Home » History of Jazz Timeline: 1930
History of Jazz Timeline: 1930
Armstrong is by now enunciating no more than one beat per measure. His music swings like nothing before. Swing is under way. Louie is recording more excellent big band Swing sides such as St Louis Blues, Dallas Blues, Confessin, If I Could Be With You, and others. Listen to Columbia CD St Louis Blues - Louis Armstrong - Vol 6, JSP CD Big Band - Vol 1, Classics CD Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra 1929-1930 or Classics CD Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra 1930-1931.
Armstrong's manager is now small time hood Joe Glaser. Glaser will make Louie rich but will lead him to commerciality.
Ellington records his first big hit in October, a masterpiece of tone color called Dreamy Blues (aka Mood Indigo).
Duke Ellington travels to Hollywood to appear in the movie Check and Double Check with Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll starring as Amos 'n Andy. Ellington retains his integrity even though the stars are middle-aged whites in blackface and the plot is demeaning to blacks. The story revolves around two dimwitted fellows from Georgia who move to Chicago and start the Fresh Air Taxi Company of America Incorpulated with only one topless taxicab.
Young people begin to revolt against the standard of "niceness". "Express your true feelings" becomes a catch phrase (much like the 60's).
Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster debuts with the Gene Coy band and then joins the Jug Allen band.
With Coleman Hawkins and his followers Ben Webster and the young Chu Berry and his only competitor at the time Lester Young, the saxophone, in general, and the tenor saxophone, in particular, becomes a major competitor of the trumpet/cornet in Jazz. Recall that the cornet was king in New Orleans Jazz. The faster changes which a sax allows begins to push the trombone out of Jazz.
Walter Page and Buster Smith of the Blue Devils walk past a little club in Minneapolis and hear a tenor sax playing "After You've Gone." The tenor style is new and spare compared to Coleman Hawkins' style. The tenor player is Lester Young who is immediately hired by Page.
Alto saxophonist Benny Carter leads a group called the Chocolate Dandies drawn from the Fletcher Henderson band. Coleman Hawkins on tenor and Jimmy Harrison on trombone play excellent solos on recordings by the group.
Django Reinhardt is listening to and learning from Ellington, Armstrong, Beiderbecke and last but not least Eddie Lang.
Joe Oliver puts together a touring band with the help of his nephew Dave Nelson a trumpet player and arranger who once played in Ma Rainey's backup band. The band is not a success. The King is in deep decline.
Teenager Billie Holiday performas at a small club in Brooklyn.
Bessie Smith is virtually washed up. Classic Blues has run its course.
Lionel Hampton begins to play the vibraphone.
Earl "Bud" Powell (age 6) begins to study piano. He is currently learning classical music and European theory.
Scotsman Tommy McQuater is the leading British Jazz trumpeter.
Future alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman (Free Jazz) is born in Fort Worth, Texas. He will be reared in poverty.
Future trumpet great Clifford Brown is born in Wilmington, Delaware.
Future tenor saxophone colosus Sonny Rollins is born in New York City.
Future Rock and Roll singer Ray Charles is born in Albany, Georgia.
Singer Betty Carter is born.
Helen Merrill is born.
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Disclaimer: Though we have checked our facts, this timeline may contain erroneous information. If you discover errors or omissions, please bring them to our attention.
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