Jazz in Harlem, 1920s-40s

Jazz in Harlem, 1920s-40s

From At the Jazz Band Ball by Kevin McLaughlin

February 3, 2026 · 59 min · Season 1 · Episode 45

About this episode

An audio walking tour exploring the vibrant jazz scene in Harlem during the Prohibition era, featuring iconic music and artists.

Audio walking tour of Prohibition era Harlem, courtesy of illustrator E. Simms Campbell: A Night-Club Map of Harlem, 1932. Music: Cab Calloway. "Minnie the Moocher" Presenting Cab Calloway & His Orchestra. Minnie the Moocher (Theme Song) (78rpm Version), 1932; Duke Ellington and His Washingtonians. "Choo-Choo (Gotta Hurry Home)" Choo Choo. Blue Disc, 5001, 1924; Cab Calloway. "Reefer Man" The Best of Cab Calloway (various) . RCA, 1931; Chick Webb and His Orchestra. "Harlem Congo" The Chick Webb Collection . GRP/Decca Jazz Heritage, 1937; Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday; dir. Fred Waller - "Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life " Film short, music. Cult Cinema Classics, 1935; Gladys Bentley - "Worried Blues" (1928) - Roots 'N' Blues/The Retrospective 1925-1950; Fats Waller and His Buddies, "Harlem Fuss " Harlem Fuss. Victor V-38050-B, 1929; Nina Mae McKinney "Half of Me Wants to Be Good" Short film excerpt "The Black Network". Vitaphone, 1936; Garland Wilson, piano; Michel Warlop, violin "Limehouse Blues" Midnight Ivory - The Early Garland Wilson Recordings. ℗ 2025 Jazz Classics, 1938; Adelaide Hall. "As Time Goes By" Barry Humphries Presents So Rare 3. ℗ 2006 Bilarm…

People in this episode

Host: Kevin McLaughlin

Topics covered

  • Jazz history
  • Harlem Renaissance
  • Prohibition era
  • Music analysis
  • Cultural commentary

Keywords

  • Harlem
  • jazz
  • Prohibition
  • Cab Calloway
  • Duke Ellington
  • music history
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • cultural commentary

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Minnie the Moocher, Choo-Choo (Gotta Hurry Home), Reefer Man, Harlem Congo, Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life, Worried Blues, Harlem Fuss, Half of Me Wants to Be Good, Limehouse Blues, As Time Goes By

Places: Harlem

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