Mobile’s Hidden Gems (The contributors to the jazz scene in Mobile, AL)
Jazz has been a staple in southern cities of Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana that has helped to shape African American culture through the use of clashing notes, unsyncopated time signatures, and the flourishing of brass instruments like trumpets and trombones that has felid the air during the celebrations at Mardi Gras parades that bring joy to many people due the undeniable feeling that it brings to people. Thanks to jazz it has cultivated legends like Fred Westley and Cootie Williams who have contributed to the funky sound that is Mobile jazz music.
Pictured Here is the jazz Group that marches in Mobile, Alabama Mardi Gras Parade
Joshie Jo Armstead was an original member of the Ikettes with Ike and Tina that transformed into an amazing writing group Armstead, Ashford, and Simpson with Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford. Mohandas “Kool Moe Dee” Dewese states that “But then I heard, the very first breakbeat I heard was a record called 'Blow Your Head' by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (making sounds). And simultaneously with that, I saw a guy doing this thing on the ground, the break dancing,”[1] this music provides a feeling that just makes you want to dance, and when I think about jazz. I am thinking about the jazz band participating in the Mardi Gras parade where they openly express how this genre of music makes them feel through the looseness in their bodies. During the origin of jazz music, it was uncommon for pieces to purposely be played with the obscurity of rhythm and sound that was jazz music. “Then one named Cootie Williams, who was not from New Orleans, but they were imitating the growl, cornet, and trumpet style of King Oliver. At one point, he had Sidney Bechet in his band for a brief period. And, his main soloist, Johnny Hodges, who played alto saxophone, was a student of Sidney Bechet's, loved Sidney Bechet's music, and learned things from Bechet. So, Ellington admired New Orleans music, New Orleans musicians, and New Orleans concepts” [2] This quote shows how influential New Orleans was in the jazz scene which spread to fellow French city Mobile, AL where it began to make jazz music popular in Alabama. Future musicians like Mohandas “Kook Moe Dee” Dewese talk about how jazz has impacted the reason they wanted to become musicians due that the gritty sound that jazz produces that sets it apart from other genres. “But then I heard, the very first breakbeat I heard was a record called 'Blow Your Head' by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (making sounds). And simultaneously with that, I saw a guy doing this thing on the ground, the break dancing,” [3] I need to get back to the root of the music. So, there was this one young black guy out there who was talking about jazz history and who knew something about the music…” [4] By this point, I had spent a lot of time in Tulane's jazz archive [Hogan Jazz Archive, New Orleans, Louisiana]. I had started collecting jazz history books. I had started interviewing older musicians. I read as much as I could. I had collected dozens and dozens of early jazz recordings and familiarized myself with the repertoire. So, you know, I was learning about jazz history and certainly willing to talk about it with people. [5] Through these various quotes, the archive presents how revolutionary jazz music has been in the New Orleans and Mobile space which helped to create this new style of music that was created by Black people to put a spin on classical and gospel music that was played during that time.
Lastly, I really wanted to focus on how impactful Mobile, AL was in the jazz scene as it became a well-known genre of music. I knew that if I was going to talk about jazz artists I had to touch upon the place of origin which is New Orleans. I thought that throughout this process of researching jazz artist in Mobile, I learned how impacted they were in the jazz scene during that era.
HistoryMakers Ambassador Update: Greetings, my name is Mauryce Thomas, II. I am a junior psychology major at Fisk University. My Black History is a poetry event that will take place February 27th from 7-9 at Fisk University. I have spread the word about my event and the history makers in order to make sure that this event is a success.
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Joshie Jo Armstead (The HistoryMakers A2016.002), interviewed by Harriette Cole, July 15, 2016, The HistoryMakers Digital Archive. Session 1, tape 4, story 8, Joshie Jo Armstead recalls working as a studio backup singer
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Mohandas "Kool Moe Dee" DeWese (The HistoryMakers A2005.253), interviewed by Shawn Wilson, December 12, 2005, The HistoryMakers Digital Archive. Session 2, tape 3, story 2, Mohandas "Kool Moe Dee" DeWese recalls his introduction to break beats
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Michael White (The HistoryMakers A2010.041), interviewed by Denise Gines, June 7, 2010, The HistoryMakers Digital Archive. Session 1, tape 9, story 3, Michael White talks about the influence of New Orleans jazz on Duke Ellington
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Holmes "Daddy-O" Daylie (The HistoryMakers A2001.021), interviewed by Julieanna L. Richardson, May 29, 2001, The HistoryMakers Digital Archive. Session 1, tape 3, story 6, Holmes "Daddy-O" Daylie discusses his lyrical and poetic ability
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Grayson Mitchell (The HistoryMakers A2003.295), interviewed by Larry Crowe, December 12, 2003, The HistoryMakers Digital Archive. Session 1, tape 2, story 5, Grayson Mitchell talks about socializing with adults at the Elks Club in Mobile, Alabama