Jazz in the Hill: Nightlife and Narratives of a Pittsburgh Neighborhood

In Jazz in the Hill: Nightlife and Narratives of a Pittsburgh Neighborhood, Colter Harper explores how jazz shaped the Hill District and created a self-determined African American community. He highlights the network of patrons, business owners, and musicians who were actively invested in community building, addressing distinctive eras and issues of twentieth-century American urban history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2024
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

In the vibrant city of Pittsburgh, the Hill District played a pivotal role in the cultural life of the Black community from the 1920s to the 1960s. It was not only a hub for jazz music but also a vibrant neighborhood that fostered a unique way of life. Colter Harper's book, Jazz in the Hill: Nightlife and Narratives of a Pittsburgh Neighborhood, delves into the profound impact of jazz on this community, exploring how it shaped the neighborhood and created a sense of identity.

Beyond being mere backdrops for remarkable careers, jazz clubs in the Hill District played a crucial role in the development of a self-determined African American community. These clubs became centers of social and cultural activity, providing a space for individuals to express themselves, network, and build relationships. They sparked entrepreneurship, placemaking, labor organizing, and critical listening, all of which contributed to the growth and development of the neighborhood.

Harper's book adopts a broad approach to understanding jazz clubs, focusing on the network of patrons, business owners, and musicians who were actively invested in community building. He highlights the connections between these individuals and larger political contexts, processes of urban development, and civil rights struggles. By examining the history of entrepreneurship, placemaking, labor organizing, and critical listening in the Hill District, Harper forges connections to broader political and social movements of the twentieth century.

Jazz in the Hill provides a valuable case study detailing the intersections of music, political and cultural history, public policy, labor, and law. The book addresses distinctive eras and issues of twentieth-century American urban history, including the Prohibition Era (1920–1934), the mid-twentieth-century boom in urban redevelopment (1946–1973), and the civil rights era (1954–1968). Throughout, Harper demonstrates how jazz clubs, as a nexus of music, politics, economy, labor, and social relations, supported the livelihood of residents and artists while developing cultures of listening and learning.

While the Hill District has undergone extensive socioeconomic transformation, this musical legacy continues to guide current development visions for the neighborhood. The book serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the potential for music to shape and inspire communities. As the Hill District undergoes its remaking, it is essential to honor its rich musical history and incorporate it into the future development plans to ensure that this cultural legacy thrives for generations to come.

Weight: 504g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496849861