Discover the greatest stories from jazz history

The best stories and anecdotes from more than 100 years of jazz

In 1938, British jazz audiences were about to encounter something they weren’t prepared for. Jazz in the UK was still largely … Read more

In the late 1950s, Miles Davis recorded the haunting soundtrack to Louis Malle’s film Ascenseur pour l’échafaud — improvised live in … Read more

Imagine settling down in front of your TV set on Christmas day 1957 and seeing the great Miles Davis appear on … Read more

If you haven’t yet heard Buddy Rich berating his band on the tour bus, stay tuned below for an 11-minute treat..! … Read more

Jazz history tends to focus on albums that announce change clearly. Records that sit between eras or styles can be harder … Read more

When Black Byrd was released in 1973, it didn’t sound like the Donald Byrd many jazz critics thought they knew. Byrd … Read more

If you haven’t heard the 1965 live recording of John Coltrane playing A Love Supreme in a Seattle club, you’re in … Read more

When A Love Supreme was released in early 1965, it appeared as a complete statement by John Coltrane’s Classic Quartet — … Read more

In the autumn of 1950, Charlie Parker boarded a plane for Scandinavia. By then, he was already a towering figure in … Read more

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