The Man Who Invented Jazz 

of course his name was Charles/Buddy..... couldn't be more jazz

As a person with schizophrenia I find it incredibly inspiring whenever I learn of people who struggled against such tremendous forces as psychosis, but, in spite of it all, created something precious.

ah so this is the CEO of jazz

Idk why anyone would ever let “Funky Butt” take on a new name. That’s a perfect name for anything.

Who else dreams of someday being big enough to have Polyphonic review your music? I had a Beatles book author review one of my songs once and it made my month!

*Sees Title*: ready to be musically inspired

"Ya Like Jazz?" - Barry Bee, the greatest to ever live.

I have one rule of thumb: ALWAYS click on a Polyphonic video.

Ken Burns: Jazz is a must see. A masterpiece of the jazz genre.

Good lord, this channel’s visuals are always fantastic, but they’re really on another level with this video

In New Orleans we grew up revering Buddy Bolden as a hero. But, we still have no idea how he actually played. He’s one of the most recent truly mythical figures in music, seeing as by the 1930s most musicians who were famous enough could eventually lay down a record or two.

Ahh jazz, rock and blues are cool but jazz is such a complex and brilliant genre I appreciate you shining the spotlight on these less known but just as brilliant artists it really shows your a true music lover

I love how Kendrick uses jazz in hip hop. Thanks to him , I came into jazz

I wonder if you've ever had a look into the South African Jazz movement, also had huge ties to the struggle against Apartheid, and I feel like its a story that isn't told enough, even in the country it happened in

the editing on this video is just unbelievable...

this is probably going to get get lost in the comments, but i just wanna say that your video is helping me in a paper i'm writing about buddy bolden for a music history class and i sent this video to my professor who was overjoyed that people were still talking about him and his legacy. your channel was also where i first heard of robert johnson and i got excited when we went over him in class these past two weeks lol

Watching at 10:00 pm while listing to John Coltrane with the lights off.... I’m in heaven

How does Polyphonic not have 1 million subscribers yet?

Do a video on the BASSics of Jaco Pastorius

Adore these jazz video essays, masterfully done as always!. A video essay on Charles Mingus would be something special I think! One of the Jazz all time greats.

Few people know it, but Bolden grew up on Mississippi River boats, which is why he rocked back and forth constantly.

This is honestly one of your best videos yet in terms of maturity and introspectiveness. You’ve used discussion about one mysterious man,and used it as a catalyst for all of jazz in such an amazing way. Please please please keep up the great work :)

never clicked so fast

The one person that could find a record of Bolden would be rich in an instant.

These graphs are sick! Love your videos man, keep up the great work!!

Your vids are so well done. Always excited for the next one to come out as they intensify my love of music. It’s one thing to know an artist’s discography and another to know ab their actual lives and where their music comes from and ur my main source of the latter so thanks man. Keep it up!

From about 0:40 to 0:45 you can see Joan Crawford at the front there. That photo is from 1927. (The same woman as my profile photo.)

What you're describing here has been extensively studied by Jean Baudrillard, a philosopher. His book "Simulacra and Simulation" deals with symbols, signifiers becoming more significant than what they stood for, the signified. He called it hyperreality. Boldin is another excellent example of hyperreality.

This is probably my favorite video of yours. You took it in an absolutely brilliant direction, got much deeper than usual, going far beyond the music you talk about, and getting into the material and social realities of humanity. Bravo!

I was fully prepared to hear you say "The real Buddy Bolden is the friends we made along the way".

Two things - first there is no jazz recording from the era (1917-1931) that uses the "Bug Four" street beat. It really came into being (as far as recordings are concerned) after the 1940s, probably to alleviate the boredom of drummers not content to play a simple march cadence. Second - all the writings about Buddy Bolden give the impression that he just showed up in the 1890s playing like Miles or Louis Armstrong. Since he didn't record we can't know for sure, but on virtually all recordings from that early era, the emphasis was on ragtime. (1890s - 1910). Every recording shows a cornet (never trumpet) playing in a ricki-ticki square approach. Never a laid-back, swingy playing that was not in vogue until the mid 1930s. (except for Armstrong and a few others in the late 20s) There are many recordings that confirm this. Also, there is a 1906 photo of Bolden's band that shows cornet, valve trombone, two clarinets, guitar, and string bass. This instrumentation is not conducive to loud playing or playing harmony without stepping all over each other. If Bolden played a bit more in ragtime and loudly, it's likely his band didn't sound like a jazz band from the mid twenties.

Absolutely love your videos! I really appreciate the level of effort you put in visually, through content and research and aurally for these videos! Please keep the jazz ones coming. They're my personal favourite. Much love!

I love the evolution in the animatión, the writing and the narration in the channel. And as always astonished by the research. Amazing work.

The editing in your videos is flawless.

What a great video. The way you brought the story to life, both through the narrative and the editing of the video, was superb!

György Ligeti (who is one of my favorite composers) once said that the real music of the 20th century was jazz.

As far as the man who invented Jazz, Jelly Roll made that claim, and he had some reason to make that claim. Jelly Roll said it isn't Jazz if it doesn't have that Latin tinge. And that is his influence on the music at the time and since. Buddy was known for his call, a fanfare as such echoed in the performances of Louis Armstrong who knew Buddy and learned from him. The call could be heard all over New Orleans, it was so loud. It was improvised, but they mostly played parade music, think Mardi Gras, and second line.

It's so sad that we don't have any footage or recordings of him :(

I'm so happy to read the comments and know that there are still so many that still love jazz. Perhaps nothing so beautiful can ever die.

This is a great channel, I love all the videos, keep it up dude

Magnificent mini-documentary! Kudos!

Buddy Bolden was the first true known jazz musician. It's sad he never was able to record his music

nice job, amazing pictures and stunning editing!

I support you on Nebula man. Keep up the amazing work. I would buy more merch if you release something too

Thank you for sharing this Loved your analysis and now I need to learn more about the kind

I love so much this channel! Every video is a master piece. Thank you thank you thank you, Polyphonic for exist!

All your videos are awesome on every possible way. Thank you so much.

I was wondering where you've been in the last couple of weeks (since this is your first post since "Us and Them"), but it was worth the wait... FANTASTIC VIDEO. I love jazz and love your videos in general and jazz videos in particular. I was wondering if you've seen Netflix's mini-series "The Eddy" about a jazz venue in Paris. I know that you usually talk about music, but if you watch it, could you please consider making a video about it?? It really is a beautiful show for jazz fans, and I think you would find it interesting. Keep up the great work!!

I'm in the process of beginning an assignment at school where we have to write about a historical overview of a genre, this has definitely helped me set the groundwork for it.

The Birdman Charlie Parker ! I was born in 1975 and I can remember a bar in the more run down part of town called Birdland that had been there since the late 40’s early 50’s. Turns out they had Birdland bars and nightclubs all over the US and even some international locations. If Buddy Bolden invented jazz , Charlie Parker personified it !

YESSSS! I absolutely LOVE jazz..,it’s one of the reasons that I moved to New Orleans in the first place! Terrific story! 🖤🎉👑🎺⚜️

This channel scratches an itch I never knew I had

Great topic. I so enjoy this channel.

Kinda surprised there's no mention of Congo Square here.

There are so many musicians from new Orleans!

Brilliant vid!

I love you for making this video! Instant subscription

One of the best channels on RU-vid right here!!!...🤙😎🤘

Great video man

Great quality and informative video like ever. You should a video of *Professor Longhair (New Orleans) , maybe the earlier antecedent for Funkyness* on Rhythm n Blues. Scholar Alexander Stewart made a extraordinary paper about the New Orleans second line drums and *"Rhumba-boogie"* pivotal influence that contagied R&B acts around USA like Ray Charles, Little Richard, Lowell Fulsom, Johnnie Otis and most specially over James Brown via a Florida drummer named Clayton Fillyau

Amazing video. Thank you for making this.

masterful video. well done, sir.

New Orleans is a magical place. The amazing artists that come from some of these placed is so inspiring. Nola, Philly, so much innovation. To see how African and Caribbean sounds and its fusions with other world music over the years has lasted and evolved is really phenomenal. The untold uncelebrated impact is almost sinful. So glad for videos like this

Thank you so much!!

man, great editing

Great video! I've been fascinated with Bolden since the 90s. Another great book that features Buddy Bolden is "The Sound of Building Coffins" by New Orleans author Louis Maistros. One of my fav books ever.

I just want to use the comment box to say a big thank you. I'm searching for my path in music, and this videos are food for my soul. Thank you for making my days better days.

Very many thanks for this.

Too bad there's no record of his music that lived today. But, I'm glad that there's people that continued his passion to this day

Jazz music is my favorite genre of music ever there is no other genre of music can make me feel enlightenment like jazz does IMO.

Like everyone else, I appreciate your content! Great commentary.

Great! And the graphics are amazing!

Haven't sseen any of your videos yet but I'm gonna sub now based on the quality of your titles

Hey-Nice job on this presentation about Buddy Bolden. He was the first to get recognition out of New Orleans, however, there were some before him too who nobody knows about. I have a pic from the late 1880's w the New Orleans Creole band and there are cats sitting down in their John Phillip Sousa outfits holding their Cornets and I often wonder...who WERE these guys??

Such a mistery fellow...... As per usual, GREAT video! Thank you!

Nice takes - and Ondaatje was quoted nicely right after I wrote my comment

What I love about Bolden, after first hearing his name 7 minutes ago, is how much fun he and his audience would've had in those old halls

How am I only hearing about his biopic now!? Great vid dude

Wow... wow... wow... I am now ashamed to have never have heard of Bolden, but am enlightened to have learned about, at least some, of his genius! Thank you.

Great job!

6:10 he died in 1931, not 1934

it would be great to have a spotify playlist accompanying your videos...

Awesome video I learned a lot! I think it would be awesome if you did a video on Roy Brown

Piano Ragtime transposed through cornet = Bolden's Jazz Piano Jazz Rhythm & Blues transposed through guitar = Chuck Berry's Rock 'n' Roll Beautiful video tribute & analysis, well done.

Great video. Top notch content

I have an original 1953 Australian press Bunk Johnson LP which includes Buddy Bolden in the liner notes as "legendary leader of the first jazz band" that Bunk had played with almost half a century earlier.

Great video, top of the line, loved more or less every minute of it. That said, that walking animation of Bolden is so absolutely hilarious. Still a like & subscribe from me :-)

I get that words are different north of the border, but Buddy ‘s instrument is usually pronounced [kor-net’]. Thanks for a deeply insightful look at the origins of jazz and how one guy became the embodiment of the unknown artists that took a huge creative leap and made a uniquely American art form.

I am a simple woman. I see The Man Who Invented Jazz. And I click.

Please do one on Louis Armstrong!! And he's 2 revolutions.

Great video!

The first watch hasn’t even ended yet and there are already over 1k views!!!

I'm not crying you are!!! Shut up!!! Brill video, thanks for introducing me to jazz in a way that doesn't overwhelm me but actually makes me desperate for more 💜🖤💜🖤

Your correct pronunciation of New Orleans makes me happy man, awesome video

There was another movie about Buddy that was made years ago and never released. Anthony Mackie played Bolden. It was filmed near where I lived down in NC.

imagine going back in time and playing the olatunji concert to him

Yep. "The Jazz Loft" was great!

You should do a video on how Miles Davis invented Jazz Fusion with Bitches Brew

Yeeeah keep that sweet jazz coming!

Have you ever considered making a video on Bill Evans?