--- title: "Harlem in Paris : the Birth of Jazz in France (Small Group Walking Tour)" lang: en alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/france/paris/tours/harlem-in-paris-the-birth-of-jazz-in-france-small-group-walking-tour/ type: tour city: Paris country: France price: 90 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.86 reviews: 44 duration_minutes: 150 languages: [en, fr] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 35 of 54 (Walking Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-01 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/tours/harlem-in-paris-the-birth-of-jazz-in-france-small-group-walking-tour/ --- # Harlem in Paris : the Birth of Jazz in France (Small Group Walking Tour) **Guidekin's take:** Trace the links between Harlem, Pigalle and the arrival of African American jazz artists in Paris on a private tour for your party. Music, photos and videos accompany the walk; food, drinks and hotel transfers are excluded. 4.86 from 44 reviews at €90 per person for 2h 30m. In our comparison: #35 of 54 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Jazz was born in New Orleans....but the Jazz Age flourished in New York & Paris, or to be more precise, Harlem & Pigalle. After WW1, numerous African American artists emigrated to Paris from Harlem, bringing with them a new style of music born in America : jazz. By the late 1920s, there were over 300 jazz clubs, bars and cabarets in Paris, for the most part in Pigalle. This is the fascinating story of the men and women who made Paris a mecca for Jazz, ushering in the Roaring 20s. ## Before you book - Meeting point: The exact location of the meeting point… - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - Starts 14:00: one departure a day - Food not included: Food & beverages not included - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €70: ages 5 to 11 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €90 per person - Duration: 2h 30m - Rating: 4.86/5 from 44 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Visit the Hidden Paris - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: English, French - Start times: 14:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-01 ## Reviews 4.86 from 44 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 95% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 42 of 44. - 5 stars: 41 (93%) - 4 stars: 1 (2%) - 3 stars: 1 (2%) - 2 stars: 1 (2%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the researched jazz stories and historical recordings; some wanted more street exploration **Praised:** - Detailed stories about Black musicians and their influence on Paris - Historical photos, videos and music clips that illustrate the stories - An enthusiastic guide whose storytelling reflects extensive research - An easy walking route with a relaxed pace **Complaints:** - Some wanted more street exploration, while others liked the mix of presentation and walking Written by Guidekin from the 39 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2021-09-23 to 2026-09-04); last checked 2026-10-03. ## What's included - There will be music, photos & videos throughout the tour ## Not included - Food & beverages not included - Hotel transfers not included ## Itinerary 1. **Just next door to the Place Blanche is the location of Josephine Baker's club...** (10m) - Just next door to the Place Blanche is the location of Josephine Baker's club, called "Chez Josephine". Known as the "Black Venus of Paris", Baker became a French national and lived here from 1925 until her death in 1975. After starting her career in vaudeville shows in... 2. **Next we stop at the bistro where Louis Armstrong would dine after rehearsals ...** (10m) - Next we stop at the bistro where Louis Armstrong would dine after rehearsals in the recording studio just up the street. There he discovered the delights of choucroute (sausage & cabbage) & where he met local Gypsy Jazzman Django Reinhardt. 3. **After visiting Josephine Baker, we will stop in front of Zelli's, the mythica...** (10m) - After visiting Josephine Baker, we will stop in front of Zelli's, the mythical Parisian cabaret of the 1920s. It was the most popular club in the city thanks to its avant garde jazz music. Here we will "meet" the fascinating Eugene Jacques Bullard, son of a freed slaved from... 4. **We will discover the Jazz Ladies & their legends** (20m) - We meet Bricktop, Queen of Pigalle, who arrived in Paris with $24 in her pocket. After establishing herself, she went on to rub shoulders with royalty & celebrities. Then we "meet" Valaida Snow, the 2nd best trumpet player in the world (Louis Armstrong's words!). She played 8... 5. **Sadly the club is closed, a victim of Covid** (10m) - But in front of the club we will hear the story of Alberta Hunter, an extraordinarily talented blues singer. Having lived the Jazz Age in both Harlem & Paris, she abandoned music in the 1940s to become a nurse for 20 years. At the age of 83 she was persuaded to come out of... ## Schedule - Runs: Thu - Departures: 14:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-01 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point The exact location of the meeting point will be provided a few days prior to the visit. It will be near the Place Blanche. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJo4i3Qk9u5kcRtqJ12gCIhLg Ends: Place Pigalle ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible - Suitable for all physical fitness levels ## Cost for your party | People | Total | Per person | |---|---|---| | 2 | €180 | €90 | | 4 | €360 | €90 | | 6 | €450 | €75 | Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Walking Tours start at €1 per person. ## Compared with other Walking Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #35 of 54** | €90 | 2h 30m | 4.86 (44) | private | | [Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based)](/france/paris/tours/paris-city-center-free-walking-tour-tip-based/?format=md) | €3 per group | 2h 15m | 4.97 (2147) | shared | | [Montmartre District and Sacre Coeur - Exclusive Guided Walking Tour](/france/paris/tours/montmartre-district-and-sacre-coeur-exclusive-guided-walking-tour/?format=md) | €55 | 2h 30m | 4.98 (418) | private | | [Paris Highlights: Half Day Private Walking Tour](/france/paris/tours/paris-highlights-half-day-private-walking-tour/?format=md) | €350 per group | 3h | 5.0 (206) | private | Ranked #35 of 54 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €1 to €225, median €55; typical length 2h 15m. 13 of 54 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/walking-tours-paris/?format=md ## More in Paris - All Paris tours: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/tours/harlem-in-paris-the-birth-of-jazz-in-france-small-group-walking-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/?format=md