New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
By Grenville Vernon

Just what is jazz? Most of us
know it when we hear it, but few of
us know its derivation, its reason, or
The manner in which the veritable
.iazz" is. produced, for there are
"iazzes" which are not veritable.
"Jazz" is, of course, negro; somehow
or other all musical originality in
America seems to be negro. The negro
unsteady is always worshipper of
rhythm often he is a rhythomaniac,
and "jazz" aries from his rhythmic
fervor, combined with peculiar lik-
ing for strange sounds. This at least
is the opinion of Lieutenant James
Reese Europe, late of the Machine Gun
Battalion of the old 18th Regiment.
Lieutenant Europe has just returned
from more than years service In
France, which he passed partly in the
trenches and partly in the direction
= Of the band he had organized for his
regiment, band which had a stupen-
dous success in France and which is
having equally as great success at
home.
s.. ~ believe that the term jazz" said
Lieutenant Europe, "originated with a
band of four pieces which was found
about fifteen years ago in New Orleans,
and which was known as 'Razz's Band.
This band was of truly extraordinary
composition. 1t consisted of barry
tone horn, a trombone, cornet, and
an instrument made out Of the china
berry tree. This instrument is some
thing like clarinet, and is made by
the Southern negroes themselves.
while the sap is in the wood, and aftes
few weeks use has to be thrown
away. 1t produces a beautiful sound
and is worthy of inclusion in any band
or orchestra. I myself intend to en-
poy it soon in my band. The four
musicians of Razz's Band had no idea
at all of what they were playing; they
improvised as they went along, but
such was their innate sense of
rhythm that they produced something
which was very taking. From the
small cafes of New Orleans they
graduated to the ST. Charles Hotel
and after time to the Winter Garden
in New York. where they appeared
however, only a few days, the indi-
ydual musicians being grabbed up by
various orchestras in the city. Some
how in the passage of time Razz's
Band got changed into Jazz's Band,
and from this corruption arose the
term jazz
"The negro loves anything that is
peculiar in music, and this 'jazzing' ap-
peals to him strongly. 1t is accom-
plished in several ways. With the
brass instruments we put in mutes
and make whirling motion with the
tongue, at the same time blowing full
pressure. With wind instruments we
pinch the mouthpiece and blow hard.
This produces the peculiar sound
which you all know. To US it is not
discordant as we play the music as
It Ia written, only that we accent
strongly in this manner the notes
which originally would be without ac-
cent. 1t Is natural for US to do this;
it is, indeed, racial musical char
acteristic. ! have to call a daily re-
hearsal Of my band to prevent the
musicians from adding to their music
more than 1 wish them to. Whenever
possible they all embroider their parts
IN order to produce new. peculiar
sounds. Some of these effects arc ex-
cellent and some are not. and I have
to be continually on the lookout tc
cut out the results of my musicians
originality.
This jazz music made a tremendous
sensation in France. / recall one in
tident in particular. From last Feb.
mary to last August had been In
tie trenches, in command Of my ma
chine gun squad. had been through
the terrific general attack in Cham
payne when General Couraud an.
initiated the enemy by his stratagem
ard finally put an end to their hopes
Of victory, and I had been through
many a smaller engagement. car
tell you that music was one of the
things furthest from my mind when