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Jazz music has been popular inFrance since the 1920s. Its international popularity peaked in the 1930s, and it has been continually enjoyed since.
FollowingWorld War I, a number of American expatriates settled inParis and began to build up a jazz scene. France did not suffer from racial discrimination as much as the US, so a mixture of musical styles from different cultures began to emerge.[1]
As withBrazil, the French were at first concerned it was too American of an influence before "making it their own". Although in the case of the French, the adjustment proved faster, as by the 1930s, jazz had become acceptable. Between the 1930s and 1950s, thebiguine, a style of jazz from theFrench Caribbean was popular among dance orchestras. Lacking recognition at home, several biguine artists fromMartinique moved to mainlandFrance, where they achieved greater popularity in Paris, especially in the wake of the colonial exhibition in 1931. Early stars likeAlexandre Stellio andSam Castandet became popular inParis.[2] An important event in that it is the creation of theQuintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. This is among the most significant jazz groups in European history.[3]
Starting in the late 1940s, theLe Caveau de la Huchette would become an important place for French and American jazz musicians. Many American jazz artists have lived in France fromSidney Bechet toArchie Shepp. For example,Sidney Bechet settled in France in 1949 and played with Claude Luter and André Réwéliotty. These Americans would have an influence on French jazz, but at the same time, French jazz had its own inspirations as well. For example,Bal-musette had some influence on France's form ofGypsy jazz. Similarly, the violin, and to an extent the guitar, were traditionally more popular in French jazz than American. Related to that,Jean-Luc Ponty andStéphane Grappelli are among the most well-respected violinists in the history of jazz. That stated, the violin is also popular in Eastern European jazz.[citation needed]
In 1970,Walt Disney Pictures paid humorous tribute toFrench jazz of the 1930s with its hit cartoonThe Aristocats, who performed their standard song Everybody Wants to Be a Cat ("Tout le monde veut devenir un cat") during ajam session in Paris with a view of theEiffel Tower.
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