During the 1920’s, there was a transformative period in American history, known as the Harlem Renaissance. A movement that celebrates African American art, culture, and music. Tied to this movement was the emergence of jazz. A versatile music genre that reflected the creativity of the African American communities that were based in Harlem, New York. This paper takes a deeper look into the musical aspects, the importance of culture, and the rich history behind the coming of jazz and the Harlem Renaissance, putting an emphasis on the impact African Americans had on society. Musical Aspects: Jazz music came into African American communities in the early 20th century, incorporating a wide variety of musical styles and traditions. This includes blues and ragtime. Its complexity …show more content…
During the Harlem Renaissance, jazz music often featured a mixture of African and European musical traditions, with elements of call-and-response, rhythms, and melodies. This mixture of styles reflected the diversity between the two cultures in Harlem's music scene, where musicians from different places worked together to exchange ideas to create revolutionary works of art. Cultural Context: The Harlem Renaissance emerged at the same time as the Great Migration, a mass movement of African Americans from the Southern part of the US to the North. In Harlem, New York, African American communities had many opportunities to express themselves and their cultures, leading to artistic creativity and intellectual ferment. Jazz music became the sound of the Harlem Renaissance, capturing the joyful and exciting moments of this era. Jazz clubs and speakeasies became more and more popular and played a significant role in Harlem's nightlife. Bringing in large audiences from different backgrounds and cultures. Many well known musicians rose to prominence during this era, becoming icons of the jazz age of African American culture. Jazz music served as an empowerment for