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Harlem in Paris : the Birth of Jazz in France (Small Group Walking Tour)

icon 3 hours Mobile ticket Free Cancellation
Tickets from € 85.00

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November 2024
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Jazz was born in New Orleans....but the Jazz Age flourished in New York & Paris, or to be more precise, Harlem & Pigalle. After WW1, numerous African American artists emigrated to Paris from Harlem, bringing with them a new style of music born in America : jazz. By the late 1920s, there were over 300 jazz clubs, bars and cabarets in Paris, for the most part in Pigalle. This is the fascinating story of the men and women who made Paris a mecca for Jazz, ushering in the Roaring 20s.
  • There will be music, photos & videos throughout the tour
  • Food & beverages not included
  • Transfer
Departure Point

11 Rue Fromentin, 75009 Paris, France The exact location of the meeting point will be provided a few days prior to the visit. It will be near the Place Blanche.

  • Pl. Blanche, Paris, France
    Just next door to the Place Blanche is the location of Josephine Baker's club, called "Chez Josephine". Known as the "Black Venus of Paris", Baker became a French national and lived here from 1925 until her death in 1975. After starting her career in vaudeville shows in Harlem, Baker arrived in France in 1925 as a dancer for the NY Syncopated Orchestra, accompanied by a young clarinet player named Sidney Bechet. She headlined the orchestra's new show, the "Revue Negre", which was commissioned by the Theatre des Champs Elysées. It was an audacious show featuring 13 dancers, 12 musicians...and Josephine Baker, aged 18 & wearing very little more than feathers. Her erotic dancing fascinated the French & turned her into an immediate star, an icon.
    10 minutes
  • Rue Mansart, 75009 Paris, France
    Next we stop at the bistro where Louis Armstrong would dine after rehearsals in the recording studio just up the street. There he discovered the delights of choucroute (sausage & cabbage) & where he met local Gypsy Jazzman Django Reinhardt.
    10 minutes
  • Rue Pierre Fontaine, 75009 Paris, France
    After visiting Josephine Baker, we will stop in front of Zelli's, the mythical Parisian cabaret of the 1920s. It was the most popular club in the city thanks to its avant garde jazz music. Here we will "meet" the fascinating Eugene Jacques Bullard, son of a freed slaved from Martinique. He became the 1st African American fighter pilot in history. Fighting for the French, he flew 30 missions and downed 2 German planes, earning a promotion to Corporal & the nickname "Black Jacques". After the war, he learned to play drums and was hired as a musician at Zelli's, where he rose to the position of manager. With backing from Joe Zelli, he opened his own night club, the Grand Duc, where he offered a mix of hot jazz & soul food, becoming one of the most popular clubs in Paris.
    10 minutes
  • Pl. Blanche, Paris, France
    We will discover the Jazz Ladies & their legends. We meet Bricktop, Queen of Pigalle, who arrived in Paris with $24 in her pocket. After establishing herself, she went on to rub shoulders with royalty & celebrities. Then we "meet" Valaida Snow, the 2nd best trumpet player in the world (Louis Armstrong's words!). She played 8 different instruments, she sang, she danced and she charmed audiences everywhere. A beautiful and talented woman, she became a star in Europe in the 1930s. In 1940, while playing in Denmark, she was arrested by the Nazis. Saved in a prisoner exchange, she returned to the US a broken woman, but recovered and went on to pursue jer jazz career.
    20 minutes
  • Rue Victor Massé, 75009 Paris, France
    Sadly the club is closed, a victim of Covid. But in front of the club we will hear the story of Alberta Hunter, an extraordinarily talented blues singer. Having lived the Jazz Age in both Harlem & Paris, she abandoned music in the 1940s to become a nurse for 20 years. At the age of 83 she was persuaded to come out of retirement and she relaunched her singing career, becoming a star all over again with her sublime voice.
    10 minutes
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Dawn_M
12 Oct 2024
You don't want to miss this if you're in Paris! The guide was extremely well prepared and her enthusiasm about the subject matter brought an extra dose of joy to the tour. She also supplemented the tour with delightful A/V support through her smart tablet. This was a mother-son vacation in Paris and it was definitely worth our time. I suggested to the tour guide that she should do a Podcast given her knowledge, insights and enthusiasm - I hope she does! I definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn about Jazz and the many great artists who shared their phenomenal talents with this wonderful city.
aphumphrey1
04 Sep 2024
It was very interesting to hear about all the contributions that African Americans made to the French culture and freedoms.
Girard_M
21 Aug 2024
learned a few items about some historical figures i didn't know about but for the ones i cover in my college classes there was nothing new.
This tour in Paris is organized by Visit the Hidden Paris

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