Jazz in south Los Angeles and its connection to the community arts

From its early origins in New Orleans, jazz has always been considered a predominantly black art form. These roots run deep in the history of Los Angeles, however currently there is little pulse felt for the music in the city. This paper seeks to explore that rich history of jazz by examining the African American communities in South Los Angeles. Central Avenue and Leimert Park form the core focus of this research and unveil a strong community arts tradition. The racial and economic politics that divide L.A. contribute to the various waves where jazz has thrived in these black communities. This thesis questions whether there is a possibility of a re-strengthening of the bonds in the black communities of South L.A. which could result in yet another jazz era.