Jazzwalk: A Guided Jazz Tour

Ever wonder why Queens came to be known as the home of jazz? Our 1.5 hour van tour will lay it all out for you—from the Great Migration of African Americans out of the South after World War I and the spread of jazz from New Orleans; how New York City emerged as the jazz capital of the country as the music genre’s national popularity exploded; to how specific areas of Queens, most notably the Addisleigh Park section of Jamaica, emerged as the neighborhoods of choice for some of the most recognized jazz musicians, sports figures and other personalities in the nation. And of course you will “swing” by the homes of the most notable residents of this unique artistic community, learning about their accomplishments--and within that context, the work they were doing while they lived here. We’ll also discuss Addisleigh in the context of the broader Queens jazz community, and your guide will undoubtedly share a personal story or two relating to some of the giants who lived in the area. At the completion of the tour you’ll be able to go directly to one of the Downtown International Jazz Festival’s featured events. Cost of the tour: $25 (concert tickets will be sold separately) Here’s a list of the musicians and others whose homes we will visit: Jazz Other Fats Waller W. E. B. Dubois – Author, Civil Rights Activist Count Basie Jackie Robinson -- Baseball Ella Fitzgerald Roy Campanella -- Baseball Lena Horne Joe Louis – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Milt Hinton Babe Ruth -- Baseball Mercer Ellington James Brown -- Musician Illinois Jacquet John Coltrane Lester Young  More Info below.