Pbs biography jazz music

The Jazz Age was a time of excess, creativity, and passion that lunged jazz music into the mainstream. It produced music icons like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, whose innovative sounds advanced music and fostered a safe space for African Americans to express themselves and their plights in the United States. The incredible achievements of the Jazz Age still influence American music, traditions, and fashion over one hundred years later and will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.

The following documentaries and programs explore various aspects of the Jazz Age, from the rise of stars like Charlie Parker and Max Roach to the influence of the pioneering genre in cities across the country. You will also hear r enditions of classic jazz songs from modern artists such as Laufey, Jacob Collier, Dodie, and many more. Whether you grew up listening to jazz or are new to the genre, you are bound to learn something new from these insightful documentaries and performances.

The origins of jazz are difficult to trace.

The history of jazz

Some scholars believe the genre originated in Congo Square before the Civil War, where slaves rejoiced in musical celebrations on Sundays. In contrast, others argue it emerged in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the genre's rise to mainstream popularity during the s, now coined the "Jazz Age," is undeniable.

The Jazz Age ran concurrently with the Roaring Twenties, an era in which the United States experienced significant economic prosperity.

Best jazz documentaries

The off-beat swing accents and smooth blend of brass instruments attracted large crowds to jazz clubs in cities like Harlem, New Orleans, and Chicago, solidifying jazz as a major genre and giving way to a new generation of African American musicians. Although the stock market crash of effectively ended the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties, the soul of jazz lived on.

Musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, and more developed the genre through the 40s and 60s, influencing the sounds we create today. Learn about some of the most influential jazz musicians, from pioneers of the Jazz Age like Duke Ellington to cultural ambassadors like Dizzy Gillespie.