Swinging Into the Future

Kansas City of the 1930s witnessed a style of American music inspired by the wonders of the industrial age

By Joel Dinerstein | December 7, 2020

Moten’s band, shown here in 1932, played music propelled by what Albert Murray called “the velocity of celebration.” (Pictorial Press/Alamy)

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Joel Dinerstein is a cultural historian and professor of English at Tulane University, specializing in jazz, race, and popular culture.

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