louis
Dixieland Jazz

dixieland jazzNew Orleans Jazz ... ? Traditional Jazz ... ?

If you're an aspiring student of hot Dixieland jazz the pages around here should interest you. They're all about how hot jazz is played. 

Have a look at the site map here to help find your way around.

There are four projects -

Louis Armstrong Transcriptions

Improvisation Lessons

Band in a Box Songs

Jazz Tradition

 

okehLouis Armstrong Transcriptions   

Around 1900 something dramatic happened in New Orleans, a new music emerged which developed to an influential peak with the Hot 5 & Hot 7 recordings of Louis Armstrong. This was amazing music with an instant and lasting appeal. Listen - My Heart - wow!

How on earth did he do it?

 

tenor saxImprovisation Lessons

Listening to music is a pleasure but learning to play is much much more satisfying. Nobody said it was easy but it's well worth all the hard work! 

How can you do it

 

louis'Band in a Box' Songs - American Popular Songs & Lead Sheets 

Dixieland Jazz has a strong tradition which builds on the wonderful American popular songs written during the first half of the twentieth century. You have to know the songs, inside out and upside down and every which way.

What are these songs

 

dancingJazz Tradition

A great tree of popular music has evolved from the early innovations in New Orleans. An initial attempt to map and piece together the network of pleasure that has emerged. Music to  dance to?

 

stave notesPS Smithy Lane Stompers - have a go, do your own thing, make your own music ... that's jazz!? ... some personal escapades ... our own bit of jazz, bags of enthusiasm lousy sound, we tried for our own meagre pleasure and the gross amusement of others ... it was only a bit of fun!