Discover the greatest stories from jazz history
The best stories and anecdotes from more than 100 years of jazz
What Is Jazz? The Smithsonian Weighs In
Some questions refuse to stay answered. Ask ten jazz musicians “what is jazz” is and you’ll get ten different answers — … Read more
The Truth Behind the Sonny Rollins / John Coltrane Rivalry (Video)
There’s a narrative that follows jazz history like a shadow. Two giants on the same instrument, coming up at the same … Read more
Dave Brubeck Interview (North Sea 1979)
It’s past midnight in The Netherlands. Dave Brubeck has just walked offstage at North Sea Jazz, — still warm from the … Read more
Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins Dies Aged 95
Legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins – responsible for some of the most famous jazz albums of all time – has died aged … Read more
The Day Miles Davis Tried to Hire Ron Carter…
When Miles Davis asked Ron Carter to join his band in 1963, Carter did not react like someone being handed the … Read more
Is Jazz Really Getting Simpler? Yes, says a new study
A new scientific study published in Scientific Reports has sparked debate among musicians and listeners alike by suggesting that jazz may … Read more
How Nina Simone Turned “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” Into a Civil Rights Anthem
Few songs became more closely associated with Nina Simone’s political and artistic identity than “I Wish I Knew How It Would … Read more
Watch Natalie Cole Sing “Unforgettable” With Her Father 25 Years After His Death
When Natalie Cole released “Unforgettable” in 1991, many listeners initially struggled to understand how the recording had been made so well. … Read more
Watch Dizzy Gillespie Perform on Sesame Street
By the 1970s and 1980s, Sesame Street had become one of the most unusual places on American television to encounter jazz … Read more
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