By default, music knows no geographical or political boundaries.

It moves between people of different cultures and backgrounds nonchalantly, evolving and adapting relentlessly to resonate with players and listeners who love the beauty and unpredictability of this art form.

Yet there are certain moments and places that define the very essence of music. Often, these extraordinary circumstances happen when cultures can blend freely, transcending the borders so often delineated by social status or traditions.

In many ways, the sound born in the streets of New Orleans at the end of the 19th century defined the history of modern music on a global scale.

The raw energy of this music and the symbol it represented spread like wildfire, first in the Crescent City, then in the entire country, still marked by strong racial inequity and segregation.

New Orleans has always been a place where cultures collide. Over the years, this unique atmosphere has brought to life an astounding array of artistes and music styles, making it one of the most iconic cities in the world for musicians across all genres.

Today I’ll talk about jazz in New Orleans, how it came to be and why.

As it’s often the case, the story of a music genre coincides with the story of the people who brought it to life, and when it comes to jazz, the environment plays a fundamental role in telling this tale of joy and struggle, unity and division, life and death.

A MELTING POT IN THE CRESCENT CITY

Throughout the 19th century, the port of New Orleans was a crucial intersection for the trade of commodities and people, getting to the city from the Atlantic and later distributed across the country through the Mississippi River.

Despite hosting the biggest slave market in the US, New Orleans itself hosted a vibrant and perhaps the largest community of free people of colour in the country.

As a result, cultural heritage and traditions from Africa, Europe and Latin America could merge freely, especially in Congo Square, where African and Caribbean slaves were allowed to gather, make music and dance.

Since the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the population of New Orleans grew considerably thanks to the arrival of Irish, German and Italian migrants, which blended with the already-existing Francophone, African and Caribbean communities to further enrich the cultural texture of the city.

All in all, the role of commercial gateway that defined the early days of New Orleans became fertile soil from which jazz music sprouted.

THE BIRTH OF JAZZ

In this day and age, we're accustomed to artistes' getting the recognition they deserve, be it before or after their death.

The permanent digital records we have access to allow us to discover hidden gems wherever we look, and in retrospect, this gives us the opportunity to shine a light on the unsung heroes of jazz.

Yet, despite the knowledge and technologies at our disposal, there’s no one alive today who’s listened to the cornet of Buddy Bolden, a musician credited by many with having originated the jazz sound at the dawn of the 20th century.

Bolden and his band carefully blended ragtime and blues, adding elements of Western classical music and Caribbean rhythms to their sound.

Mostly improvised, their powerful performances became a source of inspiration for the new generation of artistes in New Orleans.

Before the famous artistes who followed him, like Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton and Bunk Johnson, Bolden experimented with all the genres that existed at the time.

From black sacred to brass-band music, he drew inspiration from every sound the culturally diverse 20th-century New Orleans had to offer.

In 1907, at the age of 30, Bolden had an episode of alcoholic psychosis. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia shortly after and admitted to a mental institution, where he spent the rest of his life until he died in 1931.

Nevertheless, his legend still lives.

THOSE WHO DEFINED THE STYLE

The intensity of jazz made it the hottest genre in town in the early 20th century, with artistes coming from all social classes performing in the now-legendary red-light district, Storyville.

Among them, composer Jelly Roll Morton helped innovate and expand the scope of New Orleans jazz with compositions that enhanced the complexity and depth of the new genre.

We can’t write an article on New Orleans jazz without mentioning ODJB, also known as the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Their record "Livery Stable Blues" was a massive hit in 1917 and transformed jazz from a local to a national phenomenon. They also helped standardise the jazz line-up with five musicians and recorded dozens of jazz standards that have defined the genre since.

With the success of jazz, New Orleans musicians started travelling extensively, mostly moving north because of better job opportunities and a more tolerant atmosphere towards people of colour.

Chicago, New York and Philadelphia were becoming the new homes for jazz, and each city, in turn, brought to life a distinctive sound.

Despite that and the decreasing quality of life, New Orleans was still a cauldron of creativity.

So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that when the legendary Joe "King" Oliver started looking for a new cornet player for his band in Chicago, he went back to his native city and found a young Louis Armstrong ready to fill the role.

First as a member of Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and then as bandleader during the Age of the Soloist, Armstrong experienced and led every revolution of jazz music, which gradually shifted away from its African-American and New Orleans roots to become the sound of America as a whole.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ TODAY

Today, jazz institutions in New Orleans abound. From the laid-back vibe of trumpeter and entertainer Kermit Ruffins to the more refined style of Jeremy Davenport, the streets of the Crescent City are still brimming with life.

Multi-instrumentalist Trombone Shorty has become a household name in New Orleans thanks to an addictive sound and extensive repertoire, ranging from traditional jazz to funk and rock.

At just 37, he's one of the most prolific and successful jazz artistes from New Orleans.

The Trombone Shorty Foundation provides musical instruments to schools in the city to ensure the music legacy of New Orleans continues unimpeded by social struggles.

Finally, the immense Terence Blanchard.

The warm, timeless sound explored by Blanchard is a trademark, drawing inspiration from the sound of his city and combining it with the cinematic textures that made his soundtracks unforgettable.

His award-winning compositions established him as one of the most iconic contemporary musicians from the Crescent City and breathed new life into the music that originated there.

Standing on the shoulders of giants, jazz musicians from New Orleans continue shaping the sound of the future.

Put on your best headphones and check out the best jazz tunes here:

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Cover: Kermit Ruffins. Credit: Derek Bridges

Writer | Marco Sebastiano Alessi

Marco is an Italian music producer, composer and writer. He’s the founder of Naviar Records, a music community and record label exploring the connection between experimental electronic music and traditional Japanese poetry.