[Dixielandjazz] Is Nick LaRocca the creator of Jazz

[macjazz]

The possible answer is in the dichotomy between the races at the time.



La Rocca was raised on one side of the "tracks" and "people of color" were 
raised on the other.  While there may have been some crossover musically 
(most notably in Storyville and possibly other areas in New Orleans), there 
really was very little communication or understanding of anything going on 
outside each individuals part of society.  There was also the concept that 
"people of color" couldn't really accomplish very much. They just didn't 
have the ability. (Consider in our own recent past the reluctance to have a 
black quarterback on your football time and the current dearth of Afro 
American coaches at the college level.)



La Rocca may have inadvertently heard or even known of some hot music.  But 
since he was the first and certainly the foremost in the white (or what he 
considered to be the "existing" society) there was no question in his mind 
that he invented jazz.



Please note, this is not in any way, nor is it intended to be the playing of 
any kind of a "race" card.  It is a historical review of the society as it 
existed at that time.


Mart

Martin D. McKay, Designated Listener


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Petters" <jdpetters at btinternet.com>
To: "Martin D. McKay" <macjazz at comcast.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 6:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Is Nick LaRocca the creator of Jazz


> Hi Marek,
> Whilst I disagree with La Rocca's claim to be the inventer of jazz, same 
> as I disagree with Jelly, it is easy for folk to overlook what he did 
> achieve.
> The ODJB was a hard driving band. Yes their improvisations may have been 
> limited - but these were early days and the world had not had the joy of 
> Armstrong.
> Notice how rhthmically free the band was compared to early Fletcher 
> Henderson for example - or the the Wolverines.
>
> I think being born in New Orleans at that time had more to do with playing 
> jazz than the race card although I will maintain it was the Afro Americans 
> who were the superior players in those days.
>
> For my money the 1936 sides by the ODJB are desert Island discs, 
> especially Tiger Rag. There is a pretty rough transcription here
> http://www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ODJB/tigerrag3.ram
> but if you don't have the record give it a spin.
> The rideout chorus is a gas.
> La Rocca sounds a bit like Keppard. Sbarbaro is magnificent.
>
> Cheers
> John
>
> Marek Boym wrote:
>> It seems that the sarcasm is unwarranted, as is making fun of Ms.
>> LaRocca.  She is family, so she tries to reestablish Nick LaRocca's
>> place in history.  And the New Orleans source is family, too.
>>
>> I've read a bookabout the ODJB, written apparently in the 1950's, in
>> which the author reiterated Nick LaRocca's claim to have invented jazz
>> as absolute truth.
>> So?
>> OK, we know better, but we don't know everything.  Whites in New
>> Orleans have been playing jazz at least almost as long as blacks.  So
>> that LaRocca's claim to have invented jazz is not more preposterous
>> than Jelly Roll Morton's.  And if neither really sired jazz, they sure
>> were there on time to rock the cradle.
>> Cheers,
>> Marek
>>
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>
> -- 
> John Petters
> Amateur Raduio Station G3YPZ
> www.traditional-jazz.com
>
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