Emergence of jazz

New Orleans being the prosperous city at the turn of the 20^th century did not contributed much to the emergence of jazz but in so many ways paved the way, beginning with creating and establishing a rich and diverse melting pot. On another note during slavery and following African Americans were given a sort of freedom in the sense of being able to come together collectively in one area and play their music such as what occurred in Congo Square. With this mass migration of people in such a small confined area other catastrophic epidemics as well as the expansion of the railroad diffused New Orleans population, having two different affects, for example with such epidemics as the yellow fever in many ways created subject matter for musicians and with the expansion of the railroads many New Orleans jazz musicians relocated up north resulting in New Orleans jazz becoming influential.

As stated New Orleans being the melting pot as it was known and having such areas as the red-light District  it created an avenue during the decline of the city for the mass amount of unemployed as well as a place were “risky” music such as jazz could be played. With the area as the Red-light District many African Americans were able to escape the harsh and brutal reality of death, unemployment and even racial injustices. According to Gioia who credits the emergence of jazz to the mass migration as well as the mixing and blending of cultures such as the interaction between blacks and black creoles. In concluding, it is my opinion that similar to how New Orleans was creating itself into what it was known as the melting pot and creating a free enough environment were Blacks could come together to express themselves assisted along with the racial barriers being crossed between the blacks and the black Creole, resulting in influences of other music such as ragtime.