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Norman Granz, jazz as a fight

Photo : dr

Feb 25

Norman Granz, jazz as a fight

Forget the cozy club tales and dive into the visceral journey of the man who pushed jazz from dimly lit bars to world-class concert halls. This narrative explores his lifelong battle for civil rights alongside music giants while soundtracking the American jazz revolution. Come explore how one person’s defiance forever transformed the rhythm of a nation.

ECUJE (Paris 10th)

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About

Discover the remarkable influence of Norman Granz, the mastermind behind labels like Verve and Pablo Records, during a special lecture at ECUJE on Thursday, February 25, 2027. Historian Lionel Eskenazi explores how Granz transformed jazz from small clubs to international stages like Carnegie Hall while fighting for racial equality among musicians. This one-hour session, running from 18:30 to 19:30, offers a deep dive into the golden age of American jazz. Please note that this event is strictly for attendees aged 18 and over.

Founder of Clef Records, Verve, and Pablo Records, he helped move jazz out of clubs and into venues like Carnegie Hall and onto major international tours with Jazz at the Philharmonic.
Coming from a Jewish family that fled antisemitism in Russia, Norman Granz was also a defender of equality between Black and white musicians. Lionel Eskenazi will retrace his
journey and, with it, a large part of the golden age of American jazz.

Our take on this event

ECUJE hosts an insightful evening dedicated to the life and legacy of Norman Granz. As the creator of influential record labels such as Clef Records, Verve, and Pablo Records, Granz was instrumental in elevating jazz to a global phenomenon, famously producing the Jazz at the Philharmonic tours and bringing the genre to iconic venues like Carnegie Hall.

Beyond his production career, the lecture explores Granz's personal history as the child of Jewish parents who fled antisemitism in Russia. This background fueled his lifelong commitment to social justice and his unwavering stance on racial equality for performers. Speaker Lionel Eskenazi will guide the audience through this intersection of music and civil rights on Thursday, February 25, 2027, from 18:30 to 19:30.

The event takes place at 119 Rue La Fayette, in Paris's 10th arrondissement. Tickets are available at 10 € for general admission and 15 € for the reduced rate. This event is intended for an adult audience aged 18 and up.

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