Once reaching considerable skill, many Jenkins'
Orphanage Band players took their music on the road and becaome a part of
the Great Migration to Harlem. New York City acts as the place for a musician
to establish himself, and the members of the Jenkins Orphanage had the influence
of players like Duke Ellington and Fletcher
Henderson to further their desire to make the transition
to Harlem. As well as the influence of musicians before the Migration, Jenkins
members are encouraged to move to New York by former Orphanage
Band players. The players of the band tend to look after one another to help
with the transition into the New York music community.
Jenkins Orphanage Band players
often have the experience of travel which helps them to know the musical scene
that they are stepping into. Some band members drop out of tours
in a city, particularly New York. Along with the music, the bands bring dance
with them which begins to transform into popular dances such as The Charleston
and the Big Apple. Often the dances begin to change right on the floor of clubs
such as The Savoy.
Overall, the musical tools that the musicians have in Charleston transplant into Harlem, and in doing so start
to change and influence the already developing musical culture. From the roots of Africa and slavery, music and
dance migrate to Harlem to transform the sound of the nation in every musical arena imaginable.
