Research Essay: The Influence of Jazz in Harlem – The Culture and History of an ethnically diversified community.

Edwarné Woodley-Gift

Department of English, CUNY City College of New York (CCNY)

FIQWS CP2

Professor Conroy

November 10, 2022

THE INFLUENCE OF JAZZ MUSIC IN NEW YORK

New York City is home is an infamous community known as Harlem located in the borough of Manhattan, famous for its history in Jazz music throughout various eras. The Harlem community is located between the Hudson River on the west and the East Harlem River on the East side, and the heart of Harlem community is 125^th Street (Mazzara & McMullen, 2001). Fred Wilson quotes “Given New York’s cultural diversity, it has always attracted creative people.” (Kirby & Writer, 2022) this quote can be referenced to the musical creativeness of the Harlem community.

The history of Jazz in Harlem dates back to a little over 100 years ago. The influence was mainly comprised for various diasporas migrating to the New York Harlem community at the time. Jazz and the creation of Latin Jazz became a way to find an identity for individuals, by hybridizing the Southern Jazz culture with the typical New York culture at the time and the culture of their native country. The influence of Jazz music left a rich legacy on the creation of music, intellectuals, and a lifestyle within the Harlem community.

The influence of Jazz Music in Harlem would be a paper to not only explain but to educate individuals on what is Jazz music and why it came to Harlem community. The essay would engage individuals interested in learning about different musical genres. Moreover, persons who are interested in anthological research, the history of New York, Jazz music or just the everyday reader would find this paper both fascinating from a historical and non-historical view. Specifically, the purpose of the research paper is to educate individuals on the influence of Jazz musical history in Harlem. The paper would focus on: what is Jazz music, how did it come to the Harlem community, what made Jazz so special in Harlem; how did the various diasporas within the Harlem community affected the Jazz culture at the time and why , along with mentioning the Southern Black American and Caribbean Puerto Rican migrants, and a Danish journalist during the era who influenced the community.

The influence of Jazz in Harlem occurred during the Harlem renaissance in the 20th century during the period of 1920s onwards to the 1930s [(Mc Millian, A (2006, July 6)], during this era the genre of Jazz music became a key-player in the Harlem community at the time, and forever transformed the community. The influence was particularly seen in music and the social lifestyle at the time. The Harlem community would become a famous community for the jazz genre in the entire world.

What Harlem Became known for – History of the Harlem Renaissance and its Pioneers

Additionally, during the time of the Harlem renaissance, key intellectuals were immensely popular in the development of Jazz in Harlem at the time such as Langston Hughes “the father of Jazz poetry” from the book “The Jazz poet from the Harlem Renaissance.” The author Ettitunde-Crompton (2019) throughout out the book highlights Hughes as renowned jazz poet at the time, with extraordinary contributions in Jazz poetry. Hughes was an African American poet at the time who created a new genre of poetry called “Jazz poetry” stated by Ettitunde-Crompton (2019). The genre of Jazz poetry was particularly important to mention as the musical style of Jazz influenced his writing style at the time such as the musical syntax of Jazz for example: rhythms, beats, singers, musical instruments commonly used in Jazz music. Along with the performance by big bands at the time and the 5 five emphasized by those bands. This became vital as the particular style of poetry highlighted Jazz not only being seen as a musical genre but documented as a genre of expression by his various poetic styles and literary devices to give a depiction of Jazz music.  The form of poetry he created began to influence the Harlem Jazz community, in many ways. Finally, his poetry became a voice for the documentation of Jazz at the time influencing the community and himself from his point of view. Hughes work became a key identifier on the influence jazz music on the Harlem community not only musically but in other artistic expressions and lifestyle.

The Jazz momentum in Harlem was an immensely powerful development within the community at the time. Jazz music or referred to as Bebop by Taborn (2018) in the book “The Development of Bebop (Jazz) in Harlem. In Walking Harlem (pp. 171–172).”  Documents the development of Jazz within the Harlem community. Along, with highlighting the origins and roots of Jazz originating from Southern Folk music and then being introduced into Harlem and being transformed into an entirely different art from its predecessor. Tabourn (2018) makes mention of the depictions of big bands performing and large social gatherings being the normal at Jazz events and functions, saying this was the way in which they enjoyed Jazz music Tabourn (2018). Moreover, mention is made as to how the musical composition of Jazz was changed in Harlem by the musical syntax at the time by the introduction and creation of various tones and keys, influenced by the Harem community Tabourn (2018).

In addition, various photographs and written documentation from this era can be found such as Lilleslåtten, M. (2020). “Jazz musician Duke Ellington was key to the Harlem Renaissance.” (“Everyone loving their jazz was not enough, the Harlem Renaissance …”) He had his big break at The Cotton Club in Harlem, New York and became world famous in the 1930s. Photo: Michael Orch Archives/Getty Images. [(seen below)] This particular photograph aids in the understanding of what Talbourn (2018) was expressing in the book, stating the type of socialization at Jazz events.

Photograph Depicting the Typical Gathering At A Jazz Event During The Harlem Renaissance

The photograph aids in understanding on what Talbourn (2018) was highlighting of Jazz being a lively socialization with the emphasizes on big bands being present and everyone seeming to have a lively time while performing.

The Legacy of Jazz Lives On

However, written documents and photographs do tell the story of the Jazz influence in Harlem, but the spirits of various Jazz musicians live on to tell a different story. At the time of the Harlem Renaissance various clubs and areas were notorious for hosting Jazz events, and as time went by places became famous and still are today for these events. The Article by the New York Times entitled “The Harlem Jazz Club where the spirit of Billie holiday lives on.”  written by Nadelson, R (2018) depicts this claim. The article supports that Jazz indeed did influence Harlem. The author then mentions people still practice Jazz within the community specifically at the Milton Playhouse. The article describes “the spirits” as the practice of Jazz music still existing and being practiced in Harlem in the same place where the ionic Jazz singer Billie Holiday once performed. The author of the article then discusses that the club is located in Harlem on 118^th Street and emphasizes the particular place had an influence on Harlem. Although Jazz faced a decline by internal and external factors as mentioned later in the paper by O’neal (2010)” The Ghost of Harlem”, the clubs is still existing today in the 21st century practicing Jazz music. The author from the New York Times then goes on the mention that the influence can still be somewhat felt in the younger generations Nadelson, R (2018), due to once being educated about the place and history and emphasizes as to why the place became a pioneer and why it would still be in the future.

Social Issues In Harlem, Did it change the community?

The Jazz music influence in Harlem emerged from the Harlem Renaissance onwards to the 21st century. The author Ford Vernon (2003), from the book “The Harlem Reader: a Celebration of New York’s Most Famous Neighborhood, from the Renaissance Years to the 21st Century” extensively depicts this, through highlighting the various changes which occurred throughout the years. The author mentions a statement of Harlem being New York’s most famous neighbourhood and crediting this due to Jazz music. Ford supports his claims by using a comparison and contrast effect of the past and present Harlem community and how Jazz has changed the community and evolved it Vernon (2003). Moreover, Ford evidently questions as to why Jazz had to changed and evolved to suit the community, and how the Southern American migrants at the time changed Jazz to match New York. The question is constantly raised if Jazz would be able to survive in the next generation and what would happen to Jazz. Questioning if modernity is bad for Jazz and if the post-war classical era was best for the Jazz lifestyle. For example: A comparison is made on the practice and socialization of jazz events at the time, particularly seen in the early years where, persons would enjoy playing Jazz music on the sidewalks in open areas constantly , but now in the modern 21st  century Jazz is not so commonly played and is only found in Jazz clubs such as Milton’s Playhouse . Specifically, Ford mentions that Jazz can only be found in specific Jazz only clubs where they are enjoyed only by a small group of individuals as compared to various decades where it was a mainstream genre Vernon (2003). From my perspective I compare this to radio stations such as Z100, Hot97 and Power 105 which play the popular songs and the Jazz genre is hardly played on these stations, this particularly shows Jazz is a very enclosed subgroup in the music world in the modern era. This may particularly be due to Jazz not being a mainstream genre when compared to Pop, Rap, R&B and Hip-Hop in this decade.

Societal Gender Norms Challenged 

However, Ford not only gives insights on the musical aspects of Jazz music and how it has changed but makes mention as to how Jazz tested the societal norms during that era. This was particularly done by various Jazz musicians at the time, during their performances. Jazz music must firstly be mentioned as a voice of the people and was definitely seen to be a voice.

Moreover, The turning point by Green (2020) evidently highlights the various societal tests done by the Harlem Renaissance from societal gender norms being broken, to LGBTQIA rights being challenged, women’s rights as well were all popular topic of discussion.

Green (2020) highlights the new birth of movements within the Harlem Renaissance.

…In an era when women were more severely retrained by gender roles, Glady Bentley made waves. The Harlem Renaissance was a more liberal era than the ones that came before and after it, and LGBTQ+ culture flourished, but Bentley still stood out. The New York Times explained, “In her top hat and tuxedo, Bentley belted gender-bending original blues numbers… (p.54)

The contribution done by Bentley allows the Harlem Renaissance to not be only about music but about human rights, women rights and LGBTQIA+ community rights. Although she was mainly a Blues singer, she did in fact affected the Jazz community at the time affecting, it within Harlem.

The image above was retrieved from Aron, N.R(2022, March 28) evidently shows how Gladys Bentley broke gender clothing stereotypes by wearing a tuxedo.

Test of the Harlem Jazz Community by Other Factors

Jazz in Harlem started to be challenged by various internal and external factors during the 1900s in the 40s and 50s by the influence of social factors such as drugs and wars the country was faced with at the time.  The book by O’neal (2010) “The Ghost of Harlem” emphasizes that social factors such as drugs and crime became an issue in the Harlem community. The social factors at the time affected the community dramatically, by even changing the socialization for Jazz events and the practice at the time. The drugs and crime rate affected the community, as persons became addicts and incarcerated for crimes and drugs causing more persons to become more alert O’neal (2010). This caused less people to be on the road for shorter times. The cautious lifestyle was not suitable for the Jazz lifestyle, as heavy outgoing and large groups were needed for this particular subgroup. Drugs became a more serious issue for the listeners and even players as when individuals became addicted to the drugs it caused various effects on their lives such as health and social relationships, leading to conflicts and various changes.

The “Ghosts” highlighted by O’Neal are Jazz legends such as Bobby Williams, Sammy Price and The Survivors documenting their lives at the time in Harlem, describing the change of the community and what the community became known for during that era. Particularly, now in the modern era the Harlem community is not only known for Jazz but is known to be a popular community for crimes and drug addicts to been seen within the community.

The questions asked, I created were:

1. Did Jazz cause this particular issue to arise from the heavy socialization?
2. Did the constant going out of individuals at the time cause the spread of drugs to become popular within the members of the community?

Various claims during the time make mention of this type of socialization being a key vector for the transmittance of drugs such as cocaine within the community and a perfect “breeding ground” for crime to take place. Making mention that Jazz did not only influence the Harlem community by music only but, causing negative social impacts as well, along with other facts such as poor housing and low-income earning affecting the community at the time expressed by O’Neal in the book. The change from this era became a permanent sigma and effect on the community still seen today in the modern era where crime is a severe problem within the Harlem community.

European influence on Jazz music

Jazz music may have been primarily popularized by African Americans but various diasporas and individuals who were not apart African American community contributed to Jazz music such as the Puerto Ricans and Europeans. At the time of the Harlem Renaissance a Danish journalist named Timme Rosenkrantz in the book Harlem Jazz Adventures: A European Baron’s Memoir, 1934-1969 (2012) contributed and actively engaged in the Jazz musical culture in the Harlem community. During his time as a journalist, he would constantly engage in Jazz recordings and sessions, by hosting some in his very own apartment, along with aiding in the production of Jazz music.

 Moreover, the contribution he gave to Jazz allowed for a more inclusive identity of Jazz listeners as the time, showing that Jazz was indeed opened to all races and ethnic groups, during a time in which racism was a predominant issue in America highlighted by Rosenkrantz (2012).

Also, Rosenkrantz actively engaged in the Jazz culture, allowing persons to have a better understanding of Jazz from someone outside of the traditional stereotype of a Jazz listener at the time, due to his active journalism in the field. The book “Harlem Jazz Adventures” written by Rosenkrantz allows persons to have a better point of view of what the Jazz influence in Harlem had at the time, not only from an African American perspective but from a Danish white American perspective. The influence of Jazz music in Harlem allowed many individuals of various ethnic backgrounds to come together as one while playing Jazz music.

Spanish Influence in Harlem

New York is often defined as a great melting point, due to the existence of various races and ethnicities found within the area, and the community of Harlem is no exception. Puerto Rico had just became a new American oversees territory from the Spanish American War. The Puerto Ricans at the time were granted American Citizenship and migrated to various parts of the United States such as Miami, Florida and Harlem, New York stated by Library of Congress [https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/puerto-rican-cuban/in-spanish-harlem/]. The early Hispanic Puerto Rican migrants from the Caribbean during the Harlem Renaissance period settled in modern day Spanish Harlem, El Barrio community and created an entire new identity. Puerto Ricans born in New York known as Nuyorican, a term coined by Jaime Carrero began to embrace their history with the Spanish Harlem community.

The book by Serrance “Puerto Rican musicians of the Harlem Renaissance” and the article by CUNY Hunter College entitled “Essential Readings: Puerto Rican Contributions to 20th Century American Music “evidently describes how Puerto Rican migrants created their own style of Jazz in Spanish. This was particularly from the Jazz musical influence in Harlem occurring at the time of their arrival. The Hispanic – Jazz influence in Harlem became a predominant influence in the early Hispanic settlers within the community and were appreciated by the Black people at the time. This created the mixing of the races and ethnicities were both used to perform Jazz together. Puerto Rican Jazz “Latin Jazz” is a mixture of the influence of Jazz in Harlem, along with traditional Folk music sounds of the island Puerto Rico in the Caribbean (Serrano 2007). The Folk music contains influence from West African music, European and also traditional Taino sounds from the West Indian Island Puerto Rico.  

Puerto Ricans began to influence the subgroups of contemporary Jazz and Lain Jazz. The new generations began to use the genre as a vessel of expression to identity their musical identities, creating a unique cultural experience in Harlem. Tito Puente a famous Latin Jazz musician quotes “If there is no dance their is no more” (Alvarado, 2022), this particular quote is extremely important in the Latin Jazz community as the creation also had influenced from the Latin dances such as Salsa. The big band playing and people dancing became an identifier of Latin Jazz music in Harlem. This sort of identity created a new form of attraction for music lovers in Harlem and the Latin Community.

Puerto Rican Women in Jazz

The influence of Jazz in Harlem was not only capitalized by males within the Puerto Rican community but females as well. The quote retrieved from the Meet the Author – Basilio Serrano: Puerto Rican Women from the Jazz Age: Stories of Success (2021, Mar 10), below highlights their engagement within the community.

Puerto Rican women were not only present in early jazz, but they played trailblazing and innovative roles and contributed to the emergence of the genre in the States and abroad. Serrano documents the success and achievement of several Puerto Rican women from the jazz age, as well as a brief discussion on current Puerto Rican women in jazz and surrounding issues affecting women in the arts today.

The image retrieved from the CUNY Hunter College (2021, March 10) shows women actively participating in the Jazz subculture. The women are seen playing woodwind and brass wind instruments. The lady on the left is holding an alto saxophone, middle a trumpet and the right is holding an alto saxophone. The contribution by the Hispanic Puerto Rican community in Harlem crated a new legacy in the Jazz, Latin and Harlem community.

What Made the Harlem Jazz influence Different

The Jazz influence in Harlem was not only caused by the New York lifestyle at the time but by the people within the community. The Jazz genre become an identity for them as a way to express themselves within their known way about their life and how Jazz made them feel.  Jazz became a voice for the people as they were able to infuse their own cultural aspects into the Jazz genre. Hence the Jazz influence in Harlem can be said to be seen both culturally and ethnically with the community.