  • Influential Big Band Leaders:

    • Benny Goodman

    • Glenn Miller

    • Duke Ellington

    • The Dorsey Brothers

    • Frank Sinatra’s contributions as a singer were significant, making these names household figures.

  • Theme Songs:

    • Most big bands had theme songs played at the show’s outset, akin to modern television show theme songs.

Case Study: Benny Goodman

  • Background:

    • Born as the ninth of twelve children in a poor Chicago family to Russian Jewish immigrants.

    • Encouraged by his father, he began music lessons at a synagogue at age 10.

    • Made professional clarinet debut at age 12.

    • By age 19, became a sideman for big names like Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

  • Breakthroughs:

    • In 1934, he signed with Columbia Records and collaborated with Fletcher Henderson for music composition.

    • His performance on NBC's Let's Dance helped popularize swing music, following his pivotal show at the Palomar Ballroom on August 21, 1935.

  • Notable Work:

    • Recorded "Sing Sing Sing" in 1937, exemplifying the standard jazz format of head arrangements and improvisation.

Case Study: Duke Ellington

  • Innovative Approach:

    • Prevalently known as the house band for the Cotton Club in Harlem, yet chose to maintain a smaller ensemble.

    • His affection for the diverse cultures in New York City influenced his music and creative projects, such as the composition of "Caravan" and other tributes to immigrant communities.

  • Collaboration with Billy Strayhorn:

    • Collaborated extensively with Strayhorn, who was openly gay, a notable rarity for the era.

    • Together, they crafted the iconic theme song "Take the A Train."

The Peak of Mainstream Success: Glenn Miller

  • Popularity and Criticism:

    • The Glenn Miller Orchestra became the most successful band in America during the late 1930s and early 1940s but faced critique for being overly commercialized and sanitized.

    • Notable work includes the widely recognized "In the Mood."

Impact of World War II on Jazz

  • Music during this period focused on supporting the war effort.

  • A recording strike by the American Federation of Musicians limited musicians' ability to record, shifting emphasis in the industry.

  • This environment set the stage for jazz's evolution post-WWII, marking the beginning of its golden age.

Post-War Evolution of Jazz

  • Emergence of New Styles:

    • Following the swing era, styles such as bebop, Latin jazz, cool jazz, and West Coast jazz emerged.

    • Bebop Characteristics:

    • Fast-paced, highly intellectual music with long, intricate solos.

    • Prominent figure: Saxophonist Charlie Parker, whose life was marred by addiction, leading to his death at 34.

  • Afro-Cuban Jazz:

    • Influenced by the cultural interactions between American musicians and Cuban artists, especially after the mid-1940s.

    • Characterized by Cuban percussion instruments like claves, timbales, and congas.

    • Notable track: "Manteca".

The Cool Jazz Movement

  • Shift in Style:

    • Musicians sought to embody the calmer, hip vibes of urban life in the 1950s, contrasting the intensity of bebop.

    • Leading figures: Pianist Bill Evans and trumpeter Miles Davis.

    • Significant Album:

    • The 1959 album "Kind of Blue," best-selling jazz album of all time, re-released 10 times, selling millions.

Jazz Education and California's Influence

  • The significant shift in perception included universities offering degrees in jazz studies by the late 1940s.

  • Transition of East Coast artists to California contributed to the growth of jazz scenes there.

  • The establishment of record labels like Verve Records targeted West Coast artists, indicating a thriving jazz culture.

Multimedia Resources

  • Suggested to view performances:

    • Ken Burns Jazz: "The True Welcome" clips to complement learning.

    • Dave Brubeck’s performance of "Take Five."