The Roaring Twenties: The Jazz Age: Urbanization

The 1920’s, which is commonly known as the Jazz Age, was a time when urbanization in America was rising. The 20’s marked the first time that more Americans lived in cities instead of farms. Industrialization made it possible for many people to head to large city centers such as New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Kansas City. In these large cities there was a new culture emerging, which included the evolution of jazz music and jazz dance. Many young people like the new found freedom of the cities and wanted to go out and experience new things. According to the HISTORY television network jazz bands would play at dance halls like Savoy in New York City and the Aarogon in Chicago. Also radio stations and phonograph records made it possible for people all across the U.S to listen to Jazz music.

This video is some of Joe 'King' Olivers music who demonstrated the New Orleans style of jazz.

Large city centers were the ideal place to find jazz music in America during the twenties. African Americans were the main contributors to jazz music and African Americans lived in cities where jazz was booming such as New York and New Orleans. In New Orleans African Americans would congregate and share their music with each other. Many of the great jazz artists who flourished live in New Orleans, however many musicians were forced to leave New Orleans due to racism such as Joe ‘King’ Oliver and Louis Armstong. The 1920’s was considered the Golden Age of jazz in New York because it appealed to all people and was very popular. Jazz was based on improvisation and there was a different style and technique in each city. Also since there was still segregation there was a difference in jazz between the black culture and the white culture. By the end of the 1920s jazz could be heard on nearly every street corner and in every club or dance hall.