Shared Rhythms: The Jewish Musicians Who Helped Shape American Jazz
American jazz grew from Black musical traditions, especially blues, ragtime, and spirituals, as well as the cultural life of African American communities . As jazz expanded across the United States, however, musicians from many backgrounds entered the scene and helped carry the music into new spaces. Jewish musicians became especially visible as performers, composers, arrangers, and bandleaders during the first half of the twentieth century. Through collaboration, experimentation, and public performance, they contributed to jazz while learning from the Black artists who created its essential language. Their participation also reflected the larger story of immigration, urban life, cultural exchange, and changing ideas about American identity. Jazz Flourished in a Changing Urban America During the early twentieth century, American cities became centers of cultural exchange. New York, Chicago, and other urban areas brought together African American communities, Jewish immigrants, European...