The History and Instruments of New Orleans Jazz and Second Line Drumming
Few cultures have given more to modern music than New Orleans.
In particular the city is known as the birthplace of jazz, having been home to legends such as Louis Armstrong.
But what about the drummers that shaped this music? Where did this style come from, what instruments were they using, who are the key people, and what has New Orleans given to modern drumming?
History of New Orleans jazz drumming
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries New Orleans had become a major centre packed with with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
This brought together African rhythms, European military drumming and Afro-Cuban rhythms, beginning to fuse together the style that became jazz drumming.
In these early days drummers typically played a bass drum, snare drum and cymbal to provide a lively rhythmic backbone to the music.
Often this would involve call and response patterns with the rest of the band.
Prominent early New Orleans jazz drummers included people like Baby Dodds and Zutty Singleton, who greatly influenced the development of jazz drumming techniques.
Dodds, for instance, incorporated elements of African and Caribbean rhythms into his playing, which contributed to the distinctive New Orleans sound.
As jazz spread beyond New Orleans and evolved into various subgenres, so did jazz drumming.
Drummers began to incorporate new techniques, such as the use of a hi-hat cymbal and a larger drum kit.
Innovators like Earl Palmer and Smokey Johnson played significant roles in adapting the drum kit to the changing needs of jazz and popular music.
What is New Orleans “Second Line” drumming?
"Second line drumming", or “Street Beat” is a style of percussion that originated in New Orleans, and is closely associated with the city's brass band tradition.
It typically features two different drummers, with the second drummer playing a rhythm that is complementary to the first drummer's beat.
This creates a distinctive energetic, layered sound that is instantly recognizable and closely associated with the musical culture of New Orleans.
Where did second line drumming come from?
Second line drumming has its roots in West African rhythms that were brought to New Orleans by enslaved Africans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over time, these rhythms were blended with European military marching band music to create the unique sound of New Orleans brass bands.
The cultural significance of second line drumming is closely tied to the city's vibrant African-American community, which has a long history of using music and dance as a form of cultural expression and resistance. The drumming style has played a key role in many cultural events in the city, including Mardi Gras celebrations, jazz funerals, and second line parades.
Second line drumming has had a profound influence on a wide range of musical genres, particularly including jazz, funk, and hip hop. Its distinctive rhythm and syncopation have been sampled and emulated by countless musicians over the years, making it an enduring and important part of American music history.
Some incredible and influential drummers have been deeply influenced by the second line feel including Stanton Moore, Herlin Riley, Zigaboo Modeliste and Geoff Clapp among many others. The distinctive laid back swampy swing feel has permeated and continued to influence many musicians and musical styles.
How to get the feel of second line drumming
Second line drumming is characterized by a number of distinctive features, including:
A strong emphasis on the backbeat: Second line drumming typically accentuates the second and fourth beats of a four-beat measure, with the snare drum playing a prominent role in the rhythm. Known as the ‘big four’ second line drumming particularly accents the fourth beat, giving the syncopated feel.
Syncopation: Second line drumming often features complex rhythms with unexpected accents and syncopations. This creates a sense of tension and release in the music and encourages dancing and movement. The bass drum typically uses a syncopated and swung pattern, which gives the music its characteristic swaying feel.
Call and response: Second line drumming is often used in a call and response context, with one drummer playing a rhythmic phrase and the other responding with a complementary phrase.
Layered rhythms: As mentioned earlier, second line drumming typically involves two drummers playing complementary rhythms that layer on top of each other. This creates a rich, textured sound that is a hallmark of New Orleans brass band music. This includes bass drummers, who often also play a small cymbal, while a snare drummer compliments. These complexities can be hard in the complex rhythms of jazz that was heavily influenced by New Orleans second line.
Swing feel: Second line drumming has a swing feel, with the beat often subdivided into triplets. This gives the music a relaxed, groovy feel that encourages dancing and movement.
The importance of the syncopated fourth beat
At the heart of New Orleans music lies the concept of syncopation – the deliberate displacement of the rhythmic accent. And it's the fourth beat that serves as the secret weapon in creating that infectious groove.
While traditional Western music places emphasis on the first and third beats, New Orleans rhythm flips the script, accentuating the fourth beat, injecting the music with an irresistible swing.
Songs with a New Orleans-style beat
To truly grasp the power of the fourth beat, let's explore a few iconic examples from New Orleans drumming and rhythm:
"When the Saints Go Marching In": Think about the classic tune "When the Saints Go Marching In." Notice how the emphasis is not on the first beat but rather on the fourth beat of each bar. It's that subtle push that makes you want to tap your feet and join in the joyful procession.
New Orleans funk bands such as The Meters rely on the syncopated fourth beat to generate groove. Check out ‘Hey Pocky Way’ for a classic example of this rhythm.
Modern drummers such as Stanton Moore, Herlin Riley, Bill Stewart and Geoff Clapp infuse their playing with this fourth beat energy. Go listen and digest how that translates into infections swing and groove
The enduring legacy of New Orleans second line
New Orleans rhythm and drumming, with its emphasis on the swinging fourth beat continue to inspire musicians worldwide.
From the jazz pioneers of the early 20th century to the funky grooves of the Meters and beyond, this rhythmic tradition lives on, deeply ingrained in the soul of the Big Easy.
So, listen to some of these influences and take a moment to appreciate the power of the fourth beat.
Play with using the big fourth beat in your own playing and unleash your groove.
Overall, second line drumming is a complex and dynamic style of percussion that reflects the rich cultural history of New Orleans and has had a profound influence on American music as a whole.
