LESSON #4
Classic New Orleans Style,
Part 1
This lesson supports the following GOALS:
[Goal #1] Students will gain an appreciation of traditional jazz and the continuing value of this music.
[Goal #2] Students will become acquainted with the variety of styles within the traditional jazz genre, and with some of its major figures.
This lesson supports the following OBJECTIVES:
1.1 Students will become acquainted with what well-played traditional jazz sounds like.
2.6 Students will become acquainted with what the Classic New Orleans Style of traditional jazz sounds like.
2.7 Students will become acquainted with the distinguishing characteristics of the Classic New Orleans Style.
2.8 Students will become acquainted with some of the pioneers of the Classic New Orleans Style.
RATIONALE: Many historically important jazz masterpiece recordings were done in the Classic New Orleans Style, and an understanding of this style is essential.
NATIONAL STANDARDS SUPPORTED: See Appendix C.
KIT COMPONENTS:
■ Audio:
• Track 3, “Canal Street Blues” by Chris Tyle’s Silver Leaf Jazz Band
• Track 4, “Snake Rag” by King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
• Track 6, “Potato Head Blues” by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven
King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
ACTIVITY (app. 35 minutes):
1. Prepare the students for the audio tracks by sharing the elements of the Classic New Orleans Style as outlined in the Style Guide (app. 5 minutes).
2. Play online audio track 3, “Canal Street Blues” by Chris Tyle’s Silver Leaf Jazz Band (app. 5 minutes). This is an example of a modern-day performance in this style. This performance is patterned after the sound of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, which will be heard next. This track includes one of the clinicians in the video segments, drummer Hal Smith (presented in Lesson #8).
3. Discuss with the students their impressions of the audio track (app. 5 minutes). How many of the described stylistic elements were they able to hear? (See accompanying table)
4. Play online audio track 4, “Snake Rag” by King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, 1923 (app. 5 minutes). This was a Chicago-based band of ex-New Orleans pioneers including cornetists King Oliver and a young Louis Armstrong (who will be seen in the video segment in Lesson #7), clarinetist Johnny Dodds, and his brother, drummer Baby Dodds (who will be seen in the video segment in Lesson #8).
5. Discuss with the students their impressions of the audio track (app. 5 minutes). How many of the described stylistic elements were they able to hear? (See accompanying table)
6. Play online audio track 6, “Potato Head Blues” by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven, 1927 (app. 5 minutes). This track includes the Dodds brothers heard on the King Oliver track. This is one of a series of groundbreaking early recordings made by Louis under his own name, containing one of his most famous solos.
7. Discuss with the students their impressions of the audio track (app. 5 minutes). How many of the described stylistic elements were they able to hear? (See accompanying table) Were they able to hear Armstrong’s rhythmic and harmonic adventurousness?
EVALUATION: Do the students understand the elements of the Classic New Orleans Style?
Stylistic Elements Chart:
Classic New Orleans Style
The students should be able to hear elements of the style approximately as outlined above. These are subjective judgements; allow for disagreements.
© 2014 David Robinson, Jr.