Jazz Bebop Timeline

Timeline for Jazz and the Italian American Experience


"NO OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRY HAS PRODUCED SUCH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF AMERICAN JAZZ MUSICIANS AS ITALY"
Joachim Ernst-Berendt, Journalist and Author of The Jazz Book

"JAZZ MAY BE A TYPICALLY AMERICAN PHENOMENON BUT ITS ROOTS GO WELL BACK INTO THE HISTORY OF MUSIC AND, PARTICULARLY, OF ITALIAN MUSIC. IMPROVISATION IS A KEY IN ITALIAN PERFORMING TRADITIONS."
Dr. Philip Gossett, Ph.D, University of Chicago, Music Department

  • In 1805, President Thomas Jefferson professionalizes the U.S. Marine Band by recruiting musicians from Sicily, under the baton of Gaetano Carusi.

  • In the1850s, Italians begin emigrating to the Port of New Orleans. By the mid-1890s, they constitute the largest ethnic group in the Crescent City.

  • In 1891, eleven Italians are shot and lynched in Congo Square by angry New Orleans citizens. Many Italians escape from prejudice through music.

  • In 1917, Nick LaRocca and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band cut the first "jass" record. In his autobiography, Louis Armstrong praises Nick LaRocca.

  • Two other sons of New Orleans "make some noise" during the next two decades: Leon Roppolo brings the jazz clarinet to the forefront (1920s) and singer/musician Louie Prima triumphs in New York City (1930s).

  • Childhood friends from Philadelphia, violinist Joe Venuti and guitarist Eddie Lang, set the standard for the jazz duo (1920s and 1930s).

  • Bandleader Joe Marsala first to hire African American musicians (1930s)

  • Pianist Dodo Marmarosa jams with the leaders of bebop music (1940s)

  • Pianist Lennie Tristano astonishes listeners with avant-garde (1950s)

  • Dottie Giamio Dodgion is one of the first female jazz drummers (1950s).

  • Louis Bellson becomes the first "white" drummer for Duke Ellington's Band (1950s). Bellson later marries African American singer Pearl Bailey.

  • Singers Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett use their celebrity status to advance the civil rights movement in America (1960s).

  • The Vince Guaraldi Trio score the first "Charlie Brown" special (1960s)

  • Clem DeRosa co-founds National Association of Jazz Educators (1960s)

  • Pianist Chick Corea and guitarist Al Di Meola add to fusion (1960s).

  • Trumpeter Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good" wins Grammy (1970s)

  • Saxophonist Joe Lovano emerges as a major talent (1980s and 1990s)

  • Joe Viola and John LaPorta retire as educators at the Berklee College of Music in Boston (1990s). Both influenced an entire generation of students.

  • Italian-born singer Roberta Gambarini moves to America and is compared to Ella Fitzgerald (1990s-2000s), thus extending the Italian influence in jazz.

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