East Harlem Was Harlem

In 1880, Central Harlem was just starting to be filled in with residences and people. West Harlem, and the Upper West Side, for that matter, was nothing but farmland.

In the map (above) of populated blocks, note how much of Manhattan’s development was east-side based. The East River, not the Hudson, was the waterway of commerce, industry, and communication. Also, the early development of the New York Harlem railway up 4th Avenue (AKA, Park Avenue) meant that commuters on the East Side could get up, down, and out of New York rapidly.

In 1880, the west side of Manhattan (above Columbus Circle) was nothing but farmland and vacant lots, awaiting development. And, as we know, with the promise of a subway that would go up the west side then hook around the top of Central Park, and go uptown along Lenox or 8th Avenue (Frederick Douglass Blvd.) , speculators overbuilt in Central Harlem and precipitated the over-built housing crisis that eventually led real estate entrepreneurs like Philip Payton to leverage the housing glut into providing homes for Black New Yorkers.

Philip Payton Jr.

Disney > Harlem = Jazz

The National Jazz Museum on 129th Street, just east of Lenox Ave is hosting a Disney “Soul” themed regional jazz exhibit “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure”

“The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” debuts Feb. 1, 2021, at The American Adventure inside EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This new exhibit features artifacts from renowned jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong’s trumpet (pictured). (Kent Phillips, photographer)

The exhibit was first introduced at The American Adventure inside EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and has previously been hosted in New Orleans and Kansas City.“Like the film that inspired this exhibit, ‘The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure’ is a tribute to the human experience,” said Carmen Smith, Senior Vice President, Creative Development – Product/Content & Inclusive Strategies. “It was here in Harlem that Jazz not only evolved as an international sensation, but a vehicle for social change. The genre’s enduring influence is a palpable example of the barriers that can be broken when ambition and artistry meet passion and purpose. We’re proud to partner with the National Jazz Museum to preserve and celebrate that special kind of magic.”

The exhibit, the opening of which coincides with the beginning of Black History Month, acts as a tribute to a musical art form originated by African Americans. The exhibit highlights many different cultures and creators who influenced this evolving genre, and visitors can join Joe Gardner, the musician from Disney and Pixar’s hit movie “Soul,” as they tour through the rich history of jazz.

During its run in Harlem, the exhibit will include a collection of jazz artifacts curated by the museum, including Duke Ellington’s white grand piano, a player piano, and a working 78rpm Victrola. The exhibit will also include maquettes of “Soul” characters Joe Gardner and Dorothea Williams as well as virtual experiences that visitors can interact with on the Play Disney Parks app.

“If Jazz was born in New Orleans, it spent a lot of time growing up in the Harlem community, and that energy is palpable, even today” says National Jazz Museum in Harlem Executive Director Tracy Hyter-Suffern. “Our commitment to exploring the Roots & Routes of Jazz emphasizes the ways Black music continues to shape society and global culture. Harlem is one of the world’s cultural destination points. Our partnership with Disney is a unique opportunity to celebrate Jazz, community and Harlem.”

“The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” will be on display until Aug. 31. The National Jazz Museum is located at 58 West 129th Street and is open Thursday through Saturday from 12 p.m. through 5 p.m., and masks are required. Proof of vaccination is required for visitors over 12 years old. For more information or to reserve and your entry in advance, visit www.jmih.org.  To learn more about the exhibit, visit www.disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog.


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