Blog #2

In the 1920’s, both Chicago and New York were both a part of the jazz music.  New York however was the more important place and had a bigger impact on jazz during this time.  New York was a place full of new opportunities for every person associated with the city.  The diversity seen here and the integration of people forced the creation of different communities throughout the whole city.  Because of the endless opportunities, many people believed that New York influenced the status of black men as well.

            New York has been a piece of jazz history for a long time.  Jazz was seen and heard in New York not only in the 1920s but also before the migration.  Social and economic conditions in New York were always providing opportunities for everyone.  Because jazz music was popular during this time, people enjoyed listening and dancing to it, which meant that there were going to be jobs for musicians to provide the joy that this music brought.  The racial communities in New York brought many new cultures and traditions that were brought together.  The integration of the diverse backgrounds in New York helped shaped the style of jazz as well in the 1920s.

            During this time, there was a Harlem style of jazz.  This style was then split up into two Harlems- the Harlem Renaissance and the Harlem of rent parties.  During the Harlem Renaissance, “an entire elite had come together, drawing confidently on the full range of human expression…in which creative thought could flourish” (Gioia, 94).  This Harlem was in full support of the black culture and had a great sense of community.  The Harlem of rent parties on the other hand, was associated with “harsh economics, low salaries, and looming rent payments” (Gioia, 94).  Despite the harsher living conditions, this was the Harlem that created music.  Rent parties were “the special passion of the community” (Gioia, 95).

            The art form that best represents the culture and community of New York, I believe is ragtime.  With ragtime came the creation of the stride piano which was “the center of new music” (Gioia, 96).  Ragtime was a widely known type of music and also fit into the many diverse groups of people in New York.  According to Gioia, “ragtime was played all over, in bars, cabarets and sporting houses” (96) connecting to each of the different crowds of New York.  Jazz music connects to the audience through communication to an audience and tells stories through the communication.  This aspect of the style of music relates to Bakhtin in how he says that in every story there is someone in mind.