| When I've had a belly full of the | | | | man became in time a little lighter, and the |
| complexities of current events I find a jazz | | | | white man often a little darker.The French |
| band in some out of the way place and retreat | | | | and the Spanish, the African tribesmen often |
| for awhile into melody with a big beat.For | | | | with royal chief's blood under their heavy |
| those of you who are turned on by horns, I | | | | muscles - and even the Indian peering in - |
| recommend a small watering place in Cleveland | | | | the long boats from Kentucky, and the Yankee |
| called the Lake Shore Club.There, Ted Witt | | | | mountain men in buckskin fringes - in for a |
| and his Forest City Jazz Band hold forth on | | | | big bust and swallowing of untaxed whiskey - |
| Saturday nights with the best music this side | | | | all wanted music, and helped make it, said |
| of New Orleans.Located through the courtyard | | | | Longstreet.New Orleans mixed it all up, and |
| of an old motel, it is not the kind of joint | | | | churned it around, and made it a part of a |
| you would wander into cold turkey. But, take | | | | new nation - that was part of a New World |
| my word, the surroundings are pleasant, the | | | | where anything could happen.Today we call it |
| drinks unadulterated, the prices average, the | | | | history. But then it was simple people, wild |
| food good and the clientele well dressed | | | | people, pioneers and men on their way up in a |
| without ostentation.I was introduced to jazz | | | | hurry. All sang a lot and stomped around to |
| while stationed at the U.S. Naval base in Key | | | | music.Whether it was in the Congo jungle of |
| West during World War II. The best | | | | Africa or in the tromped-down grass of Congo |
| honky-tonk in town had a small jazz combo of | | | | Square in New Orleans, it was rhythm that |
| venerable black players, but the soul jerking | | | | started it all.Music and dancing, said the |
| notes poured out on those Sunday afternoons | | | | white slave masters, made the Negroes too |
| after church when the "colored folks" (their | | | | tired to work hard, so the wild people from |
| term) conducted a funeral.No matter what day | | | | Africa just clapped their hands at first.Then |
| of the week a black person might happen to | | | | they made a drum on the sly and brought it |
| meet his Maker, the funeral was held on | | | | out - when the Master was off somewhere else |
| Sunday. Then the fishermen would be home, no | | | | subduing the passions of his own wild country |
| one would lose wages, and the mood of | | | | - to remind them of their native jungles.An |
| religious contemplation would be | | | | old horn was snitched from some white man's |
| deepest.After regular morning services, | | | | junk heap, or maybe a rusty old banjo was |
| lengthened by a substantial eulogy to the | | | | given by a keel boatman from Ohio who didn't |
| deceased, the march to the grave yard began. | | | | give a damn about plantations and cotton |
| The coffin rode in one mule-drawn wagon and | | | | anyway.At last the Negro had become part of |
| an assembly of horn players in another. The | | | | musical America. He was ready to add a sense |
| mourners marched behind in swallow-tail | | | | of freedom and lusty beat that created a new |
| suits, high hats and formal dresses.The | | | | musical art form peculiar to the United |
| parade to the cemetery was somber and | | | | States.In time, jazz evolved through a |
| featured plaintive hymns such as "Just A | | | | variety of forms - spirituals, marches, cake |
| Closer Walk With Thee," "Old Rugged Cross," | | | | walks, ragtime, blues and swing. But the |
| "Amazing Grace," and "Will the Circle Be | | | | basic foundation was always twelve 4-4 bars |
| Unbroken." Now, 30 years later, these tunes | | | | of singable notes.Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong |
| nearly break me up as bittersweet memories | | | | was the last of the Golden Generation of jazz |
| flood back.The return from the cemetery, | | | | musicians. Today we rely on the artistry of |
| however, was jubilant as the marchers | | | | Pete Fountain, Turk Murphy, Al Hirt and Ted |
| asserted their faith that their departed | | | | Witt to carry on the glorious tradition of |
| companion was well on his way to a just | | | | authentic jazz.Ted Witt is great on the |
| reward in heaven. Of course there was "When | | | | licorice stick and still belts out a few |
| The Saints Come Marching In," "Washed In The | | | | numbers on the "fish horn" soprano sax made |
| Blood of Jesus," and "Down By The Riverside." | | | | famous by Sidney Bechet. Ted's other front |
| But there was also a lot of high stepping to | | | | men, Emmett Wiley on the slip horn and Dick |
| "Georgia Cakewalk," "High Society" and | | | | Petscher on trumpet, are ably supported by |
| "Muskrat Ramble."It was a meaningful blend of | | | | John Bittance on bass, Bert Smith at the |
| sorrow, reverence, and Christian faith in a | | | | piano, Al Gutheim on the skins, and Bill |
| better life here after.Since those days - now | | | | Morehead on banjo.Somehow, when those guys |
| gone I am told by travelers to the | | | | cut loose, such things as the economy, |
| southern-most Florida Key - I have pursued | | | | Watergate, and Mideast wars don't seem all |
| the blue and golden notes in New Orleans, | | | | that important.September 18, 1974 |
| Nashville, St. Louis, Memphis, and Chicago. | | | | |
| For there, in the Mississippi Valley, is the | | | | .Click here to see this article on Lindsey |
| true home of American jazz.Strangely however, | | | | Williams's website.Lindsey Williams is a Sun |
| I have found the most creative practitioners | | | | columnist who can be contacted at: or |
| of this unique American music in Key West, | | | | Website: with over a thousand of Lin's |
| Cleveland, New York, and San Francisco. One | | | | Editorial & At Large articles written over 40 |
| of the characteristics that has made jazz | | | | years.Also featured in its entirety is Lin's |
| great is its ability to be exported, and to | | | | groundbreaking book "Boldly Onward," that |
| be assimilated by diverse cultural | | | | critically analyzes and develops theories |
| communities.Where did it all start?Stephen | | | | about the original Spanish explorers of |
| Longstreet, the jazz historian, says it is | | | | America. |
| best to begin in New Orleans, where the black | | | | |