SPASM BAND: An old-time band, popular in the late nineteenth century, whose members used improvised instruments as well as regular instruments. They often played on street corners as buskers. They were noted for their playing of lively, energetic music. Some of these groups evolved into the first of the jazz bands.

Sketch of Nihilist Spasm Band Members

JAS, JASS, JAZ JASCZ, or just plain JAZZ
--It is said that the expression -'Jazz'- arose during the late nineteenth century in the better brothels of New Orleans, which provided music and dancing as well as sex. The original jazz band, according to Herbert Asbury's 'The Latin Quarter' (1938), was the 'Spasm (sic) Band', made up of seven boys, aged twelve to fifteen, who first appeared in New Orleans about 1895. They advertised themselves as the "Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band." When, about 1900, another band adopted the same billing for an appearance at the Haymarket dance hall, the 'Spasms' loaded their pockets with rocks and dropped by to protest the infringement. This prompted the owner to the hall to repaint his advertising placards to read: "Razzy Dazzy Jazzy Band!" If the memories of Asbury's sources were correct--and he talked to two surviving members of the 'Spasms' --this represents the word's earliest-known appearance (of the word "jazz") in print.

Jazz was born here. And before that, brass bands roamed the streets, playing at weddings and funerals. Spasm bands with home made instruments improvised for small change. Instruments pawned by out of work classical musicians when the Old French Opera House burned down, found their way into the hands of children who had learned to play on hand-strung cigar boxes. (Sidney Bechet's family said they knew he would be a musician when they saw him playing tunes on his mother's douche!)

Saxophone player and composer Michael Chorney of ViperHouse is quoted in Pugzine.com - "They were the original street and whorehouse bands in Storyville, New Orleans' red-light district in the late 1800's. They were called "spasm bands" for how the guys danced and moved when they played. There are a lot of different historical renderings, but from what I gather, they were the very first roots of jazz music. And I really love that image."

The song Calling the Children Home by B. Payne, P. Barrere & F. Tackett tells of the era in its lyrics.