Places like Connie's Inn, and its chief rival The Cotton Club, attract many high rolling musicians. There's no reason to doubt why -- the money, the press, and the exclusivity are obvious, undeniably salivating opportunities. However, the rent parties are where you see the people, the real people. Not the ghosts of people as dim skinned as the lights flashing all around them. The real people work hard, and they go to rent parties to dance, not to be observed. They dance in the homes of people they may or may know, who host parties to make rent and give other people a safe space to drink, enjoy music, and have a groovin' good time. It's no wonder the famous musicians we see on signboards are in attendance, or else playing, at these house shows! Among the regulars are Fats Waller and Walter Johnson, but occasionally someone real special moves through town. They stay a while, they make music, they play music, and they bring a little extra flavor to Harlem, from a place inspired by Harlem.
We are in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance. Many artists who play here participate in conflicting, but wholly separate music scenes. There are clubs, and there are rent parties.
CHICAGO
NEW ORLEANS
If a great musician isn't from Harlem OR Chicago, I guarantee you they passed through Chicago before arriving here to play.
Chicago and New Orleans aren't popping with culture the way our New York borough is, but some great musicians were born in New Orleans, heard from Willie "The Lion" Smith, and HAD to see what our scene was all about!
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BEYOND BORDERS