If there’s one genre that rivals country music for the most quintessentially American art form, it’s jazz. And, historically, the genres share a lot more common ground than you might think. One could ...

The term “standard” seems antithetical to something as freeform and limitless as jazz. But, time has proven that these songs are not rigid at all. The only strict parameter is the lyrics, and yet ...

Standards hold a particular fascination for drummer Peter Erskine, as initiated through his Grammy-nominated Standards(Fuzzy Music, 2008). Unlike that first album—comprised primarily of old jazz ...

We are two female jazz singers, jazz researchers and lovers of jazz. And we have discovered jazz gave us another shared experience – sexism. We’d both experienced garden variety sexism. Wendy was ...

Not sure which jazz tunes to start with? In this video, I break down 25 essential jazz standards—curated specifically for beginners. These songs will help you build a solid repertoire, develop your ...

If you are new to jazz, know nothing about jazz, or are jazz-curious, this list is for you. You may have heard of The Real Book, a “fake” book collection of jazz standards. Think of it as a kind of ...

The jazz drummer and educator Terri Lyne Carrington’s latest project is “New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers,” a book due Friday, and an album featuring 11 of its selections. By Ayana ...

On a Saturday night last month, about a half-mile from a mural featuring Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, and John Coltrane, a trio led by pianist Danny Mixon warmed up with the show ...

Many fans agree that female jazz singers brought fresh energy and innovation to the genre in the 2000s. Their voices have added new depth and color to the jazz landscape. We promise to take you on a ...

What are The New Standards about? They are about Music, about Town, about Play, about soul, about fun... Started in 2005 as an off-shoot project between Minneapolis based musicians and friends Chan ...

Sitting in the car and something fresh comes on the radio. Hmmm. So I take it as my personal Down Beat blindfold test. Sounds a little like mid- and late-’70s Art Ensemble of Chicago, that period when ...