In the Groove: The Rise of Jazz Music

Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong (1901-1971) was a New Orleans jazz musician who has not only been called the greatest but also has been called the definition of jazz music. We are most familiar with Armstrong for songs like "It's a Wonderful World," but songs such as "Stardust" defined the history of jazz music. While Armstrong lived in Chicago during the era of the Harlem Renaissance, his influence upon the genre of music was far-reaching, even to the clubs and cabarets of Harlem. During the 1920s, he worked with artists such as Bessie Smith and gained acclaim for his own music with the Hot Five and the Hot Seven bands.

"Star Dust" is the quintessential Louis Armstrong, the bridge between the Harlem Renaissance and the swing music that was to come. It was recorded November 4, 1931. Armstrong was an inspiration for everyone, even the singers that were to follow. Bing Crosby once said that Armstrong was "the beginning and the end of music in America."

Before there was pop, rock, or rap, there was jazz. Jazz was the heart and soul of the African-American during the Harlem Renaissance. Literature, such as the poems of Langston Hughes reflected the rhythm of jazz. The music is a combination of an AABA meter and the tone of African-American folk music. Jazz and blues both enjoyed success during the Renaissance. To differentiate, jazz is more upbeat, usually played by a band or orchestra, while blues are normally played on the piano and vocalized by one person. The movement of blacks from the south to the north brought the jazz of places like New Orleans and Memphis to cities like Harlem.

Edward "Duke" Ellington (1899-1971) brought the use of the orchestra to jazz music. During the era of the Harlem Renaissance, Ellington was the leader of the Washingtonians, a group of friends he played with from Washington, D.C. The group played in the Hollywood Club in Manhattan, which was later renamed the Kentucky Club. Ellington's greatest success came when his band was offered the house band job at the Cotton Club (a jazz club for whites during the Harlem Renaissance and the 1920s). This opportunity brought Ellington fame, as the performances were broadcast on the radio. Ellington reflected the ideals of the Harlem Renaissance in his belief of a central African-American history and culture. Ellington once said, "I contend that the Negro is the creative voice of America, is creative America, and it was a happy day...when the first unhappy slave landed on its shores."

"The Mooche" was recorded October 1, 1928, from his days at the Cotton Club. This song is symbolic of Ellington's style during the time--inventive, sensual, and mysterious.