Two Weeks, and I'm already Smarter!

[JazzManJim]

Wow, college is a heck of a place. I've already been there two weeks, and I've learned stuff I never knew about music. That's really saying something, considering I've been a musician since I was 11 and have listened to it all my life. Already, going back to school is turning out to be a damned good decision.

My class in Jazz History is easily the most fascinating. We've varely moved out of New Orleans in the subject material, and I already have some really interesting tidbits.

The other classes are a bit of a bust thus far, but I'm holding out hope that I'll learn something. But hey...at least I got to read a Henry Miller short story (Oh Joy! Oh Rapturous Delight!!). And I learned in my Psychology class that when I try to draw a diagram of a neuron, it looks like a really sick tree - maybe even one of the trees from "The Wizard of Oz".

So, anyone want me to drop a nugget of jazzy knowledge? Wanna know how the "Jim Crow" segregation laws of the late 1800s actually gave the newly-forming jazz music a boost? Want to hear just how seedy early jazz musicians truly were? Want to know which jazz and blues performer was paroled from his third murder sentence on the condition he record his music for posterity? How about which jazz composer/musician actually hustled pool and pimped to make money when he wasn't doing it musically?

I'm all full of knowledge! WoooHooo!!

 

[JennyOmanHill]

Congrats, JazzMan! I admire your courage at returning to the school days! Sounds like it will definitely boost you in your career!

All the best for continued enjoyment!

 

[Desdemona]

So, anyone want me to drop a nugget of jazzy knowledge? Wanna know how the "Jim Crow" segregation laws of the late 1800s actually gave the newly-forming jazz music a boost? Want to hear just how seedy early jazz musicians truly were? Want to know which jazz and blues performer was paroled from his third murder sentence on the condition he record his music for posterity? How about which jazz composer/musician actually hustled pool and pimped to make money when he wasn't doing it musically?

I'm all full of knowledge! WoooHooo!!

Hey, I'm curious. Tell me all about it.

 

[perks]

Jazzman,

It's very exciting to see someone revel in learning. I'm happy that you can experience the knowledge and pursue it.

perks

 

[ToddHwrd]

Jimmy I'm excited with you!! I'm glad you have the courage to see your dream and go after it. I wish you all the best in school and in life. It's been a pleasure getting to know you buddy

ToddH

 

[Aphrodisiac]

Jazzy,

Sounds like you are having lots o ' fun @ college.

Its fun learning new things ... glad you are having fun in your music class.

Enjoy !

 

[JazzManJim]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty stoked about the whole experience (And Todd...it's good to be getting to know you, too, man!). It does surprise me how much I don't know, given that I've been a big jazz fan pretty much all of my life. To know that there's still so much left to learn, and so many neat things just really excites me. Hopefully, my old brain will hold up during the whole experience.

Now as for the jazz nuggets...here's a really good one.

Back in the day, New Orleans was the place for hot music. The city boasted three or four opera houses and at least two separate Symphony Orchestras. Black musicians also were heating up bars and brothels (yeah...jazz and prostitutes. It was a mixture that really mattered a lot. Jazz Musicians would play in brothels, and get tips based on how well their music helped the whores) and playing anywhere they could.

Black musicians back then had absolutely no formal training, but they had a couple very soulful and improvisational forms of music: Gospel church music and "field hollers" - work songs they'd sing while on a chain gang, or while working in the fields.

Creole musicians, while black of complexion, had origins that traced back to Europe, and were considered white when it came to educational opportunities. Creole musicians (like Scott Joplin, for instance) were highly educated, had classical music training, and spent time in Conservatories. They were excellent technical musicians.

Then came the Civil War and Emancipation. After a few years came the Jim Crow laws forcing segregation of white and black. Creoles got caught in the mix, on the "wrong side" of things from their point of view. Though they considered themselves of the same white European stock, the laws considered them black, and removed them from the places they had used to play.

Now all these Creole musicians were playing in the same places, and with the same bands as black musicians, and the mixture was electric. Black musicians were learning technical stuff, formal musican knowledge they had lacked, and Creole musicians were learning about Gospel and such and adding their classical prowess to improvisations.

The result was explosive. From this blend came Dixieland and Ragtime and from those came such luminaries as Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Bessie Smith, and Ma Rainey. The thing spread like wildfire all over the eastern United States - Memphis, Chicago, New York and all the places in-between.

In fact, the first group to have a recording of their music sold, a white group called the "Original Dixieland Jazz Band" had their album sell over 250, 000 copes in the late 1870s (I believe), which outsold any other album released to that point (even from those such as Enrico Caruso!).

So that the first cool nugget I've learned. Maybe later I'll talk about the seedy jazz guys and how they were all into the brothels and the hooch.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

I will ask you in a few months when the newness wears off and sees what was absorbed

 

[lavender]

 

[JazzManJim]

I will ask you in a few months when the newness wears off and sees what was absorbed

Yeah...I'm kind of curious about that myself.

So far, retention isn't a problem, but the year is young and my brain isn't nearly as elastic as it once was. I know...it doesn't bounce nearly as high!

The mostest coolest thing about all this was meeting with my Music Department Chair and basically being told, "You're going to make it as a Choral Director and anything I can do to speed you on your way and get you more experience, I'll do" by him.

That gave me a boost I'm still riding.

 

[perks]

Yeah...I'm kind of curious about that myself.

So far, retention isn't a problem, but the year is young and my brain isn't nearly as elastic as it once was. I know...it doesn't bounce nearly as high!

The mostest coolest thing about all this was meeting with my Music Department Chair and basically being told, "You're going to make it as a Choral Director and anything I can do to speed you on your way and get you more experience, I'll do" by him.

That gave me a boost I'm still riding.

validation and support from a mentor is some of the most heady stuff. What a rush you must be having. YAY!!

 

[JazzManJim]

validation and support from a mentor is some of the most heady stuff. What a rush you must be having. YAY!!

Is it that obvious?

 

[perks]

I'm getting a contact high

 

[JazzManJim]

I'm getting a contact high

Second-hand joy. Ain't it a kick?

 

[perks]

Second-hand joy. Ain't it a kick?

it's always a kick to share joyous moments with friends. Thanks for letting me.

 

[JazzManJim]

it's always a kick to share joyous moments with friends. Thanks for letting me.

Thank you for wanting to share it. I'm sure there'll be more on the roller coaster I"m on for the next couple of years.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

Yeah...I'm kind of curious about that myself.

So far, retention isn't a problem, but the year is young and my brain isn't nearly as elastic as it once was. I know...it doesn't bounce nearly as high!

I wasn't meaning it in a bad way, I just know the recently learned highs don't always stick as permanent as possible.

I am glad your learning something you love.

Rock on, or should I say Jazz on

 

[JazzManJim]

I wasn't meaning it in a bad way, I just know the recently learned highs don't always stick as permanent as possible.

No worries. I didn't take it badly.

I really am interested in seeing how long the high will last. If I play it just right, I figure I can get 40 years or so out of it.

On a side note, is there a musician's name any cooler than:

Blind Lemon Jefferson?

I think not.

 

[Guest]

That's awesome, Jimmie.
I'm excited for you.

Kinda makes me wanna go back...a dissertation, uh, nevermind. I'll live, vicariously, through you. *lol*

Enjoy!