The evolution of jazz through different historical periods and social contexts.
A deep dive into the intersection of modal exploration and dissonant textures within the independent jazz movements. This guide analyzes the socio-political drivers and technical innovations of the underground scene.
Explore the swing era through big bands, Lindy Hop, radio, and popular culture, with key musicians, social history, a timeline, and listening examples.
Explore bebop history through Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and their peers, with musical explanations, a timeline, and landmark recordings.
Explore how jazz emerged from Black American musical life in New Orleans through blues, ragtime, community institutions, and Caribbean cultural exchange.
Discover how jazz emerged from African American communities, evolved through its major eras, and developed into a global musical tradition.
An analytical exploration of the transition from the structured, piano-centric compositions of Ragtime to the fluid, improvisational language of Jazz. Discover how the marriage of African rhythms and European harmony birthed a new American sonic identity.
A comprehensive guide to the methodology of jazz scholarship, focusing on the triangulation of primary sources. Learn how to synthesize sonic evidence, oral histories, and archival documents to uncover the truth of the jazz tradition.
An exploration of the symbiotic relationship between the blues and jazz, tracing the evolution from Mississippi Delta field hollers to the sophisticated harmonic progressions of modern jazz. This guide analyzes the technical and socio-political threads that bind these two foundational American genres.
An examination of the 1917 recording of ‘Livery Stable Blues’ by the Original Dixieland Jass Band. This analysis explores the tension between commercial popularity and the erased contributions of the Black musicians who pioneered the genre.
A definitive guide to the recordings that shifted jazz from collective improvisation to a soloist’s art. Explore the technical brilliance and historical weight of Louis Armstrong’s most influential sessions.