Jazz in the 1920s at the Athenaeum

Getting in the spirit of “The Talk of the Town” annual benefit celebration, the Athenaeum is pleased to present Jonathan A. Gómez, who will lecture on “Jazz in the 1920s,” on April 10, at 5:30 p.m.

Gómez will give a context of jazz during this period, highlighting the importance of the era’s innovative jazz artists. In addition to his discussion, he will play some key recordings after which he will hold a question-and-answer period.

Gómez is particularly interested in excavating the ways that Black people have turned to music as a site of identity formation, collaboration, community building, and political action. Gómez earned a PhD in Music from Harvard University with a secondary field in African and African American Studies, and his research interests are informed by his practice and experience as a jazz saxophonist.