Parisian Jazz & African American Expats: Standouts of 1920 – 40

In this lecture, explore evocative video clips which convey the presence and importance of key Black expatriates, the infamous Belgian born musician Django Reinhardt, and the cultural ferment raging in the Montmartre jazz district. Dave will focus on the red headed cabaret operator Ida “Bricktop” Smith, multi-instrumentalist Frank “Big Boy Goudie,” Arthur Briggs, known as “the Louis Armstrong of France” and pianist Freddie Johnson; the latter two who were interned by the Nazis for several years. Coalescing with these innovators, guitarist Django Reinhardt and French musicians invented an indigenous jazz genre. 

Dave Radlauer has been recounting stories of early jazz and swing on radio, in print and online for more than four decades, garnering six broadcast awards. His website, 200 articles and YouTube channel offer fresh perspectives on vintage music. For Stanford University Library Archives, he’s written interpretive online articles and donated a large collection of Bay Area jazz music and photos. Dave teaches Osher Institute Zoom courses for UCLA, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University and others. 

This month the JCCSF is featuring three connected presentations highlighting French art and music.  

On Tuesday, 10/28, don’t miss a docent lecture at the JCCSF on the Legion of Honor’s Manet and Morisot exhibition. 

Then on Friday, 10/31, join us for a presentation on French Opera by the SF Opera Dramaturg Emeritus.