[Dixielandjazz] Greeks / New Orleans / Syncopated Music / Jazz Influence

[Steve barbone]

John Pappas <OArkas at aol.com> wrote:

Hi, Folks:  I don't know who invented what, and it's ok with me whatever the
truth is.  However I almost responded to the comment on rhythmic complexity
and then decided not to.  But when I saw this reply, I thought, "well,
that's what I was going to say."   You see, Greek folk music is my "meat and
potatoes."  I play C clarinet in Albert system, and our music uses 5/5, 7/8,
9/8, 7+5/8 (ie 12/8); and more, and all in different patterns:  ie 7/8 + 3/8
+ 2/8 + 2/8.  We dance to all these meters as well.  However, we haven't
even begun to discuss the modal system of our scales.  Yes, the pentatonic
scale is one of the most ancient and still used.  And all of this is western
music of the Greeks.  Old or archaic Swedish and Irish music (some surviving
tunes) also use some of the old modes. What does that have to do with Jazz? 
Maybe nothing, but certainly our western civilization had lots of complexity
in both meters and scales, long before jazz came around. I don't want to do
a big lecture, and I really hope I'm not boring folks [big grin]  but what
about improvisation.  That's the biggest part of our folk music!!! 
Embellishment and improvisation.  The big difference is that our solos don't
follow the chord progression, but instead work within the mode (or scale). I
think I love OKOM because in some ways it has the same freedom as my Greek
folk music.  Now, I just have to learn the "rules" and try to play some of
this OKOM on my Albert clarinets!!!!

---------------------------
Hi John & List Mates:
And some folks scoffed at Greek Music having any influence on New Orleans
Jazz. But they are WRONG. For Example some interesting items about probable
connections between Greece, Greek Music, New Orleans & Jazz:

THE ROOTS of the modern Mardi Gras go back to the earliest civilizations.  
>From the Persians to the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks.

The Hermes Parade during Mardi Gras always has a Greek theme. With beautiful
human statues of Aphrodite, and other Greek Gods and Goddesses. Some are
nude and body painted. All are beautiful people.

New Orleans had a Greek immigrant population in the 19th Century.

The oldest Greek Orthodox Church in America is on Robert E., Lee Boulevard
in New Orleans. Built in the 19th Century.

Every Memorial Day Weekend, this church Trinity Cathedral, is the focal
point of a 3 day Greek Festival sponsored by the N.O. Hellenic Cultural
Center.

Some sections of New Orleans abound in homage to the Greeks. In
architecture, the Garden District has a huge number of Greek Revival
Mansions and homes. Some of the warehouses in the warehouse district are
Greek Revival. Built during the 19th Century.

Major Streets in the Garden District were named for the 9 muses of Greek
Mythology in the mid 19th century. Calliope, Clio, Erato, Thalis, Melpomene,
Terpsichore, Euterpe, Palymnia and Urania.

And, as any Italian will tell you, Most Italians from Naples on South,
including Sicily also have Greek blood because of the various wars in that
part of the world from 1000 BC to 500 AD or so. Part of their heritage is
Greek. Some of my ancestors from Grandparents back are Greek.

So right on John, all that rhythmic complexity, syncopation and modality
most likely did have an influence on New Orleans Jazz. Certainly during the
19th Century, the city exhibited a fondness for Greek culture. Why wouldn't
that include Jazz? Either from Greek musicians who were there at the
beginning, or from those wonderful Italians whose heritage also included
knowledge of Greek Music.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone