Harlem In Paris : The Birth Of Jazz In France (Small Group Walking Tour)

This was really good. Our tour guide was awesome and shared so many interesting and little known facts.

A great time. The tour guide was lovely, knew her stuff, fascinating material, and it was fun to see what the old clubs looked like in the day, and now. Spent the night listening to Valaida Snow, Mabel Mercer, Alberta Hunter, Bobby Short.

Ellen taught us a lot about jazz in Paris and the history of black musicians. We had a thorough discussion, lots of information and also walked around to see monuments to artists and clubs. We left with knowledge about past and present jazz clubs

Ellen is a very knowledgeable tour guide with historical tourism and a spicy and fun personality. We enjoyed her a lot and enjoyed how she dances along while the jazz music is playing☺️. Ellen set the tone on how tour guides should be.

A relaxed and informative journey to Paris of the past that honors the early jazz greats. A must go if you are a history buff.

It is a good tour. Easy way to learn a lot about jazz in Paris. The walking is light and pleasant!!!

We really enjoyed this tour. Our guide was very thorough and kept us and our children entertained. It was a great experience.

The tour starts after an informative sit down hour intro, detailing in narrative & video form the history of how Blacks came to France, bringing jazz with them. Afterwards, you’ll going on an hour walking tour through the Paris streets, observing buildings where jazz clubs used to be & being given details of the jazz influence in the city & Black culture.

Guide was very knowledgeable of jazz music history and musicians. I enjoyed her historical pictures and memorabilia. Walking tour of the area was interesting.

This tour was the highlight of our trip! We learned so much about how jazz came to France. Ellen was tremendous and her presentation was A+. I will tell all my friends that this tour is a MUST!

Ellen’s tour was very educational including a full understanding of the history, old photos, and recordings of songs. You can imagine the excitement of the jazz era through her details. By no fault of Ellen’s, the buildings where all of the venues were are no longer functioning venues and are sometimes entirely vacant so you must use your imagination for what the area must have been like. We loved the tour and highly recommend it.

Less than half of this tour was walking, most was spent in an insignificant Hôtel restaurant. It is in a great area with so much history I would have liked to experience so much more outside and covered more area. Also while touring our guide made disparaging remarks about a special needs person who thankfully was being helped by a local restaurant employee and other passersby. For the price of this tour I expected so much more. How do you have a Harlem in Paris tour without one mention of James Baldwin?

Ellen is incredibly knowledgable about the history of jazz in Paris. The tour was so informative and we got to see the sites of past jazz clubs in the city. If you're a fan of jazz music, this tour is for you!

Fantastic tour. Ellen was so knowledgeable and had videos to supplement the background information. Great tour.

I was very impressed with our guides professionalism and how well prepared she was. She included a powerpoint style presentation with video/audio clips which we viewed over a drink at a very beautiful hotel before walking around the neighborhood. It was clear that she put a lot of research and attention into this tour and I would absolutely recommend it.

This was an excellent tour—one of the most meaningful experiences I had in Paris. It shared little-known African American history that’s deeply connected to France, especially during the early 20th century. From the birth of jazz in Paris to the rich cultural contributions of Black artists, writers, and musicians, this tour brought to light powerful stories that are rarely told - but history that deserves to be remembered and preserved. One of the most impactful parts of the tour was learning the true life story of Josephine Baker. Beyond the glitz and glamour, her courage, activism, and influence were incredibly moving. I walked away with a deeper appreciation for her legacy and so many others whose stories have been overlooked. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Paris. Whether you’re into history, culture, or just want to experience something unique, I guarantee you’ll learn things you never knew. Don’t miss this!

Ellen is a professional that has throughly researched the introduction of Jazz in Paris. She shows original, songs, documents, audio, and video, of some of the greatest Jazz artists of the past. In many instances, you can see the actual buildings where they played their music. But it’s much more than a history lesson. The efforts of her research brings to life those great musician’s character in ways you may have not heard or known, She took her time to explain thru PowerPoint presentations the points and facts of history she spoke of from memory. The presentation set the mood for the well paced walk thru the district. The contributions made by these musician and their impact on Paris life needs to be told correctly and thoroughly as Ellen did.

You don't want to miss this if you're in Paris! The guide was extremely well prepared and her enthusiasm about the subject matter brought an extra dose of joy to the tour. She also supplemented the tour with delightful A/V support through her smart tablet. This was a mother-son vacation in Paris and it was definitely worth our time. I suggested to the tour guide that she should do a Podcast given her knowledge, insights and enthusiasm - I hope she does! I definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to learn about Jazz and the many great artists who shared their phenomenal talents with this wonderful city.

It was very interesting to hear about all the contributions that African Americans made to the French culture and freedoms.

learned a few items about some historical figures i didn't know about but for the ones i cover in my college classes there was nothing new.

This was one my most favorite parts of my visit. The tour was very informative and Ellen is a great guide. Definitely worth doing

The Magnificent “Mrs. Ellen” will guide you on your Harlem in Paris! The “Harlem in Paris: the Birth of Jazz in France” walking tour is a fascinating exploration of a unique cultural infusion that reshaped the Parisian music scene. This tour delves into the warm reception of African American service members by the French during World War I, a pivotal moment that laid the groundwork for an enduring friendship. This connection facilitated the flow of Harlem’s jazz into the heart of France, where it found a passionate audience. The tour brilliantly highlights the remarkable accomplishments of African American entertainers, musicians, and writers who made Paris their home. These pioneers not only brought their art to the European stages but also thrived as entrepreneurs, with many owning clubs, homes, and businesses that became central to their communities in Paris. The narrative includes tales of legendary figures like Josephine Baker, who became a star on the Paris stage and an icon of the Jazz Age, and writers like Langston Hughes, whose work resonated with themes of freedom and racial harmony. As you walk the streets of Paris, the tour vividly brings to life the vibrant atmosphere of the jazz clubs during the Roaring Twenties and the profound impact of these artists on French culture. The “Harlem in Paris” tour is not just a historical journey; it is a tribute to the resilience and creativity of a community that, despite facing adversity, left an indelible mark on the world.

Ellen was extremely knowledgeable & kind. She’s a phenomenal storyteller who clearly did a great deal of research & pulled together a cohesive & detailed tour.

Ellen is amazing!. She is an amazing storyteller. I’ve been looking forward to this tour with her for a while. She provided pictures, videos, songs of artists and a souvenir booklet, something I’ll always cherish. Joy B.

Very well delivered history with nice walk. The iPad added pictures and recordings of these amazing musicians. So good!

The tour starts meeting in an old brothel in the red light district Great History lesson and some interesting facts.

Ellen was the perfect tour guide. Her extensive research and love for jazz was evident as she shared the Harlem experience in Paris with me and my daughter. I highly recommend this tour that revealed unknown facts about the African-American presence in Paris.

Very informative and pleasant experience with Ellen. I highly recommend to anyone who loves jazz and Paris.

This tour exceeded my expectations. I was particularly interested in Josephine Baker. There were so many musicians covered, including many unknown and untold stories of Black Jazz musicians who earned their place on this tour and in our history books. The tour started in a speakeasy-style bar that was fascinating in and of itself. Ellen has done such a beautiful job putting together the stories of the black musicians who made Paris home and shared so much history and context of the time. The tour included music clips of the artists discussed and pictures to accompany Ellen's amazing storytelling. I plan to take other tours with Ellen when I return to Paris.

Traveling with friends, we ended up being the only four on this tour with Ellen and it was amazing! She was accommodating when we had to reschedule at the last minute and still made our tour feel scandalous even though it was during the day with coffee instead of cocktails! Between the detailed presentation Ellen showcases along with the history of jazz, we were captivated. Ellen is a dream and we will definitely be taking more of her tours next time we are in Paris. Thank you!!!

Harlem to Paris Jazz Tour was more than I expected. It was thorough and filled with information I wasn't aware of. The setting at the velvet Brothel-themed hotel was a great segue into the tour, as it set the mood. I felt transplanted to the times of Josephine Baker and all of the Black Americans who launched their careers and businesses there. I look forward to the literary tour on my next trip. Ellen was a great tour guide! The tour was 5-star all the way!

The experience starts at a local cafe where the host provides a lot of rich history and facts. It was a great touch with the ability to listen to some of the music. Then we proceeded to walk to where some of the historical clubs used to reside. Really good tour! I learned a lot.

I'm so, so glad we did this Walking Tour. Ellen provided a wealth of knowledge, about the origination of Jazz in Paris, and Jazz Artists (known and unknown) who left an impact on the renaissance music scene. This is for anyone who wants to pull back some layers and go beyond the typical tourists excursions, and dive deep into some of Paris' best kept secrets. I've already shared the stories learned with some of my family and friends back home. Another plus - we traveled w/ our 1 year old, and the route was very easy to walk with a stroller. Thank you Ellen!

It was lovely and we wish we could of spent more time wandering the streets of Paris to unveil more hidden gems of Black Americans that lived in Paris.

Ellen was a wealth of knowledge on the history of Harlem jazz in Paris. She shared intriguing (and sometimes scandalous) information on jazz icons while also introducing me to a few lesser known jazz greats. The stories kept me eager to hear more. The walking multi-media tour is a must for jazz aficionados and history buffs!

This is full of history and story telling that brings the lives of well and lesser known black artist to life that makes their achievements inspiring today. Definitely a great renewal for black Americans as the walking tour provided history of a race, while sharing the story of the building’s they owned.

Our tour guide was highly informative and provided excellent insights and personality into the guided tour. Left with a desire to want to learn much more

Great for jazz lovers or those interested in black history. 2.5 hours in the Pigalle area. Majority of time spent in front of location of old jazz clubs, with Ellen telling detailed stories about the musicians, their music and their lives. She adds some video clips and photos and plays some music - all on her iPad - to enhance the storytelling. Just as she advertises, detailed, well researched, clear script. Ellen originally from U.S. so great for English speaking guests. Something very unique for your time in Paris. I highly recommend both Ellen, and this particular tour.

This tour was amazing and definitely a highlight of my time in Paris. It was clear that Ellen had put a great deal of time and passion into compiling the backstories and videos that tell the story of many of these forgotten performers. As we walked through the neighborhood, she pointed out their incredible influence and contributions to Paris culture, music and in some cases assistance in both world wars. I really felt as if I traveled back in time as we stopped at several locations that used to be clubs either owned or frequented by African American performers. The pad that Ellen provides is full of pictures and videos and really brought these talented people back to life. It also helped me envision what the area looked like in the years following the first war when Pigalle was filled with night clubs and jazz music. This tour is definitely worth the money and the time and will give you a slice of Parisian history often overlooked. Thank you, Ellen, for offering it. I really had a great time!

The Guild is move than a history buff, she has a passion. It turned out to be just the 4 of us. So we were able to go at our own pace. There were pictures and music from the past as we stood in the present. So many things I didn't know. Fascinating. This should be on everyone's "must do" list when you come to Paris.

Ellen provides a wonderful insight into the time of the birth of jazz in Paris: super researched, presented with joy and charm! Thank you, Ellen, I learned a lot and am happy about the inspiration to want to know even more about some artists!

Ellen is amazing, a charming American who makes me discover "my Paris" like no one else. It was the second visit and now that I have left the capital, she will be my guide at each of my visits. She thought about everything, hydroalcohol gel, little touches continuously and tablet with music and videos.... I felt like I was going home and dancing in every place. Got back to listening to jazz obviously lol. Thanks, Ellen.

I was delighted with the tour provided by our guide, it was excellent. It was a stroll in the footsteps of the greatest African American artists. I loved and enjoyed the comment both historical and musical. All embellished with vintage photos and videos. A rich tour covered!!