The Devil's Music

          That which is new and that which is different fall victim to harsh opposition and criticism; jazz music was not exempt from this rule of thumb. The Roaring Twenties brought forth a great Jazz Age in America. During its nascent stages, it was berated by racist white people, women’s organizations, and classical musicians. Jazz introduced new musical and social elements. It featured syncopation which added to the fluidity and improvisation of the performed pieces. It was also said to have given off suggestiveness, but this could have been based off of its association with the promiscuous dance moves of that time such as the Charleston, the voodoo dance, and the turkey trot. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the Jazz Age is the social reform it brought about. Jazz stemmed from African Americans who were then banned from performing in many white night clubs. Therefore they found work in speakeasies run by the mafia during the times of the Prohibition. It was in these illicit institutions where the blacks and whites intermingled. Jazz music originated in New Orleans, but later moved north to Chicago, and finally in Harlem, New York. Jazz arrived in Harlem, a predominantly African American area, during the times of the Harlem Renaissance. Some prominent leaders of the African American community and the Harlem Renaissance also criticized the music, believing it to be “ghetto”. Despite the opposition it faced, jazz prevailed. It began to be performed by white men, most notably Paul Whiteman, who went so far as to call himself the “King of Jazz”. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are considered the most famous African American jazz players. By the 1930s, jazz became a more respected art form and remains so until today. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/jazz.html