New York & Kansas CityChapter 5© Shutterstock, Inc.© B&T Media Group Inc., 2012. Used with permission fromShutterstock, Inc.
Pre-Swing Era DevelopmentsDuring the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, a number of socialand economic forces were coming together that wouldultimately transform pop culture in America. During these“pre-swing era” years the music business was rapidlychanging and becoming more centralized. Radio networkswere launched that increased its already powerful influence,and public dancing was becoming more and more popularas a way for people to forget about their troubles.© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.
New York and Kansas CityJazz was rapidly changing to keep abreast with thesedevelopments, and during these years the typical jazzensemble grew in size, smoothed out its rhythms andstandardized its instrumentation.As Chicago declined in influence, the most important centersfor the development of jazz became New York and KansasCity.As the largest city in America, New York had alwaysbeen an important music city and was a logical destinationfor musicians looking for work.© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.
Move to New YorkMany of the top jazz musicians moved toNew York in the late 1920’s and early1930’s, and found literally thousands ofnightclubs, speakeasies, cabarets anddance halls.© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.
Kansas CityKansas City on the other hand, with its isolated, rural setting,was an unlikely locale to support an important music scene.Nonetheless, Kansas City was the most wide-open town inAmerica, and the music that came out of it was exciting,modern, and literally drenched in the blues.Like NewOrleans and Chicago before them,New York and KansasCity each had a rich tradition of mixing politics andcorruption that was good for jazz.© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.
Harlem RenaissanceAs an important destination point for the GreatMigration, by 1920 the northern Manhattanneighborhood of Harlem had become the largestblack community in America.Along with the newimmigrants came optimism and a belief that thecity was experiencing an awakening of the “NewNegro.”Photos (click)© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.
Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance, as it wascalled, was focused on the arts: theatre,literature, art, poetry, and music.© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.© isaxar, 2012. Used with permission fromShutterstock, Inc.
Other leaders of the Harlem RenaissanceLeaders of the Harlem Renaissance include authorsZora Neale Hurston,James Weldon JohnsonandLangston Hughes, and black nationalistMarcus Garvey.Zora Neale HurstonWroteTheir Eyes Were Watching God. (1937), writtenduring her fieldwork in Haiti and considered hermasterwork; andMoses, Man of the Mountain(1939).Photos (click)© 2012, Shutterstock, Inc.
Nationalist Marcus GarveyThe Battle Hymn of Africa (black poetry)Africa's sun is shining above the horizon clear, the day for us is rising, for black men farand near; Our God is in the front line, the heavenly battalion leads, Onward, make yourbanners shine, ye men of noble deeds. There's a flag we love so well. The red, the blackand green, Greatest emblem tongues can tell, The brightest ever seen.
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