Discover the albums, musicians, and stories that shaped jazz.
Read by more than 120,000 jazz fans every month, Jazzfuel explores essential albums, influential musicians, and the lesser-known stories behind the music, from its earliest pioneers to modern classics.
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★ This Week’s Feature
The First Jazz Record Was Made in 1917. The Musicians Who Built the Style Weren’t on It.
The Original Dixieland Jass Band cut “Livery Stable Blues” for Victor on 26 February 1917. Why Bolden, Keppard, Oliver and Ory weren’t on the first jazz record, and what a court said about who wrote it.
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Jerome Kern Tried to Keep His Songs Off the Radio. Jazz Musicians Adopted Them Anyway
In 1924 Jerome Kern banned every song from his new show, Sitting Pretty, from being broadcast…
Their Own Show Was Upstaged by Irving Berlin. Then Rodgers and Hart Wrote the Songs Jazz Still Plays
On 28 December 1926, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart opened a new Broadway show called Betsy.…
Born This Week in Jazz
All jazz birthdays →This Week’s Editor’s Picks
When The Most Famous Composer Alive Walked Into Birdland, Charlie Parker Paid a Very Special Tribute
On a Saturday night in the winter of 1951, the most famous composer alive sat down at a front table in…
Wes Montgomery’s Remarkable Double Life: From Factory Worker To Jazz Guitar Star
By the late 1950s, Wes Montgomery’s day started at 7am on the factory floor in Indianapolis. He worked until 3pm, went…
Thelonious Monk’s Un-Years: The Story of “Crepuscule with Nellie”
“Crepuscule with Nellie” is perhaps one of the most fascinating jazz ballads of all time, and the story behind it doesn’t…
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Curated paths through jazz’s greatest music and stories...
Jazz music may have existed for only a little over a century, but its history is rich and varied. Jazzfuel is built for people who care about the music — and the stories behind it.
From forgotten pioneers to modern classics, we explore the albums, artists, and moments that shaped jazz.
Whether you’re a total newcomer or have been listening for decades, you’ll find something here which catches your ear.
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About Jazzfuel
Jazzfuel was launched in 2016 by European booking agent Matt Fripp as a way to share tips and resources with independent jazz musicians.
It's evolved into a team of writers and music industry specialists who aim to produce the best content for fans around the world, as well as continuing to support pro jazz musicians with publicity, education and career coaching.
