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Harlem in Paris: Birth of Jazz in France Small Group Walking Tour
4.8
36 Ratings
Paris
Discover the captivating story of how jazz music made its way from Harlem to Paris, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of the Jazz Age. Join our small group walking tour and explore the birth of jazz in France.
Discover the captivating story of how jazz music made its way from Harlem to Paris, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of the Jazz Age. Join our small group walking tour and explore the birth of jazz in France.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Place Blanche - Just next door to the Place Blanche is the location of Josephine Baker’s club, called “Chez Josephine”. Known as the “Black Venus of Paris”, Baker became a French national and lived here from 1925 until her death in 1975.
After starting her career in vaudeville shows in Harlem, Baker arrived in France in 1925 as a dancer for the NY…
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Place Blanche - Just next door to the Place Blanche is the location of Josephine Baker’s club, called “Chez Josephine”. Known as the “Black Venus of Paris”, Baker became a French national and lived here from 1925 until her death in 1975.
After starting her career in vaudeville shows in Harlem, Baker arrived in France in 1925 as a dancer for the NY Syncopated Orchestra, accompanied by a young clarinet player named Sidney Bechet. She headlined the orchestra’s new show, the “Revue Negre”, which was commissioned by the Theatre des Champs Elysées. It was an audacious show featuring 13 dancers, 12 musicians…and Josephine Baker, aged 18 & wearing very little more than feathers. Her erotic dancing fascinated the French & turned her into an immediate star, an icon.
What's Included
- Live music during the tour
- Photo opportunities
- Live music during the tour
- Photo opportunities
What's Not Included
- Food & beverages not included
- Hotel transfers not included
- Food & beverages not included
- Hotel transfers not included
Additional Information
New Orleans is acknowledged as the birthplace of Jazz… yet, it was in New York and Paris, specifically in Harlem and Pigalle, that the Jazz Age thrived. When World War I ended, many African American artists migrated from Harlem to Paris, introducing a new genre of American-born music : jazz. Towards the late 1920s, Paris boasted more than 300 jazz…
New Orleans is acknowledged as the birthplace of Jazz… yet, it was in New York and Paris, specifically in Harlem and Pigalle, that the Jazz Age thrived. When World War I ended, many African American artists migrated from Harlem to Paris, introducing a new genre of American-born music : jazz. Towards the late 1920s, Paris boasted more than 300 jazz clubs, bars, and cabarets, primarily located in Pigalle. This intriguing tale follows the men and women who established Paris as a Jazz hotspot, paving the way for the Roaring 20s.
Location
Artemisia Montmartre
Rue Fromentin
The exact location of the meeting point will be provided a few days prior to the visit. It will be near the Place Blanche.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(36 Ratings)
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Teresa_b
Oct 8, 2025
Black Jazz Tour - The tour starts after an informative sit down hour intro, detailing in narrative & video form the history of how Blacks came to France, bringing jazz with them. Afterwards, you’ll going on an hour walking tour through the Paris streets, observing buildings where jazz clubs used to be & being given details of the jazz influence in the city & Black culture.
Review provided by Viator
Beverly_p
Oct 6, 2025
Right balance of history and walking - Guide was very knowledgeable of jazz music history and musicians. I enjoyed her historical pictures and memorabilia. Walking tour of the area was interesting.
Review provided by Viator
Casandra_p
Sep 28, 2025
Great Tour for Jazz Lovers - This tour was the highlight of our trip! We learned so much about how jazz came to France. Ellen was tremendous and her presentation was A+. I will tell all my friends that this tour is a MUST!
Review provided by Viator
Jeanine_d
Sep 27, 2025
Amazing tour - Ellen’s tour was very educational including a full understanding of the history, old photos, and recordings of songs. You can imagine the excitement of the jazz era through her details. By no fault of Ellen’s, the buildings where all of the venues were are no longer functioning venues and are sometimes entirely vacant so you must use your imagination for what the area must have been like. We loved the tour and highly recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Ann_f
May 27, 2025
Great informative jazz tour! - Ellen is incredibly knowledgable about the history of jazz in Paris. The tour was so informative and we got to see the sites of past jazz clubs in the city. If you're a fan of jazz music, this tour is for you!
Review provided by Viator
Theodore_m
Apr 15, 2025
Harlem in Paris Rocks as a tour - Fantastic tour. Ellen was so knowledgeable and had videos to supplement the background information. Great tour.
Review provided by Viator
Politikchik
Apr 13, 2025
I was very impressed with... - I was very impressed with our guides professionalism and how well prepared she was. She included a powerpoint style presentation with video/audio clips which we viewed over a drink at a very beautiful hotel before walking around the neighborhood. It was clear that she put a lot of research and attention into this tour and I would absolutely recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Drnicolespeaks
Apr 11, 2025
Powerful, Eye-Opening, and Deeply Inspiring - This was an excellent tour—one of the most meaningful experiences I had in Paris. It shared little-known African American history that’s deeply connected to France, especially during the early 20th century. From the birth of jazz in Paris to the rich cultural contributions of Black artists, writers, and musicians, this tour brought to light powerful stories that are rarely told - but history that deserves to be remembered and preserved.
One of the most impactful parts of the tour was learning the true life story of Josephine Baker. Beyond the glitz and glamour, her courage, activism, and influence were incredibly moving. I walked away with a deeper appreciation for her legacy and so many others whose stories have been overlooked.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Paris. Whether you’re into history, culture, or just want to experience something unique, I guarantee you’ll learn things you never knew. Don’t miss this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Otis_m
Mar 18, 2025
Great review of great Jazz musicians in Paris. - Ellen is a professional that has throughly researched the introduction of Jazz in Paris.
She shows original, songs, documents, audio, and video, of some of the greatest Jazz artists of the past. In many instances, you can see the actual buildings where they played their music. But it’s much more than a history lesson. The efforts of her research brings to life those great musician’s character in ways you may have not heard or known,
She took her time to explain thru PowerPoint presentations the points and facts of history she spoke of from memory. The presentation set the mood for the well paced walk thru the district. The contributions made by these musician and their impact on Paris life needs to be told correctly and thoroughly as Ellen did.
Review provided by Viator
Carrie_l
Sep 17, 2025
Disappointing and not worth the expense - Less than half of this tour was walking, most was spent in an insignificant Hôtel restaurant. It is in a great area with so much history I would have liked to experience so much more outside and covered more area. Also while touring our guide made disparaging remarks about a special needs person who thankfully was being helped by a local restaurant employee and other passersby. For the price of this tour I expected so much more. How do you have a Harlem in Paris tour without one mention of James Baldwin?
Review provided by Viator
