Jazz and Drugs Over Time
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of drug abuse and alcoholism during the jazz age. Specifically, it will discuss the history of abuse and its' effects on musicians and the music itself. Jazz music has a long and varied history in the United States, and unfortunately, it has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse among performers, too. This abuse helped give jazz an undeserved reputation among many listeners, but it also created a sub-culture among performers that has been difficult to overcome. Jazz is more than music and enticing rhythms, jazz is a state of mind for many, and that may be why so many jazz musicians and performers alter their states of mind with alcohol and drugs. Jazz music first came into being in the early 20th century, and the word was first noted around 1913 (Teachout 58). A jazz writer notes, "That word jazz is ambitious... The origin of the word is uncertain. The term has been applied also to noisy proceedings, to loud writing, to eccentric and discordant coloring'" (Osgood 10). Often performed by black musicians, jazz played a part in the Harlem Renaissance in New York, and remains one of the most popular forms of music today.
Perhaps that is part of the allure of jazz - there is something a bit forbidden about its exotic rhythms, and something a bit forbidden about many of the most famous musicians who played and sang great jazz. In the opinion of some it had declined precipitously. Unfortunately, we will never know that for sure. However, jazz has always seemed to attract addictive personalities. Introduced to the drug by her husband, Holiday battled addiction her entire life, and drank heavily during many periods, too. Charlie Parker was especially known for his creativeness with the sax. Sadly, alcohol abuse was extremely widespread in jazz musicians, partly because liquor was so prevalent in the clubs and venues they played, even during Prohibition. He dried out at the Keely Institute in Illinois, but when he returned to New York and his music, he also returned to his addiction. Historian Gioia writes, " Consumed in a downward spiral of drinking, fatigue, and frailty, Bix seemed intent on pursuing a slow, prolonged process of self-destruction" (Gioia 91). Heroin was the drug of choice for many musicians including Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. It is difficult to speculate on how jazz might have evolved had some of its' practitioners managed to live longer. Young people were breaking away from tradition, and jazz, with its disapproval by many, was tantalizing and forbidden, and thus, quite appealing. He writes, "Jazz is not necessarily the gateway to hell. Many musicians were addicted to drugs, and some, like Richard Twardzik died of overdoes.
Common topics in this essay:
Author Osgood,
Historian Gioia,
Jazz Drugs,
Prohibition Alcohol,
Billie Holiday's,
Bill Evans,
Art Pepper--the,
Cadillac' Bird,
Federal Reformatory,
Renaissance York,
jazz musicians,
charlie parker,
jazz music,
miles davis,
jazz age,
drug addiction,
alcohol abuse,
historian gioia,
drug alcohol abuse,
gioia notes,
jazz world,
charlie parker miles,
chet baker art,
billie holiday charlie,
holiday charlie parker,
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Acceptance Essays
