Afro-Cuban Jazz: Origins, Rhythms, Collaborations, and Recordings
Explore Afro-Cuban jazz through its origins, clave and rhythmic foundations, influential collaborations, major musicians, and essential recordings.
Billy M. Spikes
Jazz and Brazilian Music: Bossa Nova, Exchange, and Influence
Explore the relationship between jazz and Brazilian music, from bossa nova and João Gilberto to landmark collaborations, rhythmic ideas, and essential recordings.
Jazz Cities: The Places and Communities That Shaped the Music
Explore the cities and communities that shaped jazz, from New Orleans and New York to Havana, Paris, Johannesburg, and Tokyo, with history and listening routes.
Jazz Around the World: Local Scenes and International Exchange
Explore jazz around the world through local scenes, international collaborations, cultural exchange, and a listening guide spanning several regions.
Jazz and Social Change: Race, Migration, Civil Rights, and Cultural Identity
Explore jazz and social change through race, migration, civil rights, cultural identity, protest recordings, and the work of musician-led communities.
Recorded Jazz: From Early Records to the Album Era and Beyond
Explore how recording shaped jazz, from early discs and 78s to LP albums, studio production, live recordings, reissues, and digital preservation.
What Is Jazz? A Guide to Its Sound, Traditions, and History
Learn what jazz is, how improvisation, swing, blues, and musical interaction shape its sound, and where to begin listening to its varied traditions.
Jazz Styles Explained: A Guide to the Major Sounds and Movements
Explore the major jazz styles, from New Orleans and swing to bebop, modal jazz, fusion, and global traditions, with comparisons and practical listening cues.
The Origins of Jazz: New Orleans, Black American Music, and Cultural Exchange
Explore how jazz emerged from Black American musical life in New Orleans through blues, ragtime, community institutions, and Caribbean cultural exchange.
Jazz Instruments Explained: Their Roles, Sounds, and Historical Development
Discover the roles, sounds, and history of jazz instruments, from trumpet and saxophone to piano, bass, drums, organ, percussion, strings, and voice.