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.
Culture & Geography
The spatial and community dimensions of the jazz scene.
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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.
The Great Migration: The Geographic Engine of Jazz Evolution
Between 1915 and 1970, the movement of six million African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities transformed jazz from a regional curiosity into a global phenomenon. This migration provided the urban infrastructure and commercial markets necessary for the genre’s rapid innovation.
Kansas City Jazz: Riffs, Blues, and Big Bands
An exploration of the hard-swinging, blues-drenched sound of Kansas City during the 1920s and 30s. Discover how the ‘territory bands’ and the Pendergast era forged a bridge between big band swing and the birth of bebop.
Harlem, Nightlife, and the Jazz Age: The Crucible of Modern Black Identity
An exploration of Harlem’s 1920s and 30s nightlife as a site of artistic innovation and racial negotiation. Discover how the intersection of big band jazz, cabaret culture, and the Harlem Renaissance redefined American music.