A History of Jazz in 25 Songs

Growing up, I was never that interested in jazz music.  Like classical music, it was a genre that seemed boring, and for old people.  I always preferred rock and roll.  But, lately, I've been watching Ken Burns 10-part documentary series "Jazz" and I am slowing coming to appreciate jazz music, and the profound influence it has had on music and culture in America, even rock and roll!  To share what I'm learning, here is a brief history of jazz music in 25 songs.  Of course there are endlessly more jazz songs, but you have to start somewhere.  Click on the artist's name to learn more about him/her.  Enjoy!

1.) Sidney Bechet, "Cake Walking Babies (From Home)" (1925)



2.) Jelly Roll Morton, "Black Bottom Stomp" (1926)



3.) Louis Armstrong, "Heebie Jeebies" (1926)



4.) Duke Ellington, "East St Louis Toodle-Oo" (1927)



5.) Bessie Smith, "Backwater Blues" (1927)



6.) Bix Beiderbecke, "At the Jazz Band Ball" (1927)



7.) King Oliver, "West End Blues" (1928)



8.) Fletcher Henderson, "Sugar Foot Stomp" (1931)



9.) Billie Holiday, "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" (1935)



10.) Django Reinhardt, "Nagasaki" (1936)



11.) Lester Young, "Lester Leaps In" (1939)



12.) Coleman Hawkins, "Body and Soul" (1939)



13.) Fats Waller, "Ain't Misbehavin" (1943)



14.) Art Tatum, "Three Little Words" (1943)



15.) Count Basie, "One O'Clock Jump" (1943)



16.) Charlie Parker, "Ornithology" (1946)



17.) Dizzy Gillespie, "Salt Peanuts" (1947)



18.) Sonny Rollins, "St. Thomas" (1956)



19.) John Coltrane, "Blue Train" (1957)



20.) Art Blakey, "Moanin" (1958)



21.) Ella Fitzgerald, "Summertime" (1958)



22.) Thelonious Monk, "Epistrophy" (1959)



23.) Dave Brubeck, "Take Five" (1959)



24.) Miles Davis, "So What" (1959)



25.) Ornette Coleman, "Chronology" (1959)