Jazz, that buoyant mix of improvisation and ensemble playing, has long been recognized as our nation's richest form of music. Although the earliest sources of jazz are rightly attributed to African Americans and Creoles of mixed black, European or Native American stock, Italian Americans have exerted a steady and creative influence on the music throughout its history. These contributions have been noted by the late jazz scholar Joachim Ernst-Berendt, who wrote that "no other European country was the ancestral origin of as many significant jazz musicians as Italy."

The Birth of Jazz
Contrary to popular belief, Italians didn't arrive in America en masse solely during the "great wave" of 1890 to 1920. Italian explorers such as John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto, who sailed for the British), Enrico Tonti (who sailed for the French) and Giovanni da Verrazzano (who has a bridge named after him in Manhattan's Battery Park) were crucial players in "opening up" the New World.

The names of Italian artisans, builders, religious and shopkeepers can also be found among the name charts of colonial America. And, in terms of musical history, when President Thomas Jefferson professionalized the first official U.S. Marine Band in 1803, he recruited Sicilian musicians, all of whom eventually played under the baton of maestro Gaetano Carusi. (Note: The next three leaders of the U.S Marine Band would also be Italian.)

Decades later, when the brand new French Opera House opened in New Orleans in the 1850s, the call again went out to Italian musicians. Local business leaders didn't need to look very far, however, as the city of New Orleans already had a bustling Italian population, which had taken root in the 1850s. Living and working side-by-side by another oppressed group, African Americans, the Italians shared their own distinctive forms of music, which encompassed folk and classical traditions. The sons of these early immigrants, many of whom were hired to play at the French Opera House, would go on to become familiar names in the popularization of jazz: Nick LaRocca, Leon Rappolo, Arnold Loiacano, Joe "Sharkey" Bonanno and, of course, the gifted musician and performer Louis Prima.

The Roaring 20s and Big Bands
Gradually, as more Italians assimilated into the American mainstream, they brought their talents with them, adding unique Italian "spice" to the musical gumbo we call jazz.

One such artist was Joe Venuti. Dubbed "the mad fiddler from Philly" for his outrageous practical jokes, Venuti single-handedly introduced the violin into the jazz ensemble. He and his boyhood friend, Eddie Lang (born Salvatore Massero), teamed up for some ground-breaking recordings, which eventually led to their being hired for Bing Crosby's famous radio show band.