[Dixielandjazz] The origins of Jazz

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Well !   My next mission in life is gong to be to bring back to 
prominence and preserve Orgies, ! :))

Now how did us Jazzers ever let that most important aspect of Jazz ever 
stop ??

I shall hence forth change the name of my band to the "Group Grope 
Brass Band"  and will launch a new tour to Rape ( only those who 
consent  willingly however)   Plunder and Pillage your Villages,  now 
where did I put that fifty gallon drum of Geritol and Viagra :))

But since we all know about Jazz musicians we know that the Raping will 
happen by the villagers so happy to see so many musicians come to town.

Oh my oh my,  I can see it now the Great Jazz Orgy Festival tickets on 
sale now.

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins



-----Original Message-----
From: barbonestreet at earthlink.net
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 11:01 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] The origins of Jazz

    Here is some information that I have in my files about the origins 
of jazz.
If true, jazz roots go a lot further back into history and are directly
linked to Africa. For sure, one cannot ignore the West African Dahomey
influence in 18th century New Orleans, and the West Indies prior to 
that.

Depending upon the gig audience, I sometimes draw from this to give 
insights
between numbers. Especially the licentious parts, when we are in front 
of a
lot of young people. :-) VBG

Cheers,
Steve Barbone


The history of jazz is steeped in the mysterious. This can only be so 
since
its origins can be traced way back to the mysteries of the temple 
rituals of
ancient, pagan Babylon. In fact its origins are purely religious, being 
an
integral part of orgies and devil worship. This entire system of pagan
worship, including the music, eventually filtered down into Egypt.

Egypt is where modern historians directly trace the origins of jazz 
music.
In fact we know quite a lot about music in Egypt. We know for a fact 
that it
was used to alter the emotions, it was used to create mass hypnosis and
especially to incite immorality. We also know what type of rhythms and
harmonies were used and we can clearly recognize the elements of Jazz.
Aristotle writing about the effects of this music says,

"Emotions of any kind are produced by melody and rhythm...music has the
power to form character. The manner of its arrangement being so 
important
that the various modes may be distinguished by their effects on 
character.
One for example, working in the direction of melancholy, another of
effeminacy; one encouraging abandonment, another self control, another
enthusiasm, and so on through the series."

These effects on character we will see in more detail a little later. 
Plato
himself, however, gives us an insight into these effects.

"When modes of music change, the fundamental laws of the state always 
change
with them (for) this spiritual license, finding a home, imperceptibly
penetrates into manners and customs; whence, issuing with greater 
force, it
invades contracts between man and man, and from contracts goes on to 
laws
and constitutions, in utter recklessness, ending at last, by an 
overthrow of
all rights, private as well as public."

"From ancient Egypt, it spread to West Africa, including Dahomey and the
Congo. A significant dance tradition derived from the Egyptians is 
found in
the western Congo." In fact this dance called the "Danse du ventre" 
could be
mistaken for modern dance in that "the shoulders, buttocks, stomach and
breasts are all separately or simultaneously rotated, wagged or 
otherwise
set in motion." (ibid.) In fact a similar dance is the Voodoo, which is 
also
a religion, and its origin is traceable to Dahomey. Music in these 
African
cultures is intricately involved in devil worship, altering the 
conscious
state and inciting sexual orgies. This music subsequently found its way
across the Atlantic to America aboard slave ships.

"Enroute to the United States many slaves were taken first to the West
Indies, especially Hispaniola; then after a time many were sold in New
Orleans. They brought with them their religious and musical heritage. 
Those
 from Santo Domingo had retained their ancient Voodoo worship practices 
and
continued them in New Orleans."

"One of the most exotic sights in old New Orleans was the slave dancing 
that
took place in the ŒPlace Congo¹. The slaves¹ custom of assembling on 
Sundays
and church holy days to dance in public squares must have begun before 
1786,
for in that year a local ordinance was passed forbidding such dancing 
until
after the close of religious services."

"The exposure of this African music and dance tradition to the public
provided an opportunity for it to influence and be influenced by 
European
musical tradition. The unique rhythmical emphasis of these dances plus 
many
other ingredients and entertainment practices combined to form a music
called JAZZ. Authorities agree that work songs from cotton fields, 
rural and
urban blues, banjo styles from minstrel shows, syncopated brass bands 
and
ragtime, all played an important part. Even Voodoo had its influence on
jazz.". "The syncopation as a primary ingredient of jazz developed as a
rhythmic accommodation of the Africans. Syncopation was the nearest and 
best
substitute for the complicated polyrhythms that were an integral part of
their musical heritage." It is this syncopation that causes music to
"swing".

Jazz, the precursor of modern rock and roll, has a very interesting 
place in
history. The name Jazz comes from the now defunct word jass, which 
means the
sexual act." Jazz to the pagan is a symptom of a glorious release from 
the
bonds of moral restraint. It came from the slums of music; it corrupted
taste and manners." In fact jazz music was mainly developed for use by 
piano
players in brothels, and larger bands in nearby honky tonks.


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