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New Orleans was founded.
Important, as New Orleans would go on to birth and house jazz music. -
Slaves Gather in a Local Market and do a Lot of Dancing
1750 isn't a confirmed date; sources actually say this started in the mid 1700s. Basically, on Sundays the Spanish slave owners let the "day of rest" ideology apply to their slaves. For something to do on Sundays, the slaves met together in an area (which would later be known as Place Congo) and they'd be social, dance, and play music. -
New Orleans is Home to Diverse Peoples
By this time, New Orleans' population was half White and POC, Catholics and Protestants, and other contradictory pairings. -
Brass Marching Bands
Brass bands became popular, especially in New Orleans. The bands featured formally trained musicians playing complicated music - playing in concerts, parades, and dances). Important, as the bands ended up being one of jazz's influences. -
Ragtime Music
Rough date. This genre started to take off, also going on to influence what would become jazz music. It was largely used by African musicians, in parades, clubs and dances. It involved musicians mostly improvised instead of reading music. -
Repressive Segregation Laws Passed
Segregation laws were passed around the 1890s, repressing Africans and coloured Creoles (possibly to allow Whites to remain more dominant in society). This strengthened early versions of jazz because Africans and Creoles united and bonded, the Creoles bringing forward some discipline to the improve. -
Thriving New Orleans
New Orleans was reported as not only a thriving sea port, but an entertainment district. -
Brass Band Musicians Doubled as Dance Band Musicians
New Orleans' brass band musicians started to play in dance bands as well, applying brass instruments to the music instead of strings. This is what would be solidified as "early jazz". -
Period: to
National Jazz
During this time period is when jazz reportedly spread and became a national phenomenon. By 1916 is when is fully spread. -
The Want for Jazz Musicians
With jazz starting to become popular, cities outside of New Orleans wanted to have performers as well. There became an abundance of employment opportunities available in the whole of America, so New Orleans' musicians often left to pursue those options. -
First Recording of Jazz
A jazz band, called the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, made the first recording of jazz music. Even though it would later be deemed "unauthentic", the recording was well received by America. -
Jazz in Europe
Some jazz musicians were invited to perform in Europe, specifically France and England. -
Prohibition Laws Passed
The prohibition laws brought about speakeasies. These secret clubs housed jazz bands. -
Louis Armstrong's Departure
Louis Armstrong was a very popular musicians, not only in New Orleans but elsewhere as well. He left for Chicago, considered the "most significant departure from New Orleans". -
Period: to
The Great Depression
At the beginning of the Great Depression and throughout it's first few years, black musicians weren't allowed to do studio or radio work. -
The Beginning of Swing Music
Unable to do studio or radio work, jazz bands played in dance halls for eagerly dancing crowds. The swing movement came from this. -
The Fall of Jazz
1931 was the year in which many jazz musicians started dying off, others being encouraged to abandon the genre altogether. Louis Armstrong was once of the few popular jazz musicians to continue a career, but he was often criticized for becoming "too commercial". -
Benny Goodman Brought Radio Jazz Back
Benny Goodman was a man who had a large radio following. He purchased music and hired black jazz musicians. He provided American listeners with "a real taste of black music", overall legitimizing jazz and encouraging race tolerance. -
Reclamation of Early Jazz
By the end of the 1930's, the genre's which came from jazz were more popular and jazz faded into societal obscurity. Traditional jazz was still performed in New Orleans, however.