Jazz Artists Pre-1945

Is white male gatekeeping a problem in online jazz culture?

Is white male gatekeeping a problematic issue in online jazz culture? In the contemporary era, there are multiple YouTube channels which have taught the fundamentals of jazz to those who seek out the music, as well as the historical information. Among the top channels run by ... more

Cancel culture in jazz

Cancel culture can be seen in jazz, though it is not quite as prevalent as it is in other genres of music, it does exist. Cancel culture is something that has taken root in social media circles, and is quite popular among millennials and Generation Z, the liberal sphere of ... more

Could AI generated music affect jazz?

Could AI generated music affect jazz? In contemporary culture, AI is becoming much more advanced. AI in the domain of sci fi movies and novels has created a fear among people that robots and artificial intelligence could take over human society. AI generated music has taken ... more

Why does straight ahead jazz become stale?

Straight ahead jazz, or jazz that uses primarily swing rhythms, walking bass and often, but not always a 32 bar song structure is beloved for transmission of a medium that’s existed over 60 years. Why does it become stale? For musicians the limitations reveal themselves ... more

Is acid jazz a valid style of jazz?

Is acid jazz a valid style of jazz? In the late 1980’s and early to mid 1990’s in the UK, a style of jazz derived music popped up courtesy of DJ Gilles Peterson called Acid Jazz. For some, the term “acid jazz” connotes a style of music layered with ... more

Where jazz is now in the present era?

Welcome to the latest edition of the New York Jazz Workshop podcast, I’m your host CJ Shearn. Today’s topic: where jazz is now in the present era? There are a lot of different opinions on where jazz is now, but it is in a healthier and more varied place than ... more

Charlie Christian

Charlie Christian brought electric guitar to the forefront of jazz. Today, when electric guitar is so commonplace with distortion, synthesizers and other effects, it’s challenging to imagine the great strides he made. Passing away at the age of 25, Christian left an ... more

Teddy Wilson

A seminal figure in the swing to bop movement, Teddy Wilson is known for his lightly swinging, effervescent style; a precursor and inspiration for the styles of later pianists such as Hank Jones, and Ahmad Jamal. Born in Austin, Texas in 1912, the son of school teachers, ... more

Fats Waller

Fats Waller was one of the consummate entertainers during the early years of Jazz into the swing era. Born in Harlem on May 21st 1904, he grew up surrounded in music. His family was involved in music in the church and his mother secured a piano teacher for him: he learned how ... more

Chick Webb

Inventive and dynamic, Chick Webb lead one of the most swinging big bands of the 30’s, where he regularly held court at New York’s Savoy Ballroom. Born in Baltimore, Ohio on February 10th 1909, Webb contracted spinal tuberculosis which struck him with a hunched ... more

Lester Young

Born on August 27th 1909, Lester Young ( “Prez” )was one of the giants of the tenor saxophone. In the swing era he staked his claim by being refreshingly different from his peers Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster. Young’s sound was dancing, light as air and he played ... more

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman is one of swing’s most famous exponents. The rise to mass popularity, and his racially integrated bands are among his milestones. Born on May 30, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois, Goodman excelled at music from an early age. He learned clarinet at 10 years of age, ... more