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

28 Reviews 4.89 out of 5 stars Based on 28 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 96% of reviewers | Paris, France

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2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
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Overview

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.

What's Included

  • There will be music, photos & videos throughout the tour
  • Food & beverages not included
  • Hotel transfers not included
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Rue Fromentin
75009 Paris, France

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Place Pigalle
Paris, France

Place Pigalle

What To Expect

Place Blanche

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.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rue Mansart

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.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

rue Pierre-Fontaine

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.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Place Blanche

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.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rue Victor Massé

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.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Harlem in Paris : the Birth of Jazz in France (Small Group Walking Tour)?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CEST).This tour 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. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-71076P24

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Reviews

4.89
28 reviews

Average 4.89 out of 5 stars based on 28 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
26
4 stars
1
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0

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What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • There will be music, photos & videos throughout the tour
  • Food & beverages not included
  • Hotel transfers not included

Additional Info

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Report Product Issue

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Free Cancellation

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CEST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour 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.

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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