Disney debuts 'The Soul of Jazz' at Harlem's National Jazz Museum — and across cities in the US
Experience the magic (and soul) of Disney in a city near you.
Right now at The National Jazz Museum in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem, you can relive the story of Joe Gardner — the musician from Pixar's animated film "Soul" — while learning more about Black history through jazz artifacts and virtual music trivia via the Play Disney Parks app. The exhibit is open from now until Aug. 31, 2022.
Related: 5 destinations where you can learn about Black history in America
Last year, Disney first debuted its "The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure" exhibit at Walt Disney World's Epcot park (located in the American Adventure pavilion) following the 2020 release of "Soul."
Now, Walt Disney brings that experience to life by partnering with local jazz museums across the U.S.
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Recreating the Epcot experience
Walt Disney has already recreated the Epcot experience through regional exhibits at The New Orleans Jazz Museum and the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City over the past year.
The latest installment of the exhibit can be seen at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
The National Jazz Museum is a small venue that captures the rich history of jazz musicians and Harlem. You can't miss The Ellington Piano, the piano once owned by American composer and jazz icon Duke Ellington, located in the front of the museum, and you'll find the Soul exhibit where Joe Gardner comes to life toward the back.
The National Jazz Museum is open Thursdays through Saturdays. Museum entry is free, but donations are encouraged.
Don't miss out
Opening day was full of excitement and energy, and there was even a live jazz band for this special event. In place of the jazz band, museum guests can take plenty of pictures alongside characters from the film like Joe Gardner and Dorothea Williams.
The museum also showcases artifacts from jazz musician and pianist Dr. Billy Taylor, who helped inspire the main character, Joe Gardner. You'll even find iconic animated windows along the walls of the museum, taking you directly into the scenes of Soul, such as when the barbershop owner cleans up and when Joe walks along the street.
Next stops for 'The Soul of Jazz' exhibit
Disney's ambition is to continue to launch these regional exhibits across the six American cities that shaped jazz into what we know and love today: New Orleans; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Kansas City, Kansas; Chicago; New York; and Los Angeles.
With three cities already crossed off the list, we're hoping to follow "The Soul of Jazz" in San Juan, Chicago and Los Angeles very soon.