After a mass government raid of the Chicago speakeasies, King Oliver arrived in Manhattan in 1927 and was offered the house band position at the Cotton Club. When he declined, a young bandleader and composer who had come to New York from Washington D.C. in 1922 filled the position. Heavily influenced by the Fletcher Henderson big band sound, this aspiring musician jumped at the chance to develop a rapport with a working band that only a steady gig could offer. That young musician, Edward "Duke" Ellington became one of the most important of all American composers as well as one of the most prolific and influential figures in jazz.

Many factors led to the passing of the original big band era, including the rise of white big bands, the Depression, World War II, and, as always, changing interests. Eventually the next generation established rock ‘n’ roll as its own musical insignia. Still, though the Cotton Club closed its doors in 1940, and the Roseland Ballroom, now located a block north, no longer features jazz artists, New York City remains a vital center of jazz. There are hundreds of clubs throughout all five boroughs. Such Manhattan spots as Iridium, the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note continue to draw jazz musicians and fans from around the globe. In addition, Manhattan annually hosts major summer jazz festivals, and Jazz at Lincoln Center (see below) has become a world-famous arts institutions. The City of New York, birthplace of the big band seven decades ago, is still making jazz history today.