Alright then, let’s kick off a little series in an attempt to make some sense of all this. It’ll be imperfect, incomplete, but it should give you a rough idea of the thing.

What is it called? Early Jazz, Hot Jazz, New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland, Traditional Jazz.

When was it? From the 1900s (though we don’t know much about the very beginning, since the first recordings only date from 1917) to the end of the 1920s.

Who are the key figures? Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong.

Where did it happen? In New Orleans, of course—they all came from there! But also, after the First World War, in Chicago and New York, as many musicians moved north.

What instruments are involved? Trumpet (or cornet), clarinet, trombone, piano, drums…

What did it grow out of? The remarkable melting pot that was New Orleans: blues, ragtime, gospel, European classical music, African traditions, Caribbean traditions, and brass-band music.

What does it sound like? Collective improvisation, generally upbeat and joyful (though not always!).

And what should we listen to as the perfect example?

Potato Head Blues.

(You could quibble, since Armstrong is already taking long solos here whereas we were talking about collective improvisation. Fair enough. But come on—it’s Louis Armstrong. You can only nitpick for so long.)

Recorded in Chicago in 1927.

Ninety-nine years ago, ladies and gentlemen.

Allez hop, c’est parti pour une petite série afin d’essayer d’y comprendre quelque chose. Ce sera imparfait, incomplet, mais ça donnera une idée du truc.

Comment ça s’appelle ? Early Jazz, Hot Jazz, New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland, Traditional Jazz.

C’est quand ? Des années 1900 (mais on n’en sait pas grand-chose, les premiers enregistrements datant de 1917) à la fin des années 1920.

C’est qui ? Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong.

C’est où ? À New Orleans, pardi, ils sont tous de là-bas ! Mais aussi, après la Première Guerre mondiale, à Chicago et à New York, les musiciens étant partis vers le Nord.

Quels sont les instruments ? Trompette (ou cornet), clarinette, trombone, piano, batterie…

C’est né de quoi ? Du formidable mélange qu’était La Nouvelle-Orléans : blues, ragtime, gospel, musique classique européenne, traditions africaines, traditions caribéennes, musique des brass bands.

Ça ressemble à quoi ? À de l’improvisation collective, généralement assez joyeuse (mais pas toujours !).

Et on écoute quoi comme parfait exemple ?

Potato Head Blues.

(On pourra chipoter, car Armstrong y prend déjà de longs solos alors qu’on parlait d’improvisation collective. Certes. Mais bon, Louis Armstrong quoi. On ne peut pas chipoter trop longtemps non plus.)

Enregistré en 1927 à Chicago. Il y a 99 ans, mesdames et messieurs.