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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Oscar Peterson Songs | 10 Tracks From His Carnegie Hall Debut to Oscar and Benny
Oscar Peterson’s career ran for more than 60 years, from the clubs of Montreal to concert…
Lee Morgan Songs | 10 Essential Tracks From Moanin’ to Caramba!
Lee Morgan made his first records at 18 and was still recording for Blue Note when…
Born This Week in Jazz
All jazz birthdays →This Week’s Editor’s Picks
Frank Zappa Was Dying When a German Ensemble Played a Piece He’d Made on a Computer. The Ovation Lasted 20 Minutes
On 17 September 1992, Frank Zappa walked out on to the stage of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt to conduct a…
Herb Alpert Started a Record Label in His Garage. Four Years Later He Was Outselling the Beatles
In 1966, the No. 1 album on Billboard’s year-end chart wasn’t by the Beatles or Frank Sinatra. It was Whipped Cream…
The Manhattan Transfer Won a Pop Grammy and a Jazz Grammy on the Same Night, With a Doo-Wop Cover and a Count Basie Tune
On 24 February 1982, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, The Manhattan Transfer won two Grammys for two songs from…
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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.
