Final answer:
Duke Ellington's jazz music was a key part of the Harlem Renaissance in NYC during the 1920s and 30s, reflecting the cultural and artistic explosion of African American expression in venues like the Cotton Club.
Step-by-step explanation:
Duke Ellington's jazz music was a crucial part of the Harlem Renaissance, which was an intellectual, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York City, in the 1920s and 1930s. This movement was characterized by a flourishing of African American culture across various forms of expression, including music, literature, and art. Jazz, emerging from African American communities, was a vital expression of this renaissance and gained widespread popularity. Venues like the Cotton Club became hotspots for jazz performances, attracting both Black and white audiences. The Harlem Renaissance was a melting pot of styles and cultures, where traditional African American expressions melded with other elements to create something entirely new and integral to the American cultural landscape.