New Orleans, Louisiana, United States is renowned for its strong association with jazz music, universally regarded as the cradle of the genre. The oldest form was Dixieland, which has sometimes been called traditional jazz, “New Orleans” and “New Orleans jazz”. However, the jazz tradition in New Orleans has taken various forms that have separated from the original Dixieland or taken completely different paths. It is also a prominent center of funk, home to some of the first funk bands, such as The Meters.
The African tradition of dance and drums was documented in New Orleans and is an important influence on the origins of jazz. The New Orleans Municipal Airport has been dedicated to Louis Armstrong, a famous trumpet player and vocalist who made jazz famous around the world. Jelly Roll Morton, another New Orleans giant, also made a series of influential recordings while based in Chicago in the 1920s. Some key New Orleans artists from No Limit were Mia X, Mystikal, Master P, Soulja Slim, C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker.
The use of metal music bands occurred long before jazz music, due to their use in the military. Primitive jazz was found in and around New Orleans neighborhoods; it was a normal part of community life. In the late 1930s, realizing that primitive jazz had been neglected and deserved serious study, jazz enthusiasts returned to New Orleans. Louis Armstrong conveyed a great New Orleans feel, but unlike any of his predecessors, his brilliant performance marked a revolution in jazz that replaced the polyphonic ensemble style of New Orleans with the development of the solo artist's art. What eventually became the standard first line of a New Orleans jazz band was the cornet, clarinet, and trombone. Every ethnic group in New Orleans contributed to the city's very active musical environment and, in this way, to the development of primitive jazz. New Orleans is not only known for its rich history of famous jazz musicians but also for their continuing influence on jazz in New Orleans and around the world.
Learn about this unique city's culture and its impact on music.
