PAUL WHITEMAN (What's he doing here?) Jazz History #10

Paul Whiteman was dubbed ‘King of Jazz’, despite the fact that he was in no way a jazz musician and his music merely borrowed elements from the idiom. In this, he's a controversial figure to include in jazz history, but he provided lucrative employment to jazz musicians in the 1920s and 1930s (white ones, true, but such was the reality of segregation), and his blending of jazz and classical could be seen as a forerunner to the more impactful Third Stream movement decades later.

The clip of Rhapsody in Blue seen in this video was a hallmark in the development of filmmaking, and contains special effects that are still impressive nearly a century later.

ABOUT THIS SERIES
The Jazz History series is a video adaptation of a PowerPoint presentation used to teach a university course. It traces the roots of jazz from Ragtime at the turn of the 20th century to jazz-rock fusion at the end of the 1960s. You’ll find a lot more videos like this one in the JAZZ HISTORY playlist on this channel.

If you want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of playing jazz, check out the videos in the
JAZZ TACTICS playlist.

JAZZ TACTICS SUGGESTIONS

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL
On this channel, jazz trumpeter, educator and author Chase Sanborn offers advice and tips for musicians and music students, based on more than forty years of experience as a professional musician.

PLAYLISTS
This link will take you to all the playlists on this channel:

MORE INFORMATION
For more in-depth and personal information and instruction, check out Chase's books and online lesson options on his website:

[marksnschwartz]

Chase, I love that you share and teach the history of jazz! Knowing where the music comes from is every bit as important as knowing how to play the music!

[chrisyonts]

"IRONICALLY NAMED"? That's his name. I don't think his parents were trying to be ironic.

[marksnschwartz]

Chase, I love that you do these! Knowing the history and where it came from is every bit as important as knowing how to play the music!

[TFSlyGuySaysHi]

Listen to whitemans jazz sides from 1925-26. His jazz is pretty hot. Its not like he never played great jazz. He was a fantastic performer.

[james-flynn]

I in the real life look like the paul whiteman guy its qute entertaining i do enjoy the guy amd all the music of that era

[bennygoodmanisgod]

I definitely think Paul Whiteman receives a lot more hate from contemporary scholars and listeners than is warranted. He was not responsible for the system that he was born into and, if anything, did alot of good to fight racism by introducing jazz to millions of white Americans for the very first time. I see him as a sort of prelude to what Benny Goodman did a decade later by straight up smashing racial barriers with an integrated band. In that aspect, both are worthy of praise.

As for the title "King Of Jazz", aside from who you consider "king" to be very subjective, I think the name itself is very hyperbolic and really no one person can be the "king" of an entire genre, not least one as diverse as jazz. From what l've read, no one was more aware of that as Paul Whiteman himself. He certainly never acted like it and was always willing to give credit to black influences throughout his career. Which beyond that being what a real man does, that's a very noble endeavor considering the racial climate of the United States at the time.

I myself quite like Paul Whiteman's work (most especially his 1920 recording of "Whispering" and 1930's "Happy Feet"). As a compromise (and with the benefit of hindsight), I think a better nickname for the man would be "King of the Jazz Age".

[takenby_cj]

we can definitely say, today, rhapsody in blue isnt jazz, but a great compose of a classic tune. i love rhapsody in blue. thx for the video! <3

[fromthesidelines]

Paul had great arrangers (and paid them *very* well)- including Bill Challis, Tom Satterfield and Ferde Grofe.

[psalms]

Parallels with Elvis being designated "King of Rock"

[albertalikesbix]

It's too bad that the subject of jazz is drenched in political correctness nowadays. Not sure who gave Whiteman the title "King of Jazz", but I'd be surprised to learn it was he himself. My guess is some marketing "genius". Everything I've read about him confirms he didn't have a racist bone in his body. He understood what jazz was, and gave a jazz-tinged version of popular music which the music-buying public was ready to spend money on. Not a life I would have chosen, nor a music style that particularly appeals to me. The various Henderson bands you seem to prefer were only marginally better IMO. It was dance music after all, which is really a genre different from improvisational jazz. Not sure if you have a video on Goldkette, but he led groups which had some of the best jazz dance music ever recorded (and a lot of uninteresting period-pop). He wasn't a jazz musician either, but a musician-businessman. Not a terrific commercial success, but his bands were viable for short periods.

[georgedabrowski]

Quick ..what was that NYTimes critic's name, again...? Same with the critic who in his little book, an hour with music, referred to Rhapsody in Blue as circus music. His name, again, 🐸

[gennettor]

Why state the racial difference between the two bandleaders? Whiteman was the King of the Jazz Era - no question about it. But you obviously do not understand that. And there is some genuine (and very superb) jazz in some of Whiteman's recordings; you obviously don't know that either. Fortunately Ellington understood.

[newwavepop]

The thing is Jazz is about the only music genre i have almost no interest in but i like a lot of Whitemans work. "REAL Jazz" does nothing for me and have never understood the huge appeal for others.