The spatial and community dimensions of the jazz scene.
Between 1915 and 1970, the movement of six million African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities transformed jazz from a regional curiosity into a global phenomenon. This migration provided the urban infrastructure and commercial markets necessary for the genre’s rapid innovation.
An exploration of the hard-swinging, blues-drenched sound of Kansas City during the 1920s and 30s. Discover how the ‘territory bands’ and the Pendergast era forged a bridge between big band swing and the birth of bebop.
An exploration of Harlem’s 1920s and 30s nightlife as a site of artistic innovation and racial negotiation. Discover how the intersection of big band jazz, cabaret culture, and the Harlem Renaissance redefined American music.