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