The Jazz Connection

France's Love Affair with Jazz: From the Great War to the Occupation

• African-American soldiers introduced France to jazz during World War I.
• Jazz became popular during les années folles, or “the crazy years”, when all art forms were changing and tastes turned to the unconventional and exotic.
• The Hot Club de France was formed in the early 1930s to promote jazz in France, and Louis Armstrong was elected Honorary President of the club in 1936.
• The Hot Club helped jazz take root in post-war France and "discovered" French talent such as Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.
• During the Second World War, the Hot Club claimed that jazz was "traditional French music" to survive under occupation.
• Music experts made "adjustments" to make jazz seem more French, such as changing the name from "swing" to "jazz" and translating song titles into French.
• Hot Club members were active in the Resistance and used jazz concerts and conferences as cover to pass information to England.
• The Hot Club headquarters in Paris was raided and some officials were arrested, but jazz survived and kept French company during the occupation.
• After the war, jazz became woven into French culture and France remained faithful to the music.
• Jazz has a special place in French culture, and the world's first international jazz festival was held in Nice, France in 1948.
• Jazz in France is an example of the power of music to bring people together and promote cultural exchange.
• Louis Armstrong's performance in French exemplifies the way jazz has been adapted and embraced by French culture.

Step into the world of jazz and discover France's love affair with this iconic music genre. From its introduction by African-American soldiers during World War I to its survival during the occupation of France in World War II, jazz has played a significant role in French culture. Take this quiz to learn about the history of jazz in France, the formation of the Hot Club de France, and the ways in which jazz was adapted to suit French tastes. Test your knowledge of this musical phenomenon and discover the power of jazz