[Ads-l] Possible area for JAZZ antedating

[Ben Zimmer]

Here's another article from 11/12/16, from The New Orleans Item (also
via GenealogyBank):

-----
New Orleans Item, Nov. 12, 1916, p. 3, col. 1
'Jas Bands' Originated in Orleans, Is Claim
New Orleans citizens at large may not know that northern cities are
taking credit for one of their established institutions, technically
known as the "jas bands." That these bands are peculiar to New
Orleans, or at least were so, until their recent importation to
Chicago, is well known, but to give them formal recognition, the
theatrical employes of New Orleans have planned what they call a "jas
parade." This parade will be led by the best bands obtainable and will
traverse the principal streets in automobiles on November 23, the date
of the "stage employes" ball at the Washington Artillery hall. It has
been but a few weeks since a Chicago correspondent to a New York
theatrical journal credited Chciago with having originated something
new in the "jas band." The New Orleans correspondent of the same paper
has refuted the claim, citing the fact that these bands were known in
New Orleans, even before the existence of the "tango belt," where they
flourish at present, and that if there is any credit attached to their
existence, that it rightly belongs to New Orleans. All of the
theatrical employes of the city will be in the parade, as well as
delegations of actors playing the theaters on that date. Their present
ball differs from previous ones in that it is to be a masquerade.
-----

On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Ben Zimmer wrote:
>
> For reference, the earliest New Orleans reference to "jazz" that I've
> seen is from the Nov. 12, 1916 issue of the newspaper The New Orleans
> States (via GenealogyBank). This is two days earlier than the New
> Orleans Picayune article that I reported on here:
>
> http://www.vocabulary.com/articles/wordroutes/jazz-a-tale-of-three-cities/
>
> Both articles are about New Orleans stage hands preparing a "jas
> parade" as part of their annual ball, as a way for New Orleans to
> stake its proper claim to jazz (the music, if not the word), which was
> already heavily associated with Chicago. Text of the 11/12/16 article
> follows below.
>
> -----
> New Orleans States, Nov. 12, 1916, p. 16, col. 5
> 'Jas Band' Purely MINO Product
> Stage Employes Rally to Block Chicago Claim
> New Orleans laurels are again in danger. A recent article in a New
> York theatrical journal credited Chicago with having discovered a new
> form of music known as the "jas band," and predicted that the city by
> the lake had adopted it for its latest fad.
> Investigation proves that the "jas bands" have flourished in the New
> Orleans tango belts, and have frequently been heard on the New Orleans
> streets for many years prior to the advent of the cabarets, and that
> the Chicago organizations are nothing more than imitations of the real
> thing in this form of music.
> Now, in order that the "jas bands" receive formal recognition in New
> Orleans, the theatrical employes of the city are planning a big "jas
> band" parade for November 23, the same being the date of the annual
> ball of the stage employes. They have engaged the best and largest of
> the "jas bands" and have chartered a flock of automobiles for the
> occasion. For this occasion, the "boys behind the scenes" are coming
> out into the open, and they are going to have the actors and actresses
> as their guests, both in the parade and at the ball at night.
> -----
>
>On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 8:37 AM, Shapiro, Fred wrote:
>>
>> In addition to San Francisco and Chicago, I believe the evidence for the word
>> "jazz" from San Antonio and Indianapolis also predates that for New Orleans.
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 8:10 AM, Shapiro, Fred wrote:
>>>
>>> Assuming that the research area Dave is suggesting involves the word "jazz"
>>> (as opposed to musical developments under other names), it should be emphasized
>>> that there is considerable evidence that the word developed in San Francisco and
>>> Chicago rather than in New Orleans.
>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:22 AM, Dave Hause wrote:
>>>>
>>>> A random discovery that could lead to unexplored areas for those interested.
>>>> The excerpt below is about 2/3 of the way down the page and I think this may
>>>> be a little earlier than some of the posters here have mentioned.
>>>> Dave Hause
>>>>
>>>> http://www.risingsunbnb.com/the-song
>>>>
>>>> "The 1888 city directory listed a Rising Sons of Liberty Hall on the east
>>>> side of Valence Street between Camp and Chestnut Streets. It does not appear
>>>> in the 1889 directory but is listed from 1890 to 1897 as the Rising Sons of
>>>> Liberty Benevolent Association (colored). It is listed from 1901 to 1903 as
>>>> the Rising Sun Hall, 1019 Valence Street with no further mentions after
>>>> that.
>>>>
>>>> "Also from 1890 to 1897 is listed the Rising Sun Hall on Clinton Street
>>>> between DeArmas and Macarty Streets in the 7th District, not to be confused
>>>> with the previous one. Across the street on the same block was the Morning
>>>> Star Society Hall from 1885 to 1894. The street names changed in 1895 to
>>>> 1897 and an address is given – 258 Cherokee between Mississippi and Macarty
>>>> Streets.
>>>>
>>>> "These halls were benevolent association halls and at the height of their
>>>> popularity around the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th
>>>> centuries. They were the birthplaces of the new music of the time called
>>>> Jazz."

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org