Project: Jazz in Florida

Jazz music emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries utilizing a variety of musical devices, including improvisation, polyrhythms, and syncopation. In Florida, Jazz groups (musicians and listeners) play an important role in the local music scene. In the early years of jazz music, venues consisted of mainly nightclubs and dance halls. By the 1940’s and 1950’s Jazz was at its height in popularity. Public interest declined around the same time, in part due to the changes in mainstream music, specifically the birth of rock and roll. Today jazz music is performed in a variety of venues and contexts, a mixture of nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, and music festivals.

This exhibit explores the function of Jazz in Florida from its emergence in the early 20th century until today. Including historical narratives and legal accounts of the music and dancing scenes in the Tampa Bay area.