As you enjoy the smooth, rhythmic tunes of jazz music, it’s important to remember how we got here. This genre is an American invention, an intersection of all thing s American—culture, freedom, and expression.
Razzmajazz Dixieland Band, one of the leading jazz bands in North Texas, proudly strolls on the path paved by the jazz greats. We don’t just recognize the unparalleled contribution of the founding fathers of jazz, we’ve been playing the iconic jazz music of the time in honor of these talented musicians.
As we celebrate a hundred years to the Golden Jazz Age, it’s time to look back at the legends who made it possible.
Buddy Bolden
While it isn’t easy to credit an entire genre to the achievements of one person, Buddy Bolden is unanimously believed to be the father of jazz music. The talented musician was born in New Orleans, the city that’s famously considered the birthplace of jazz.
Referred to as King Bolden by his contemporaries, Buddy Bolden’s musical prowess was not just limited to his excellence in cornet playing. His contributions to jazz music can be traced back to before the genre was even formally established, making him an enigmatic figure who helped develop its roots.
Among the many accomplishments of Bolden is that he’s believed to be the first person to include improvisation in his trumpet playing. This stylistic element is now common in jazz performances and can be traced back to Bolden’s early work.
Louis Armstrong
When it comes to jazz greats, it’s important to remember the work of Louis Armstrong. The inventive cornet and trumpet player has earned recognition for his contributions to the genre—and rightfully so!
What set him apart was his voice, providing powerful musical performances that communicated the themes of freedom and struggle like no other. Louis Armstrong was considered one of the first superstars during his career, influencing his contemporaries and future musicians alike.
Benny Goodman
Known as the King of Swing, there are few artists whose contributions made Swing jazz as popular as it is today. Benny Goodman was an expert clarinet player, often dubbed the greatest of all time.
His contributions during the 1930s allowed Swing jazz to reach new heights of popularity.
It’s impossible to enjoy jazz music today without acknowledging the musicians who made it possible. As one of the leading Swing and New Orleans Traditional Jazz bands in North Texas, Razzmajazz Dixieland Band is dedicated to carrying on the legacy of thefounding fathers of this genre.
If you’re looking to hire a band to perform lively tunes at your upcoming event, look no further than us. Our talented band members play bass, banjos, trumpets, drums, trombones, and clarinets to bring your events to life!
Make sure you give your guests an unforgettable musical experience they’ll cherish forever. Connect with us for booking information today.
Better yet, listen to our repertoire of songs on the go by purchasing our CD.
Past Performances
Our Swing and New Orleans Traditional Jazz band performs at corporate events, weddings, dinners, and grand openings. We’ve been entertaining the people of North Texas since 1984, some of the organizations we’ve performed for are:
- Dallas Mavericks
- St Alban’s Parish – Anglican
- Main Street Arts Festival – Fort Worth
- Fielder Road Baptist Church
- Case Power and Equipment
- Richland Pointe Mall
- Park Suites Hotel
- Texas Rangers
- Junior League of Arlington
- Globe Life Park
- Pecan Street Arts Festival – Arlington
- Aerospace Optics
- Worth Cattledrive Rest.
- Brinker International
- North American Society of First Responders
- Children’s Medical Center
- Mesquite Exchange Club
- Six Flags Over Texas
- IBM
- Law Offices of Windle Turley
- Albertson’s Food Stores
- Mira Vista Country Club
- Fort Worth Boat Club
- Plano Firefighters Assoc.
- Dallas Museum of Art
- National Semiconductor
- Walnut Creek Country Club
- Denton Arts and Jazz Festival
- Anatole Hotel
- Anheuser-Busch