Friday and all that jazz

Jane at Life Begins at Retirement said she would like to see a jazz menu which made me start thinking I need to do one once a month. Because the genre is comprised of so many different sounds, I am going to start with regional jazz. Those of you who read this regularly know I am from the south, Alabama to be state specific and to even reduce it to a smaller geographical area I live in a suburb south of Birmingham. I thought since I live here and know the hows and whys of foods from this region I might as well start my menu here.

Way back in the early to mid 1900's two streetcar lines stopped at turnarounds at 19th street and Ensley Avenue, in the western part of town. Both lines passed through some of Birmingham's predominantly African American neighborhoods and it was a cheap way to travel to and from work. Like any area with a lot of people getting off or changing lines, commerce was not far behind. By the early 1900's that corner and the surrounding area housed stores, cleaners, bars, and restaurants.

(This is an artists rendering of the corner at that time I lifted off a travel website. I have no idea where any credit should go, but this is definitely not mine, but it was a cool image so I put it here. BTW that building with the funny corner was still standing the last time I was in this area)

Now this is where things have a bit of unpleasant history. I was not born and had nothing to do with it so please don't blame me. In the 20's this became the hub of African American entertainment in the city. Jazz arrived in the city and since most of the musicians who played it were African American, it naturally gravitated to the area with the heaviest black population. Soon the places grew and it became the communities go-to spot  for listening and dancing to jazz. In fact due to segregation it was the about only area African Americans could hang out after work to socialize while dancing. Legend has it that the places in the area required a strict fancy dress code and since most of the men were on their way home from some sort of industrial job they were not dressed appropriately. Remember that at the time Birmingham was primarily a heavy industry town and most people worked in the coal or steel industry. The legend continues that there were places for the men to clean up and rent a tuxedo for the night out on the town. So it was a turn-around junction where tuxedos were rented for the night, hence the name. I might be propagating a myth but in the words of Mark Twain, " Never let the truth get in the way of a good story".

Before too long the fun and fame started getting out and people came from all over the state to enjoy it. Then it really boomed and Tuxedo Junction became a hot spot for entertainers and fans alike, with people traveling from everywhere to perform or just enjoy the night life.

One of Birmingham's own, Erskine Hawkins, began his performing days there, later made it out in the world, and became part of the nation's jazz scene.  He wrote this lovely jazz classic remembering the music of those days and later added the lyrics. I thought it only fitting to have his band's instrumental recording, followed by the version with lyrics.

And what might an early summer 1920's Alabama meal prior to some great music and happy feet be?

iced sweet tea

black eyed peas

fried fatback

hoecakes 

either fried corn or corn on the cob

sliced tomatoes.

green beans,

sliced peaches,

cucumbers

sliced cantaloupe

This was before the days of a/c and the women did most of the cooking early in the morning, so the night time meals could be warmed  and the only heat would be from the stove top.  Some of you might think I am just kind of inventing or read about this meal, but trust me I have eaten it all my life. Until I was a pre-teen we had no air conditioning and my mom cooked early and re-warmed. Come back Monday for recipes and a glance at what a Southern summer supper (yeah we don't really call it dinner here) looks like.