Jazz Vinyl Records LPs For Sale

Jazz is a genre of music that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in the African American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is characterized by its use of syncopation, swing rhythms, improvisation, and distinctive instrumental techniques. Jazz has influenced numerous other genres and has evolved through many distinct styles over the decades.

Origins and Early Development

Jazz’s roots can be traced back to the diverse musical traditions brought to America by enslaved Africans, which included work songs, spirituals, and the blues. These elements blended with European musical forms and marching band traditions prevalent in New Orleans to create a unique, new sound.

New Orleans was a melting pot of cultures and musical styles, and its vibrant street life, parades, and social gatherings provided the perfect setting for the birth of jazz. Early jazz musicians like Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong played key roles in the development of the genre. Armstrong, in particular, is often credited with popularizing jazz through his virtuosic trumpet playing and charismatic stage presence.

The Swing Era

The 1930s and 1940s saw the rise of the Swing Era, characterized by big bands and a more polished, orchestrated sound. Swing music was immensely popular and brought jazz into mainstream culture. Notable bandleaders like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman became household names. Ellington, a prolific composer and pianist, expanded the boundaries of jazz through his sophisticated arrangements and compositions.

Bebop and Post-War Jazz

In the 1940s, a shift occurred with the emergence of bebop, a more complex and fast-paced style of jazz. Bebop musicians like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk sought to push the boundaries of jazz, focusing on intricate melodies, advanced harmonies, and virtuoso improvisation. Bebop was less dance-oriented than swing and more suited for listening, often performed in small clubs rather than large dance halls. Jazz also heavily influenced the visual artists of the Abstract Expressionism art movement around this time.

Following bebop, the 1950s and 1960s saw the development of several subgenres of jazz, including cool jazz, hard bop, and modal jazz. Cool jazz, exemplified by artists like Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck, featured a more relaxed and introspective sound. Hard bop, represented by musicians such as Art Blakey and Horace Silver, incorporated elements of gospel, blues, and rhythm and blues into bebop. Modal jazz, pioneered by Miles Davis with his landmark album “Kind of Blue,” explored improvisation based on scales rather than chord progressions.

Free Jazz and Avant-Garde

The 1960s also saw the rise of free jazz and avant-garde movements, which broke away from traditional structures and conventions. Musicians like Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, and Cecil Taylor experimented with atonality, unconventional time signatures, and extended improvisations. Free jazz emphasized collective improvisation and the expression of raw emotion, challenging listeners and musicians alike.

Fusion and Beyond

In the late 1960s and 1970s, jazz fusion emerged, blending jazz with rock, funk, and electronic music. Pioneers of fusion, such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea, utilized electric instruments and incorporated elements of popular music into their compositions. Davis’s album “Bitches Brew” is often cited as a landmark in the fusion genre.

The 1980s and beyond saw jazz continuing to evolve and diversify. The resurgence of traditional jazz styles, often referred to as the “neoclassical” movement, was led by musicians like Wynton Marsalis, who sought to preserve and celebrate the jazz traditions of the past. At the same time, contemporary jazz artists like Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, and Esbjörn Svensson continued to push the genre’s boundaries.

Jazz Today

Today, jazz remains a dynamic and evolving art form, with musicians drawing from a wide range of influences and experimenting with new sounds and technologies. The genre has a global reach, with thriving jazz scenes in cities around the world. Festivals, clubs, and educational institutions dedicated to jazz continue to promote and preserve its rich legacy.

Jazz has also had a profound impact on other musical genres, including rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. Its emphasis on improvisation and individual expression has inspired countless musicians and composers across various genres.

Conclusion

Jazz is a testament to the power of creativity, cultural exchange, and innovation. From its humble beginnings in New Orleans to its global influence today, jazz has continually evolved while retaining its core principles of improvisation, rhythm, and expression. Its rich history is a celebration of the diverse voices and experiences that have shaped it, making jazz not just a genre of music, but a vibrant, living art form.

Jerri Adams
Pepper Adams
Nat Adderley
Cannonball Adderley
Monty Alexander
Lorez Alexandria
Mose Allison
Gene Ammons
Curtis Amy
Dorothy Ashby
Roy Ayers
Albert Ayler
Dave Bailey
Chet Baker
Kenny Barron
Gary Bartz
Sidney Bechet
Marcus Belgrave
Max Bennett
Wild Bill Davis
Art Blakey
Paul Bley
Ruby Braff
Dollar Brand
Bob Brookmeyer
Tina Brooks
Heath Brothers
Pete Brown
Ray Brown
Marion Brown
Dave Brubeck
Ray Bryant
Rusty Bryant
Lord Buckley
Kenny Burrell
Donald Byrd
Conte Candoli
Benny Carter
Ron Carter
Serge Chaloff
Paul Chambers
Sir Charles Thompson
Teddy Charles
Don Cherry
Sonny Clark
Kenny Clarke
Buck Clayton
Arnett Cobb
Al Cohn
Philip Cohran
Ornette Coleman
Buddy Collette
Alice Coltrane
John Coltrane
Norman Connors
Curtis Counce
Stanley Cowell
Sonny Criss
The Crusaders
Don Cunningham
Tadd Dameron
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis
Miles Davis
Richard Davis
Walter Davis Jr
Paul Desmond
Eric Dolphy
Lou Donaldson
Kenny Dorham
Ray Draper
Harry “Sweets” Edison
Teddy Edwards
Duke Ellington
Don Ellis
Herb Ellis
Booker Ervin
Bill Evans
Gil Evans
Tal Farlow
Art Farmer
Victor Feldman
Clare Fischer
Ella Fitzgerald
Tommy Flanagan
Jimmy Forrest
Frank Foster
Russ Freeman
Don Friedman
Tony Fruscella
Curtis Fuller
Funk, Inc.
Red Garland
Erroll Garner
Herb Geller
Stan Getz
Astrud Gilberto
Dizzy Gillespie
Jimmy Giuffre
Paul Gonsalves
Babs Gonzales
Bob Gordon
Dexter Gordon
Joe Gordon
Wardell Gray
Grant Green
Urbie Green
Bennie Green
Johnny Griffin
Tiny Grimes
Gigi Gryce
Al Haig
Jim Hall
Lenny Hambro
Jimmy Hamilton
Chico Hamilton
Lionel Hampton
Herbie Hancock
Roland Hanna
Rufus Harley
Herbie Harper
Billy Harper
Barry Harris
Bill Harris
Eddie Harris
Wendell Harrison
Johnny Hartman
Hampton Hawes
Tubby Hayes
Roy Haynes
Jimmy Heath
Joe Henderson
Ernie Henry
John Hicks
Donna Hightower
Andrew Hill
Jutta Hipp
Art Hodes
Johnny Hodges
Billie Holiday
Bill Holman
Richard “Groove” Holmes
Elmo Hope
Freddie Hubbard
Helen Humes
Bobbi Humphrey
Bobby Hutcherson
Weldon Irvine
Milt Jackson
Willis Jackson
Illinois Jacquet
Ahmad Jamal
Keith Jarrett
The Jazz Crusaders
John Jenkins
J.J. Johnson
Philly Joe Jones
Boogaloo Joe Jones
Elvin Jones
Jo Jones
Carmel Jones
Thad Jones
Clifford Jordan
Sheila Jordan
Wynton Kelly
Beverly Kenney
Roland Kirk
Lee Konitz
Steve Kuhn
Pete La Roca
Steve Lacy
Harold Land
Prince Lasha
Yusef Lateef
Lou Levy
Mel Lewis
Abbey Lincoln
Booker Little
Julie London
Mary Lou Williams
Mundell Lowe
Nellie Lutcher
Johnny Lytle
Teo Macero
Junior Mance
Herbie Mann
Shelly Manne
Lawrence Marable
Dodo Marmarosa
Warne Marsh
Pat Martino
Cecil McBee
Les McCann
Freddie McCoy
Jack McDuff
Gary McFarland
Howard McGhee
Ken McIntyre
Harold McKinney
Hal McKusick
Jackie McLean
Lloyd McNeill
Lou Mecca
Gil Melle
Helen Merrill
Charles Mingus
Blue Mitchell
Hank Mobley
Grachan Moncur III
Thelonius Monk
J.R. Monterose
Wes Montgomery
Jack Montrose
James Moody
Lee Morgan
Abe Most
Sam Most
Idris Muhammad
Gerry Mulligan
Mark Murphy
Oliver Nelson
Phineas Newborn Jr.
David “Fathead” Newman
Joe Newman
Herbie Nichols
Ken Nordine
Anthony Ortega
Marty Paich
Charlie Parker
Leo Parker
Horace Parlan
Joe Pass
John Patton
Cecil Payne
Duke Pearson
Art Pepper
Bill Perkins
Houston Person
Oscar Peterson
Flip Phillips
Nat Pierce
Dave Pike
Pony Poindexter
Herb Pomeroy
Jimmy Ponder
Mel Powell
Seldon Powell
Bud Powell
Joe Puma
Bernard Purdie
Ike Quebec
Paul Quinichette
Sun Ra
Phil Ranelin
Jimmy Raney
Sonny Red
Freddie Redd
Dizzy Reece
Django Reinhardt
Sam Rivers
Freddie Roach
Max Roach
Howard Roberts
Red Rodney
Shorty Rogers
Sonny Rollins
Frank Rosolino
Annie Ross
Charlie Rouse
Jimmy Rowles
Howard Rumsey
Patrice Rushen
George Russell
Fats Sadi
Sal Salvador
Pharoah Sanders
Mongo Santamaria
Merl Saunders
Tom Scott
Bud Shank
Woody Shaw
Archie Shepp
Wayne Shorter
Horace Silver
Sonny Simmons
Nina Simone
Zoot Sims
Hal Singer
Buster Smith
Johnny Smith
Willie Smith
Lonnie Liston Smith
Lonnie Smith
Jimmy Smith
Louis Smith
Hal Stein
Sonny Stitt
Billy Strayhorn
Gabor Szabo
Art Tatum
Art Taylor
Billy Taylor
Clark Terry
Mor Thiam
Toots Thielemans
Lucky Thompson
Three Sounds
Charles Tolliver
Mel Tormé
Lenny Tristano
Stanley Turrentine
McCoy Tyner
Phil Upchurch
Sarah Vaughan
Al Vega
Charlie Ventura
Harold Vick
Leroy Vinnegar
Miroslav Vitous
Mal Waldron
George Wallington
Walter Wanderley
Earl Washington
Julius Watkins
Chuck Wayne
Ben Webster
Frank Wess
Randy Weston
Michael White
Gerald Wiggins
Don Wilkerson
Anthony Williams
Claude Williamson
Gerald Wilson
Jack Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Lem Winchester
Lyman Woodard
Phil Woods
Billy Wooten
John Wright
Jimmy Yancey
Lester Young
Larry Young
Webster Young
Denny Zeitlin