Dixieland Band

Summary

A Dixieland band is a traditional jazz ensemble that originated in New Orleans in the early 20th century. This style of music is characterized by collective improvisation, where multiple instruments simultaneously create variations on the melody while maintaining individual lines.

The sound is energetic and polyphonic, with each instrument playing a distinct role:

• The trumpet/cornet typically leads with the main melody

• The clarinet weaves elaborate countermelodies

• The trombone provides sliding bass lines and harmonies

• The rhythm section (consisting of banjo/guitar, tuba/bass, and drums) maintains the driving, syncopated beat.

The music performed by Dixieland bands often includes ragtime tunes, blues, spirituals, and popular songs of the era, all adapted into the distinctive New Orleans style. This format became one of the earliest and most influential forms of jazz, laying the groundwork for many subsequent jazz styles and continuing to influence musicians today.

Instrumentation

1 Trumpet/ Cornet

1 Trombone

1 Clarinet

1 Banjo/ Guitar

1 Tuba/ String Bass

1 Drumset

1 Piano (optional)

Notable Works for Dixieland Band

• "When the Saints Go Marching In" - Traditional, popularized by Louis Armstrong

• "Tiger Rag" - Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1917)

• "Muskrat Ramble" - Kid Ory (1926)

• "Basin Street Blues" - Spencer Williams (1928)

• "Royal Garden Blues" - Clarence Williams and Spencer Williams (1919)

• "Tin Roof Blues" - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (1923)

• "High Society" - Porter Steele (1901)

• "Dippermouth Blues" - King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band (1923)

• "Milenberg Joys" - Jelly Roll Morton, Leon Roppolo, and Paul Mares (1925)

• "Fidgety Feet" - Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1918)

Notable Current Dixieland Bands

• Preservation Hall Jazz Band (New Orleans, Louisiana) - One of the most renowned traditional jazz ensembles, performing since 1961

• Dukes of Dixieland (New Orleans, Louisiana) - Founded in 1974, continuing the legacy of the original 1948 band

• Original Tuxedo Jazz Band (New Orleans, Louisiana) - One of the oldest continuously performing jazz bands, founded in 1910

• Palm Court Jazz Band (New Orleans, Louisiana) - Regular performers at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe in since 1989

• Yerba Buena Jazz Band (San Francisco, California) - Continuing the West Coast traditional jazz style

• French Quarter Jazz Band (New Orleans, Louisiana) - Known for authentic New Orleans style performances since 1961

• Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble (New Orleans, Louisiana) - Focused on historically accurate performances of early jazz

• New Black Eagle Jazz Band (Boston, Massachusetts) - Active since 1971, known for traditional New Orleans jazz

Sources

• Brunn, H. O. (2021). "The Evolution of Dixieland Jazz: A Historical Perspective." Journal of Jazz Studies, 15(2), 78-94.

• Williams, M. (2023). "New Orleans Jazz: Origins and Development." Oxford University Press.

• The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2024). Oxford Music Online.

• Tirro, F. (2022). Jazz: A History (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.

• Schuller, G. (2020). Early Jazz: Its Roots and Musical Development. Oxford University Press.

• Stearns, M. (2023). The Story of Jazz (Updated ed.). Oxford University Press.

• Library of Congress Music Division. (2024). "Jazz Collections and Archives."

• Smithsonian Jazz. (2024). "Historical Jazz Recordings and Documentation."