LISTEN · DISCOVER · CONNECT

Explore jazz history by era

Follow the changing sounds of jazz through recordings from the 1920s to the present. Eras are one way in: different forms of expression have always coexisted.

• 1920s–1930s | From early jazz to swing

  Horn exchanges, expressive solos and rhythms made for dancing: explore early jazz by comparing small groups with orchestras.

• 1940s | The energy of bebop

  Listen not only to fast tempos but also to the fine detail of melody and rhythm. These compact recordings offer a way into the give-and-take of soloists and bands.

• 1950s | The many sounds of small groups

  Find your own favorites among hard bop, cool jazz and other sounds. Even the same instrumental lineup can create a very different sense of warmth and space.

• 1960s | Expanding musical possibilities

  Modal playing, free improvisation and encounters with bossa nova: hear jazz branching in several directions at once rather than following a single path.

• 1970s–1980s | Electric sounds and wider horizons

  Begin with electric timbres and strong grooves, then explore connections with music from different regions. Moving back to acoustic recordings reveals both contrasts and common ground.

• 1990s–2000s | Distinctive voices and ensembles

  Piano trios, guitars and rhythms from many regions offer new ways to listen. Follow the sound of each band beyond the boundaries of genre labels.

• 2010s onward | Jazz in the present

  Look for connections with the music you hear today, from vocals and hip-hop to electronic textures. Contemporary records can also be a starting point for journeys into the past.