Most times Detroit's jazz history is over looked by Motown or the city's techno scene or even Eminem. Not by everybody of course, but most people will list those points of Detroit's musical history before they'll get into jazz. But the city has a rich history that we all must know. This piece dives into that, touches on the legendary Paradise Valley and Black Bottom neighborhoods, speaks on the likes of violinist virtuoso Regina Carter and pianist Geri Allen (Cass Tech grads), and, of course, there are the clubs, like Baker's Keyboard Lounge.
Excerpt from
Arts Works (via the National Endowment for the Arts):
Although not often thought of as one of the great jazz cities—as New
Orleans, Kansas City, and New York often are—Detroit nurtured many
ascendant jazz artists and proved a significant venue for touring
groups. In the early 20th century, Detroit was one of the destinations
of the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to northern
cities due to the numerous manufacturing jobs of the auto industry. The
city became a regular stop for touring jazz artists, such as the Duke
Ellington Orchestra and McKinney's Cotton Pickers, particularly in the
Paradise Valley and Black Bottom neighborhoods, where many theaters
began springing up. Jazz became an intricate part of the black
community, bringing a new vitality to the city.
Detroit was fertile ground for many musicians who are now
acknowledged masters of the idiom. More than a dozen NEA Jazz Masters
are hometown Detroiters, including Curtis Fuller, Milt Jackson, Hank and
Elvin Jones, and Yusef Lateef, among others. (Check out our NEA Jazz
Masters website section for bios of and interviews).
Read the entire article here.
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