Students Learn about Harlem Renaissance From Living Legends

By Staff

What better way to learn about the great blues and jazz movements that grew out of Harlem in the 1920’s and 1930s than from the musicians who were a part of that revolution?
That is just what happened when five living legends who make up the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band recently came to speak and perform for a group of students enrolled in the liberal arts cluster, “Harlem on My Mind: the Harlem Renaissance in Words, Actions, and Sound.”
During the hour-long class, the guests vividly described the legendary Harlem of the 20’s when people could go from club to club and listen to such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Cab Calloway.

“That was jazz,” said Al Casey, a guitarist who became world renown for his long association with “Fats” Waller. Like Mr. Casey, each of the veteran jazz and blues musicians performed with the preeminent musicians who created this new genre of music for America.
The visit is one of the engaging learning activities coming out of the teaching cluster that immerses the students in the music, dance, and literature that came out of that dynamic section of New York City during the early 1900’s.

“Through a combination of classroom instruction, guest lectures, presentations, and activities that take place outside the classroom,” said Humanities Professor John Williams, who is teaching the American music course, “we are giving the students an enriched learning experience.”

During another guest visit, a choreographer discussed the role of the choreographer in classic rhythm tap dance as it relates to the Harlem Renaissance. Accompanying the choreographer were two tap dancers who demonstrated classic tap.
Outside of the classroom, the students have participated in such activities as a walking tour of Harlem and a guided visit to the Schomberg Center in Harlem. 

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