Teach Yourself Jazz - online guidebook
For the beginning player, with sheet music samples
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CHAPTER SIX
THE EXODUS
JOURNEY UP THE RIVER |
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In 1917, the U.S. Naval Authorities got Storeyville closed down. This move was not popular locally, since many of the New Orleans councillors had been waxing fat off the bribes from this profitable business. But the Navy appealed to Washington, and Washington stepped in. At one blow, the best-paid New Orleans jobs for musicians vanished.
By now, however, the new jazz had spread beyond New Orleans; it was beginning to catch on. The rumour floated through New Orleans streets: "They want jazz in Chicago—man, you can get a living there." And so the more enterprising packed up their horns, clarinets or guitars and moved northwards.
By 1921, the trickle increased to a flood. In that year, the boll weevil ate up half the cotton crop of the Southern States, and in the resulting poverty, few jobs of any kind were to be had. It was high time to pull out. Chicago was a big place; also, it had no tradition of slavery. The negro felt sure he would be able to earn a living there.
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