Discover the greatest stories from jazz history
The best stories and anecdotes from more than 100 years of jazz
Why Miles Davis Became Obsessed With Jimi Hendrix
By the late 1960s, Miles Davis was already searching for a new musical direction. Jazz audiences were shrinking, younger listeners were … Read more
The Viral Dave Brubeck Version of “Golden Brown” That Fooled Millions of Listeners
In 2020, saxophonist Laurence Mason uploaded an arrangement of “Golden Brown” performed in the style of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Within … Read more
How Barack Obama Turned The White House Into A Home For Jazz & Blues
During Barack Obama’s presidency, jazz and blues music became a far more visible part of life inside the White House. While … Read more
The Early Mahavishnu Orchestra: A Band That Redefined Fusion
We’ve already published a deep-dive into the story of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but their early days and original line-up certainly deserves … Read more
Charles Mingus Eviction – The 1968 Documentary
In November 1966, Charles Mingus was evicted from his apartment on Great Jones Street in New York City. It was not … Read more
One Night in Birdland: Charlie Parker in Full Flight at The Club That Defined Jazz
There are some recordings that feel less like albums and more like documents — fragments of a moment that might otherwise … Read more
Shot at Slugs’ Saloon: The Night Lee Morgan Was Killed
Shot dead aged 33 at a popular New York club, the story of Lee Morgan is a particularly tragic one. Pianist … Read more
The Night Wynton Met Miles: On Stage at Vancouver Jazz Festival (Video)
You’ve heard the story about Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis, right? Trouble is, there are about a million different versions! We’ve … Read more
NPR’s Moving Tribute to 50 Fallen Jazz Greats (Video)
Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chick Corea, Pat Martino, Curtis Fuller, George Mraz, Pee Wee Ellis… The list of legendary jazz musicians who … Read more
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