Overview
Music based on jazz beats can be heard all over the world but the roots of the style are distinctly American. Jazz grew out of the musical hothouse that was New Orleans, Louisiana at the end of the nineteenth century. Jazz represents the creative musical side of the United States to people across the globe. Jazz personalities such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and now Esperanza Spaulding, are heroes to countless jazz fans from Tokyo to Paris to Rio de Janeiro. Just as a swinging jazz quartet unites its individual players behind a driving syncopated beat, jazz music has proven its ability to bring people together over a shared interest in a universal sound.
Features & Benefits
- This series has been updated to make music of all genres even more accessible, popular and culturally relevant in the 21st century.
- The set focuses on the history, music, musicians, and instruments behind specific musical styles -- from blues to indie rock to rap and more.
- It also addresses music videos, the advent of digital music stores and new portable digital delivery systems.
- Each title provides a historical overview of the development of a specific music genre
- explores the roots and influences of the genre and the key components that are definitive of the style
- discusses the pioneers of the music
- and considers the changes the genre has undergone from its inception to its present status on the world scene.
- Informative sidebars, a glossary of music terms, a selective discography, an annotated bibliography, and a subject index provide readers with additional tools for discussion and research.
