‘History of Jazz in NYC’ Webinar & 78rpm Listening Party: Vaudeville Days

Flashback to 1917, New York City. A line of people stretches for blocks outside of Reisenweber’s Cafe at Columbus Circle, all hoping to hear and dance to the tunes of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, who are showcasing a new music style straight from New Orleans. From Harlem’s mob-run night clubs in the 1920s, to the narrow basement joints lining 52nd Street in the 1930s and ’40s, to the downtown Greenwich Village spots in the 1940s and ’50s, that one concert would lead New York City to eventually become the undisputed Jazz Capital of America. This is the story of the music, musicians, and venues that defined New York’s pioneering era of jazz.

Join New York Adventure Club for the first of a seven-part series on the full history of jazz in New York City — Chapter 1: Vaudville Days will take us through the madcap world of the city’s entertainment and recording industries in the 1910s and ’20s, and showcase the role they played in introducing jazz to the world.

Led by DJ and jazz historian Matthew “Fat Cat” Rivera, this virtual presentation and listening party will include:

• An overview of the rise of jazz in New York from 1915-1923, and the vaudeville stages where audiences first saw and heard jazz
• A discussion around key moments, artists, and venues in NYC’s jazz scene during this burgeoning period
• A deep dive into the music of the legendary pioneers like the Original Creole Band, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, and W.C. Handy — father of the blues
• A listening party featuring a curated selection of one-of-a-kind 78rpm records, played on a vintage high-fidelity sound system throughout the evening

Any and all questions about jazz are welcomed and encouraged!

See you there, virtually! $10.

*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar*

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Chrome and Firefox are the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

History of Jazz in NYC Series

Chapter 1: Vaudeville

Chapter 2: Blues

Chapter 3: Harlem

Chapter 4: Swing Street

Chapter 5: Kingdom of Swing

Chapter 6: Greenwich Village

Chapter 7: BeBop

Testimonials

“Loved the music and the slides. The host as wonderful.” -Jeff

“Matthew did such a great job, I learned so much, & so enjoyed the way he conveyed all his research & knowledge, & the music was amazing of course!” -Mary

“It was very informative with a good mix of music and discussion.” -Andrea

“I enjoyed the stories that showed the different stages of acceptance in NYC of jazz artists” -Christopher “Enlightening, wealth of information” -Fran

“It was a cool event, it really ended up being like one of those NPR or Island records DJ’d sessions” -Joy

“Loved it! Loved the topic! Would love to hear it again and more like this!” -Christine