15 Most Influential Jazz Artists

As one of the most well respected American art forms, jazz has shaped the music industry spawning both the careers of various musical geniuses, and an abundance of elemental new music genres. Jazz was developed in the late 19th century and early 20th century as American and European classical music was mixed with African and slave folk songs. These songs were played to a syncopated rhythm, and from this emerged ragtime, then Dixieland and subsequently Big Band, what many consider to be the beginning of modern jazz. [youtube= Art Tatum was a jazz pianist and virtuoso who was nearly blind. [youtube= Some of the most complex and dissonant harmonies can be found in the repertoire of pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, one of the most important contributers to bebop music. [youtube= [youtube= [youtube= [youtube=

10 Essential Albums for Starting a Jazz Collection If I’ve seen it once I’ve seen it a hundred times. Someone just getting into jazz ventures online looking for some music to start with, and is instantly inundated with about 500 different choices. Everyone has their own ideas about the best places to start a jazz music collection, and it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. I know because I was one of those neophytes. So as a public service to all you new jazz lovers out there, here’s one man’s list of recordings that are essential for any new jazz collection. This is not an attempt to chronicle the best jazz records ever. #10. To start a jazz collection with any artist other than Satchmo would be foolishness. I know that this style and sound (usually referred to as Traditional Jazz) is not for everyone, but it’s critical to hear where the music started in order to appreciate where it went. And hey, you never know, you may love it for more than its prime historical value. Buy This Album! #9. Buy This Album! #8. Buy This Album! #7. #6. #5.