When: 1915 Super Genre: Jazz Description: “The very first type of Jazz was played in the background of bars(barrelhouses), brothels, and cabarets by a small band. It first appeared in New Orleans thanks to the melting pot present of Ragtime, Haïtian Folk, Creole Folk and Country Blues. New Orleans was not only home to Dixieland marching bands and a main port for sea travel with Cuba, but a former French colony as well. Cuban music, French music, and marching bands all heavily influenced Jazz, making it one of the most diverse musical stews. The music was not rough and emotional like Blues, but balancedand reserved. The basic instrument ensemble for New Orleans Jazz is trumpet, clarinet and trombone; a very modest but complementary trio, filling all frequencies and improvising around each other. No instrument dominates: they all communicate and play out their melodies at each other in a counterpoint manner. The technique of counterpoint came into Jazz through Cuban Contradanza (or ...