Jes Grew

Jesse Walker | December 1, 2006

From Rob Walker's NO Notes blog, an editorial reportedly published in the New Orleans Times-Picayune on June 20, 1918 -- "the same year," Walker notes, "that Louis Armstrong took King Oliver's place in Kid Ory's band." Here's the lede:

Why is the jass music, and therefore, the jass band? As well ask why is the dime novel or the grease-dripping doughnut? All are manifestations of a low streak in man's tastes that has not yet come out in civilization's wash. Indeed, one might go farther, and say that jass music is the indecent story syncopated and counter-pointed. Like the improper anecdote, also in its youth, it was listened to blushingly, behind closed doors and drawn curtains, but, like all vice, it grew bolder until it dared decent surroundings, and there, was tolerated because of its oddity.

Here's the Lovecraftian peak:

Prominently, in the basement hall of rhythm, is found rag-time, and of those most devoted to the cult of the displaced accent there has developed a brotherhood of those who, devoid of harmonic and even of melodic instinct, love to fairly wallow in noise. On certain natures sound loud and meaningless has an exciting, almost an intoxicating effect, like crude colors and strong perfumes, the sight of flesh or the sadic pleasure in blood.

And here's the wrapup:

Its musical value is nil, and its possibilities of harm are great.

N.B.: This source dates the editorial to June 17, 1917. Between the competing dates of origin and the prose that almost screams "Put a 'Kick Me' sign on my back," I have to raise the possibility that the article is an urban legend. Caveat lector.

The whole essay is here. Walker's blog, which is mostly devoted to tracking the history of the song "St. James Infirmary" and its variations ("The Streets of Laredo," "The Unfortunate Rake," "Gambler's Blues," "Gambling Barroom Blues," "The Cowboy's Lament," "The Maiden's Lament," "The Bad Girl's Lament," "Blind Willie McTell," etc.) is here. One of my favorite versions of "St. James Infirmary" is here. Robert Anton Wilson, writing as "Heinrich von Hankopf," explores the deeper, darker roots of the Cult of the Displaced Accent here.

Update: Walker reassures us that both the article and the 1918 date are legitimate.

Comments

The Wine Commonsewer|12.1.06 @ 11:31AM|#

Jesse, I love this stuff.

I heard listening to Jass will make you go blind.

|12.1.06 @ 11:34AM|#

The awful movie "The Forbidden Zone" is almost made watchable by the scene where Danny Elfman, as the devil, leads "St. James Infirmary". It almost seems as if the movie were a sorry excuse to film that one good scene.

|12.1.06 @ 11:38AM|#

You'll noticed he dissed ragtime too. What a philistine.

|12.1.06 @ 12:00PM|#

I always wonder what these critics would have made of death metal, gangsta rap, acid house, or gothic industrial...

Franklin Harris|12.1.06 @ 1:18PM|#

One of my favorite versions of "St. James Infirmary" is here.

I knew that was going to link to the Cab Calloway/Betty Boop version.

|12.1.06 @ 1:53PM|#

...tracking the history of the song "St. James Infirmary" and its variations...

Then there's Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning by the great Rev. Gary Davis...

|12.1.06 @ 2:51PM|#

I must admit, I do like to fairly wallow in noise.

Can't imagine what this writer would have made of Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler, Sonny Sharrock, Anthony Braxton, Derek Bailey or John Zorn.

|12.1.06 @ 5:42PM|#

I read a book about Chicago's early jazz scene, and I recall that it quoted some similar news items from the Chicago papers. Can't find where I put the book, or I'd look up some quotes. Good scholarly book, it was.

|12.1.06 @ 7:21PM|#

Its musical value is nil, and its possibilities of harm are great.
Indeed it's harm was great. From the fusion of jazz and blues we got Elvis, the devil's spawn!

|12.1.06 @ 8:28PM|#

Am I the only person who finds jazz boring, and who doesn't think being obsessed with jazz makes you sophisticated?

I mean, it's fine if you like that sort of thing. I just don't see why we need a 50-part Ken Burns documentary on the subject, full of people stroking their chins and murmuring about the incredible artistry of Charlie the Bird Man or whoever. I think I'd sooner watch a documentary on model train enthusiasts.

|12.2.06 @ 3:21AM|#

God bless New Orleans

|12.2.06 @ 1:23PM|#

Geez, this probably would have made the writer's head explode:

Mashup of ragtime and eminem

|12.2.06 @ 2:01PM|#

Caveat lector.

Jesse Walker|12.2.06 @ 3:57PM|#

Fixed.