THE PEOPLE. THE PLACES. THE SOUND.
A century of jazz.
A world of
discovery.
Follow the music from New Orleans to the world. Discover the artists, recordings, and ideas that shaped jazz—and hear how it all connects.
An independent reference for curious listeners.
FROM THE ARCHIVES № 001THE SOUND OF A NEW ERADizzy GillespieNew York, 1947
A little curiosity.
A good place to start.
01 / THROUGH THE YEARS
Every era has a story. And a sound.
1890s–1920s
The beginnings
New Orleans, blues & early jazz
1930s–1940sThe swing era
Big bands & the dance floor
1940s–1950sThe bebop revolution
Small groups, bold new ideas
1950s–1960sNew directions
Cool jazz, hard bop & modal
1960s–1970sBreaking boundaries
Free jazz & the avant-garde
1970s–beyondElectric & global
Fusion & a world of influences
A starting map, not a set of boundaries. Jazz styles overlap, evolve, and keep living.
02 / PUT THE STORY ON
History sounds
better when
you listen.
A few landmark recordings. A little context. A whole new way to hear the music.
All listening guides03 / THE ORIGINAL VOICES
Meet the people who moved the music.
FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY
Make your own
connections.
Go beyond the page with three ways to explore.
THERE’S ALWAYS MORE TO DISCOVER