Mezz Mezzrow: The Jazz Virtuoso and Reefer Pioneer

Born Milton Mesirow in Chicago on November 9, 1899, Mezz Mezzrow, as he would later be known, veered off the conventional path early in life, evolving from a juvenile delinquent to a prominent jazz musician. Often spending time in correctional facilities during his youth, Mezzrow learned to play the saxophone and was exposed to the harsh realities of the Jim Crow system by his Black prison-mates. This experience would profoundly impact his identity and contribute to his deep involvement in jazz and blues music.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Upon his release, he took up the clarinet and found his place in the Chicago jazz clubs of the 1920s. During this era, Mezzrow encountered cannabis, commonly known as 'tea' at that time, which significantly influenced his music and future. His first experience with marijuana led him to a revelation about his own playing, as chronicled in his 1946 autobiography Really the Blues. Mezzrow described how the drug helped him to connect with his music on a deeper level and allowed him to spread peace and joy through his performances.

The Chicago Jazz Scene and Marijuana Advocacy

Mezzrow became a fervent advocate for New Orleans jazz and took to heart the Black culture surrounding him, to the point where he claimed the identity of a 'voluntary Negro' after moving to Harlem in the 1930s. His enthusiasm for jazz led him to rub shoulders with the likes of Sidney Bechet, King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong. Mezzrow's relationship with Armstrong extended beyond music into supplying marijuana, further cementing Mezzrow's role in both the jazz and the cannabis cultures.

His notoriety as a marijuana dealer grew to such an extent that 'mezz' became slang for high-grade cannabis. However, this fame had its drawbacks, particularly when Mezzrow faced pressure from law enforcement and was incarcerated at Rikers. He managed to convince the guards that he was light-skinned Black, leading him to serve his sentence in the Black section of the jail, where he continued to play music.

Mezzrow's Musical Legacy

Despite his reputation as a marijuana dealer, Mezzrow's foundational identity was a musician. He performed with Gene Krupa, established Mezz Mezzrow & His Orchestra, and participated in recordings that contributed to the revival of the original New Orleans jazz sound. Mezzrow continued to play an active role in jazz by migrating to France, where he collaborated with local and touring American artists until his death in Paris on August 5, 1972.

While some did not consider him the most talented clarinetist, his legacy is marked by a generosity of spirit and dedicated promotion of jazz, an influence so strong that he became a pioneering figure for what many refer to as 'jazz cigarettes.'

jazz, musician, cannabis