Paris has a strong historical link with jazz (especially the Left Bank, I would be tempted to say). One of the most important styles of music of the 20th Century, the exhibition shows how it started in the USA and developed through Europe and France in the 30s and 40s. Also, the links between jazz and the graphic arts are explored…

Jean-Michel Basquiat – King Zulu, 1986. (c) Meseu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona. Collecio MACBA.


In ten chronological sections, the exhibition brings together works of art, objects, documents, illustrated sheets of music, posters, records, record sleeves, photos… all of which should give the visitor a strong emotional link with the principal events in the history of jazz.

(c) The Library of Congress, Washington

The ten sections are:

1 – Before 1917.The ‘birth’ of jazz inNew Orleans, New York and Chicago
2 – « Jazz Age » in America 1917-1930. The rise of jazz after the First World War
3 – Harlem Renaissance 1917-1936. Jazz finds its place, but also painting, drawings and illustrations
4 – « Jazz Age » in Europe 1917-1930. From Jean Cocteau to Francis Picabia, from Kees van Dongen to Fernand Léger, the jazz virus hit every realm of culture in Europe between the two World Wars
5 – The Swing years 1930-1939. Teh big bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller…
6 – War Time 1939-1945. During this dramatic period, Jitterbug was the dance and Piet Mondrian, who had emigrated to New York, discovered Boogie Woogie
7 – Bebop 1945-1960. A musical revolution launched by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis…
8 – West Coast Jazz 1949-1960. « Fresh and refined », Hollywood tried its hand at jazz
9 – The free jazz revolution 1960-1980. Music from Ornette Coleman, sleeves by Jackson Pollock… The black liberation movements — Black Power, Black Muslims, Black Panthers – make their action felt all over
10 – Contemporary jazz 1980-2002. Jazz’s presence in and influence on contemporary art is still considerable.

And there are other events organised around the exhibition:

* the Trio Boi Akih salon de musique on 14th March

* a cycle of ‘Africa jazz’ concerts, with conferences and meet ‘n’ greets around the theme of jazz, from 20th – 28th March

* guided visits of the exhibition starting 21st March

* cinema: carte blanche for the cinémathèque de la danse. Showings of films about jazz Saturday 21st and Sundays 22nd/29th March

* a Jazz before-party on 4th April

* Meeting in the Jacques Kerchache reading room on 18th April and 17th May

* a Spring break in New Orleans programme from 11th – 19th April

* other films programmed from 14th – 24th May

Here’s all the essential information for the Jazz Century exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly

When: 17th March – 28th June 2009
Where: Musée du Quai Branly, 37 quai Branly, 75007 Paris. Métro Alma-Marceau (line 9). RER line C – Pont de l’Alma. Bus n°s 42, 72, 80, 92
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11am – 7pm, late night opening Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 9pm. Closed Mondays
Admission: 7 euros adults, 5 euros concessions, or ticket including entrance to the permanent collection 10 euros / 7 euros. Free for under-18s. Free Saturdays for 18-25 year-olds
Official site: here
Page Wikipedia : ici

Bigger map here