Without African Americans, there is no American music. Some of the most raw, energetic, complex, and groundbreaking music that has ever been played was played by African Americans from the US. Everything we listen to today, in some way or another, was influenced by their musical vision and innovation.

Here are 18 musical innovations that we can thank these amazing musicans for.

The Banjo:

The Banjo

Invented by enslaved Africans in Appalachia, the banjo may not be a hugely popular musical instrument today, but it has proven to be an essential component of many types of American roots music. Roots music is a broad term that refers to music that was developed in the US, and is said to have spawned most forms of American music, including country, folk, jazz, blues, and to a certain extent, rock music too.

Blues:

John Lee Hooker

Evolving from slave-era work songs and spirituals, the blues were invented in African American communities in the deep south. Blues is a very open style of music that can be played in many different ways. Over time, various styles emerged in different locations, and these regional variations would eventually form the basis of what would become Jazz, R&B, and Rock and Roll. Blues is the most important innovation in American music, and it has been massively influential to musicians all around the world, most notably, English musicians in the 1960's such as Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Jazz:

Thelonious Monk

Originating in the New Orleans area at the beginning of the 20th century, jazz is arguably the most profound American musical innovation, with just as much significance as European classical music. Jazz has of course evolved within itself many times over, with every evolution spawning even more musical innovations and innovators. While it's true that jazz was influenced in a way by European classical music, it has also remained very distinct. Jazz is the medium that spawned several other forms of African American music, and each era of jazz left a significant mark on the development of American popular music. Let's look at the various eras of jazz music and their effects.

Ragtime:

Scott Joplin

First heard at the very end of the 19th century, Ragtime music was a style of music innovated by freed slaves who worked in vaudeville. It was popularized by classically-trained pianist Scott Joplin. Ragtime music formed the basis for what would soon be called jazz.

Dixieland:

Louis Armstrong

Invented in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century, what later became known as "Dixieland" jazz was a musical style played in bars and brothels in the Storyville area of New Orleans. Using musical instruments from European classical music, and influenced by the Blues, Ragtime, and various Latin and Caribbean music traditions, Dixieland jazz was the beginning of it all. One of the most famous musicians to come from this tradition was one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century, Louis Armstrong.

Swing:

Count Basie

Swing music started gaining momentum in the 1920's with the musical innovations of people like Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Featuring large bands that played dance music, swing became the most popular American music from this time through the 40's. In addition, the swing era brought a more broad, and white audience to jazz, and many white musicians were beginning to play jazz music. People such as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw introduced swing music to this wider audience, and opened the doors for people like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Bebop:

Charlie Parker

Bebop is an innovation within jazz that initially was exclusively played by black musicians. Bebop is credited for taking jazz away from popular music, and into more creative and innovative territory. Bebop is generally played very fast, and was not intended for dancing. It has even been claimed that bebop music was played so fast and with such virtuosity that white musicians could not play it. Some of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived came from the bebop movement. Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gilespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach were masters of their instruments and legendary musical innovators.

Modal Jazz:

Kind of Blue

Before Modal Jazz, most jazz improvization was based on chord progressions. Modal jazz was based on modes (or scales), and shifted the emphasis of the music from harmonies to melodies. The most famous piece to come from the modal jazz movement was Miles Davis' groundbreaking "Kind of Blue". Many of the musicians that worked with Davis on Kind of Blue and other sessions, including John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Bill Evans, Jimmy Cobb, and Paul Chambers were also influential on Modal Jazz. Herbie Hancock was another major player who released several albums in the 1960's that followed the Modal Jazz style.

Free Jazz:

John & Alice Coltrane

In the late 1950's musicians such as Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, and Cecil Taylor were playing a style of jazz that was rooted in bebop, but drew on on various forms of international music. In addition, this type of jazz relied less on the "rules" of tempo, timing, melody, and harmony. To some, the music was hard to listen to, and to others, it was a breath of fresh air. Free Jazz was very controversial, although an important piece in the evolution of Jazz. In the mid 1960's, John Coltrane also began playing free jazz and led younger musicians such as Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, and Sun Ra into the avant garde. Although not nearly as "free" as his later work, Coltrane's 1964 album A Love Supreme is one of the most profound musical achievements ever recorded.

Jazz Fusion:

Herbie Hancock's Headhunters

Mix the musical innovations of Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Sly Stone with people like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, and you have the birth of fusion--an electric version of jazz that drew heavily from rock, soul and R&B music. Innovated by Miles Davis on "In a Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew", fusion became a powerful force in the Jazz world in the 1970's. Groups such as Weather Report, Tony Williams Lifetime, Return to Forever, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra took the jazz, r&b, and rock world by storm with this eclectic blend of all three. Herbie Hancock's classic fusion album "Headhunters" is one of the greatest works from the fusion era.

R&B:

Initially, R&B was more of a marketing term rather than a useful definition of a style of music. R&B was used to describe music (initially, at least) that was by African American musicians for an African American audience. The term came into existence during the Rock & Roll era, and it was a combination of jazz, blues, and gospel music--similar to rock & roll. In fact, some may claim that rock & roll and R&B music were the same thing, they just had different intended audiences.

Rock and Roll:

Bo Diddley

What became known as rock & roll music evolved from the blues, jazz, country, gospel and folk music. The earliest forms of Rock & Roll came from the late 1930's and early 1940's. People such as Big Joe Turner and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were probably the first to lay the groundwork for what would become rock & roll. The mid 1950's is when rock & roll really began to gain attention. People like Bo Diddley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry were some of the most important figures in the early development of Rock  & Roll, although the credit is usually given to Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.

Doo Wop:

Frankie Lymon

Rooted in African American vocal groups of the 30's and 40's, plus influenced by the blues and gospel, doo wop was one of the most popular forms of rock & roll/r&b in the 1950's and early 60's. The standout characteristic of doo wop music is vocal harmony. One of the most popular doo wop songs, and the one credited with the rise in popularity of doo wop was Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"? Other famous groups were the Monotones and the Diamonds. During it's heyday, this particular style of music was very popular amongst the youth of America. Towards the end of the doo wop era, many musicians of Italian descent started to produce their own version.

Soul Music:

James Brown and the Flames

Soul music began showing up in the 1950's as a combination of R&B, Doo Wop, and Gospel. This new style of music was yet another important innovation in American music. People such as Ray Charles, James Brown, and Otis Redding were some of the most famous performers to come from the soul movement. Soul, like many other styles of music had regional variants (Motown soul from Detroit, Memphis Soul, Chicago Soul), and has continued to evolve since its inception. The 1970's were a very important time for soul as it moved towards a more socially conscious message. Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield were some of the more visible figures in this movement, and the great James Brown laid it out beautifully with the classic "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud".

Jimi Hendrix's Guitar Style:

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix came from the blues, re-invented the guitar, and ended up being one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Ask any rock guitar player about Jimi Hendrix, and you'll hear nothing but love. Contemporary rock music, while not dominated by African American musicians, owes its entire basis to Jimi Hendrix's style. At the forefront of the psychedelic movement of the late 1960's, Jimi Hendrix was the catalyst for Funk, Jazz Fusion, contemporary rock, and even heavy metal. Nobody played guitar like Hendrix, and after Hendrix, the guitar was never the same.

Funk:

George Clinton and Funkadelic

With people like Sly Stone, James Brown, and George Clinton came the birth of funk. Influenced directly by Soul, Psychedelic rock and Jazz, Funk was a new style of music that was based on these other genres, yet much more danceable. Funk was well-known for its high-energy, and over the top performances. Funk went on to be influential to disco music, and spawned a world-wide funk craze where musicians of all kinds wanted to create their own unique version of this energetic and electric music.

Rap:

Afrika Bambaataa

In the late 1970's, after the Funk and Disco eras, a new cultural movement emerged from The Bronx in New York. This culture became known as the hip hop movement. DJing, MCing, beatboxing and breakdancing were all innovations that came from the hip hop movement. DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa are often credited as the pioneers of the hip hop movement, and the music that came from that movement, which many people refer to as rap. Artists such as Grandmaster Flash and the Sugar Hill Gang were also important figures in the development of hip hop music. Since the early days of hip-hop, rap music has gone on to become some of the most popular music among young people, both white and black, and has spawned countless variations in the United States and across the world.

1980's Pop:

Prince

In the 1980's, a new sort of pop music was spawned from 1970's soul and funk, plus a sprinkling of jazz, electronic, and rock to form music generally referred to as pop. Many of the performers who innovated this new kind of pop had also been a part of earlier soul and funk music. The biggest name to come from this era was Michael Jackson, although many others achieved massive commercial success during the 80's, including Prince, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston. 1980's pop gave birth to the greatest selling album of all time (Michael Jackson's Thriller).

Contemporary R&B:

Mariah Carey

Following the 1980's pop era, several new styles of R&B began to emerge. All-male groups such as Boyz 2 Men, Blackstreet, and Jodeci dominated the airwaves and MTV during the early 90's, and several all-female groups such as SWV, TLC, and also became popular around the same time. Several one-woman acts such as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Lauryn Hill combined elements of soul and old-school R&B, along with more contemporary hip hop music into a new style of music that is still hugely popular to this day. Even over the past few years, some of the biggest musical acts in history perform this style of music: R. Kelly, Usher, Chris Brown, just to name a few.

Conclusion

As we can see, most of the musical innovations in popular American music are the products of African American musicians. In addition, their music has been profoundly influential on musicians all over the world.

Every time music hits your ears, take a moment to think about where it came from, feel it, and show some love.

-PEACE-

Lately, I have been captivated by a music with lush textures, relaxed melodies, and a fantastic sense of place. This music comes from a very unique part of the world with a vibrant musical history and amazing natural beauty. The Place is Brazil, and the music is Bossa Nova.

The name "Bossa Nova" roughly means "New Trend" in Portuguese. It came about in the later 1950's in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil among the vibrant intellectual and artistic communities there during that time. Bossa Nova is influenced by both Samba music and Cool Jazz, and uses several instruments such as classical guitar, piano, and strings to create lush musical textures. The guitar is often used for rhythm, and the string arrangements have a very distinctive sound to them.

One important similarity between Bossa Nova and American Jazz is that both genres are based on the musical traditions of African people. While both genres developed their own styles, in their own part of the world, with their own people, it is fascinating to listen to American Jazz and Bossa Nova, and experience some of the similarities. Naturally, when Jazz musicians like Stan Getz traveled to Brazil and experienced this music, they wanted to work with some of these Brazilian musicians (Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim) and make new music together. The result of these musical partnerships are famously recorded on such albums as Getz/Gilberto and Jazz Samba.

Bossa Nova History and Key players

Jobim

The two people most famous for the development of the Bossa Nova style in Brazil are Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Joao Gilberto is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and much of his music uses this very stripped-down sound consisting of only guitars and vocals. Antonio Carlos Jobim is a pianist and composer, and has written some of the most famous Bossa Nova songs in history. While both Gilberto and Jobim were very active in creating the Bossa Nova style, they reached international fame when Stan Getz collaborated with them both to create the Getz/Gilberto albums. Featuring the famous "The Girl From Ipanema", these albums created a worldwide sensation, and immediately put Bossa Nova on the map.

Joao Gilberto

While Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz are the three most well-known musicians that were part of the Bossa Nova scene, there were many other musicians who helped shape what Bossa Nova is and what it became.

Vinicius de Moraes

Vinicius de Moraes was also an important figure in the development of Bossa Nova, as he worked with Jobim on the production of a play; Moraes wrote the words, Jobim wrote the music. Soon after, Elizete Cardoso was asked to sing on the album Canção do Amor Demais by Jobim and Moraes, which was one of the first Bossa Nova albums. This album also featured Joao Gilberto.

Astrud Gilberto

Another important figure in Bossa Nova was Joao Gilberto's wife of the time, Astrud Gilberto whose vocals became famous on the Getz/Gilberto album song The Girl From Ipanema.

Charlie Byrd

American Charlie Byrd collaborated with Stan Getz on the classic record Jazz Samba. This album was the beginning of the Bossa Nova craze in North America.

Stan Getz

Lots of other musicians have been important to the Bossa Nova scene, both Brazilian and American. Even American legends like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald got in to the Bossa Nova scene.

Elizete Cardoso

The Bossa Nova Sound

Bossa Nova has a very distinctive sound, and uses instruments in a very distinctive way. It is very jazzy (for lack of a better term), but is also very distinct from jazz.

The main instruments are the classical guitar, piano, strings, and many times various winds and brass. Percussion is not always present, but it is common enough. The guitar tends to be played in a rhythmic style, while the piano tends to be more melodic. Strings provide a sort of a very nice ambience to the sound. You do tend to hear flutes and saxophones too. The most stripped-down Bossa Nova tends to be just a single guitar and vocals.

The Bossa Nova Vibe

All of the instruments are combined in such a way that is very ambient. This kind of music also seems to conjure up beautiful and glamorous images in my mind when I listen to it. It's also pretty relaxing, but definitely not boring or elevator music-y, like some people think.

When you hear it for the first time, it sounds somewhat familiar...like you you've seen it in movies from the 70's. There will always be a party scene, and the music will be Bossa Nova.

The music also gives you a very visual sense. When I listen to the music, I feel like I can almost visualize Brazil, and understand the people and vibe of the place. I've never been there, nor do I speak a word of Portuguese, but now I really want to go there!

Overall, this music has been very exciting to explore. If you like jazz, and want some nice mellow music, Bossa Nova is pretty awesome stuff. Even if you don't really listen to that kind of music, you should at least give it a try.

My current music obsession is jazz fusion. This genre got its start in the late 1960's; many cite Miles Davis' "In a Silent Way" as the first "fusion" album. So, what is it? In short, jazz mixed with a little rock and a little funk. Of course, there are variations. Some say fusion is "electric" jazz: In other words, electric pianos, electric guitars, and even in the case of Miles Davis, his horn amplified through a wah-wah pedal. All of these descriptions are true.

Unfortunately, jazz fusion is pretty much dead. The golden years of this genre happened between 1969ish-1975ish. Most of what poeple refer to as jazz fusion these days is what most people call "Elevator music". We're talking boring, soulless, Kenny G bullsh*t. This wasn't the fiery fusion of the early 70's, by any stretch.

Let's take a look at some of the classics for your listening enjoyment. Feel free to chime in with your favorites in the comments section!

Miles Davis

OK, let's start with the innovator: Miles Davis. Did Miles invent fusion? Probably. His musical vision is legendary, as he has been on the cutting edge of most innovations in jazz since bebop in the 1940's. Of course, he couldn't have done it without the efforts of his bandmates such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, and John McLaughlin...Pretty much all of these guys went on to become giants in the fusion scene in the 1970's.

Here's what you need to hear:

In A Slient Way: This album started it all. A fully electric approach to jazz. It isn't quite rock, and it isn't really funk, but it is jazz. I guess I would classify this as an ambient sort of sound. The sounds introduced here would go on to make a huge wave in the jazz world. The sound of Joe Zawinul's electric keyboards to John McLaughlin's electric guitar are a treat for the ears. This is a must-have album that I have on both CD and 180 gram LP.

Bitches Brew: After In A Silent Way, Miles Davis dropped this bomb on the jazz world. If you've read my top 10 essential jazz albums post, this is #10. Bitches Brew has more of a rock flair than In A Silent Way, and is definitely a bit more far-out, but you can't deny that this is a great album. It is electric, moody, loud, and trippy. I love it.

On The Corner: So, In A Silent Way was a rather mild album, then Bitches Brew blew it out of the water. On The Corner was the album that many people say is Miles' F*ck you to the jazz world. This album is in your face. Forget restraint, forget the ambience of In A Silent Way. On The Corner is a bold album from a bold artist. While many referred to this album as "anti-jazz", I refer to it as a breath of fresh air. It is loud, funky, and completely unapologetic. I love this album, especially the intense, yet mesmerizing beats laid out by Jack DeJohnette.

No one will deny Miles' unmatched musical vision. Also, of equal significance was his ability to put together the best bands ever assembled in jazz. Many of the members of Miles' fusion groups went on to massive success in their own fusion bands. Let's take a look at the work of these other greats.

Herbie Hancock

Next in line is one of the most successful jazz musicians ever: Herbie Hancock. Herbie got his start with Miles Davis in the early 1960's, and has not rested since. He has had amazing influence in many worlds, including jazz, folk, rock, and hip-hop. When he went off on his own in the 70's, Herbie Hancock ended up being the biggest fusion act in the world. Here's what you need to hear:

Headhunters: This is pretty much the most famous fusion album ever recorded, and is often reported as the biggest selling jazz album in history (although, Kind of Blue is the actual biggest seller). Headhunters is in your face funky. The intro bassline from Chameleon (the opening track) is classic. This album is funky, funky, funky, and just about everyone who hears it loves it. My favorite song on the album is "Sly" which is a nod to Sly Stone, and it just blows my mind every time I hear it--especially the 3rd part of the song. I also own this album on both CD and LP. It belongs in every music lover's collection, whether your love is rock, jazz, or r&b.

Thrust: The follow up to Headhunters, Thrust is another classic fusion album. While it is not as hard-hitting as Headhunters, this album is a must-hear for people who enjoy funky music. The most famous piece on the album is "Actual Proof", which is a classic, funky, "urban-ish" composition. In fact, I love it so much that it was played at my wedding! Of course, the standout piece on the album is "Butterfly" which is a mellow, beautiful composition that is somewhat in the same vein as the stuff on In A Silent Way, but more heavenly. Butterfly is one of my favorite songs ever.

Man-Child: Herbie Hancock did many fusion albums in the 1970's, and Man-Child is one of his funkier efforts. This album featured electric guitars, electric pianos, and plenty of bass grooves and beats. It is less jazzy in that the music is less improvised than music he did in the past, and the songs are definitely shorter. This is a great album that will introduce people in a more gentle way to the full-on jazz funk fusion done by Hancock in his earlier fusion albums.

Weather Report

Moving on. Let's talk about two musical visionaries from Miles Davis' band that went on to form the biggest band in jazz fusion history: Weather Report. The two musicians are Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. Joe plays piano, Wayne plays sax. Another notable member of Weather Report is Jaco Pastorius, voted the best bass player who ever lived. Weather Report evolved heavily during their career. At first, they were more ambient, more improvisational, and more jam-oriented. As they continued, they brought in more rock and pop elements, shortened their songs, and improvised less. They achieved massive success with this formula. Here are the essentials:

Weather Report: This was Weather Report's debut album, and it won Down Beat Magazine's album of the year in 1971. This album is considered a classic early fusion album, with similar sounds to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and In A Silent Way.

Heavy Weather: This is Weather Report's most successful album, featuring the hit "Birdland". In addition to being Weather Report's best-selling album, it remains one of the best selling jazz fusion albums ever. This album is the first that prominently features bassist extraordinaire Jaco Pastorius. It is much more rock and pop oriented than their debut.

Weather Report is probably the most commercial and accessible jazz fusion group, and many of their albums are notable for an eclectic blend of several musical genres and overall musical complexity. Check them out!

Jaco Pastorius

Speaking of Weather Report...I wanted to talk about Jaco for a minute. Widely regarded as the greatest bass player who ever lived, coupled with a heavy case of mental and emotional instability, and utimately a premature and tragic death, Jaco Pastorius is always an interesting topic. While Jaco Pastorius was highly successful as a member of Weather Report, his debut album is what dropped the bomb on the jazz and music world.

This album will blow your mind, and it still blows my mind every time I hear it. If you play bass, drop what you're doing right now and buy this album. In addition to showing off Jaco's amazing skill with the bass, it also showcases his talent as a composer. Every track on this album is a standout; from the re-interpretation of the bebop standard "Donna Lee" to the r&b song "Come On Come Over", to the orchestral and grandiose "Kuru/Speak Like a Child", all the way to the beautiful "Portrait of Tracy", this album is a must-have.

Chick Corea and Return to Forever

Moving on, let's talk about more of Miles Davis' bandmates who were part of the fusion movement. Next up is Chick Corea. Chick Corea is a piano/keyboard player who has performed on many of Miles Davis's albums from the late 1960's and early 70's. In the early 1970's, he put together a group called Return to Forever. This group started off as a more latin-American mix with jazz, and later became a more rock-oriented group. Here are the essentials:

Light as a Feather: This is the second Return to Forever album, and has a strong Brazillian, Latin-American sound, with electric instrumentation. It also features vocals from the Brazillian jazz singer, Flora Purim. This is a great album that I listen to often. It features many long and exciting improvisations and solos, with Purim's vocals mixed in. The standout piece on the album is the classic song "Spain", which has been covered and recorded several times. This is an essential album for lovers of latin-tinged jazz.

No Mystery: This album is very different from Light as a Feather. For starters, it has no vocals, and features a very different band. The music has much less of a latin influence, and instead is more rock and funk oriented. It also features guitar virtuoso Al DiMeola. This album won a grammy in 1975 for best jazz performance by a group. Admittedly, I first heard this album only a month ago, but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Return to Forever had a few years of great music, but soon enough the band members moved on to new things. Al DiMeola is one of the more famous members, especially amongst guitar players. Bassist Stanley Clarke has also made a long and varied career in music, with several notable albums under his belt.

John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra

Moving on...Let's talk about another pupil of Miles Davis: John McLaughlin. John McLaughlin was brought into Miles' band during the late 60's and early 70's for his skills on the electric guitar. McLaughlin can be heard on In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, among other Miles Davis albums from that era. His work during this time took a new direction when he founded the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971. The Mahavishnu Orchestra was one of the heavier fusion acts, featuring an eclectic blend of guitar rock, Indian instrumentation, funk, as well as Western and Eastern classic music. Here are the essentials:

The Inner Mounting Flame: This was the debut album from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and is an eclectic blend of rock, funk, as well as Western classical music and traditional Indian music. What stands out on this album are the rock elements that are direct references to the playing of Jimi Hendrix. This album, while being considered a jazz fusion album is right at home next to the great rock guitar albums, and is a highly influential album for guitar players everywhere.

Birds of Fire: The follow-up album to The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire is another rock-oriented auditory assault. The mood is heavy and the guitars are furious. This album will delight lovers of virtuoso guitar playing and heavy jazz.

The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a relatively short-lived group, but their influence is major and far-reaching. This is probably the heaviest jazz fusion act, and is right at home with both jazz and rock fans.

Tony Williams and Lifetime

Miles Davis seems to have dominated the entire concept of fusion. Another of his bandmates, Tony Williams, put together Lifetime, another major fusion group. While not achieving the same level of success as other fusion acts such as Weather Report and Return to Forever, Tony Williams Lifetime is considered a highly-influential fusion group, and has spanwned several tribute bands and tours. Here are the essentials:

Emergency!: This is one of the pioneering fusion albums, along with In A Silent Way. Tony Williams had been playing with Miles Davis for several years at this point, and was clearly heavily influenced by and influential to Miles' electric direction. Featuring Tony on drums, John McLaughlin on guitar, and Larry Young on organ, this album is a fusion classic.

Turn it Over: This album is the follow-up to Emergency! and features slightly more restrained improvisation and soloing, yet is still a fiery and intense experience. This album is definitely more rock-oriented than Emergency.

Tony Williams has proven himself again and again to not only be a top-notch drummer, but a talented musician and composer. I first started paying attention to him after reading Miles' autobiography, where Miles constantly emphasizes the amazing talent possessed by Tony Williams.

Did you read this far? I'm amazed! I can't believe I wrote this much. Anyway, Jazz fusion is great because it combines so many different musical elements, and draws inspiration from many sources. I find it exciting and unique, and I would love to discover this music further. Hopefully this primer has given you some new music to take in. Enjoy the music!

One of my favorite musical artists of all time is the jazz legend, Herbie Hancock. Herbie began his music career in the early 1960's when Miles Davis was putting together his "Second great quintet". Prior to working with Miles Davis, Herbie was a piano prodigy with a good amount of playing and performance experience under his belt. Working with Miles Davis earned Herbie Hancock instant fame and notoriety. While Hancock spent much time in the 1960's performing and recording with Miles Davis, he also recorded and performed several of his own albums with his own bands. One composition of his, "Riot" was recorded for the Miles Davis album "Nefertiti", and a different version was released on Herbie Hancock's "Speak Like a Child" album.

Working with Miles Davis in the 60's proved to be an extremely productive milestone in Herbie Hancock's career. With his work in the early 1960's, Herbie Hancock was regarded as one of the forefathers of the "Post-bop" sound: A style of jazz that is a blend of bebop, modal, and hard bop styles. Herbie Hancock's greatest achievement during this time was his masterpiece "Maiden Voyage", which is considered the quintessential post-bop recording. Other notable albums released during the 1960's are "Takin' Off", "My Point of View", "Inventions and Dimensions", "Empyrean Isles", "Speak Like a Child", "Fat Albert Rotunda", and "The Prisoner".

As the decade came close to an end, jazz was beginning to go electric. People like Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix were a huge influence on forward-thinking jazz musicians, including Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. Jazz musicians began to introduce electric instruments such as the Rhodes piano and electric guitars to their music, which in a few years would be known as "fusion".

In 1969, Miles Davis recorded "In a Silent Way" with Herbie Hancock on piano. This is considered one of the first fusion albums ever, and gave way to future Miles Davis projects such as "Bitches Brew" and "On the Corner". Being in the presence of a musical visionary like Miles Davis proved to be magical for Herbie Hancock's musical vision and career. In the early 1970's, he composed and recorded a series of musically complex and highly eclectic albums known as the "Mwandishi" albums. The three albums are "Mwandishi", "Crossings", and "Sextant". On these albums, Herbie places a soundscape before the listener. This type of music was not very approachable or easy to like, but these albums formed the basis for Herbie Hancock's next project, which would go on to become one of the greatest selling jazz albums of all time.

After the Mwandishi albums, Herbie Hancock put together a new band known as the Headhunters. In 1974, he released an album of the same name, which went on to become the greatest and most important fusion album of all time. Headhunters is a funky album with great melodies and beats, and has an amazingly wide appeal. Jazz people, R&B people, and Rock n' Roll people will all appreciate the music on this album. The success from Headhunters gave way to a few more funky fusion albums including "Thrust", "Man-Child" and "Secrets". Later on in the 70's, Herbie Hancock would produce more danceable, poppy, disco-y albums such as "Sunlight" and "Feets, Don't Fail Me Now". Unfortunately, many of these albums were not received well, but Herbie continued to write, record and tour.

The early 1980's brought another hit for Herbie, the classic song "Rockit" from his album "Future Shock". Part of what made this song so famous was MTV. It was a favorite video for its innovative cinematography, and use of the record scratching sound. Of course, within the next few years, the record scratch sound would be prominently used in hip hop and rap. Again, Herbie Hancock proved to be ahead of his time, and a major musical innovator. During the mid to late 80's, Herbie Hancock produced several more albums, played with many more musicians, and toured heavily. He even did some music for commercials.

Being as famous as Herbie Hancock was, he continued to perform and record in the 90's and 2000's. He collaborated with many different artists during this period, including old bandmate Wayne Shorter, and longtime friends Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder. In the mid 2000's, he released "Possibilities" which featured his collaborations with other famous pop and rock musicians. In 2008, his tribute to Joni Mitchell "River: The Joni Letters" earned him a grammy for album of the year, only the second jazz album ever to receive that honor.

I had the pleasure of seeing Herbie Hancock perform in November 2007 in San Francisco, and I must say, he's still got it! I remember in one song, he had 2 or 3 keyboards set up in front of him, and he was playing them all! He also did a great performance of "Actual Proof" from his fusion masterpiece "Thrust", and it was as funky as ever. The bass was turned up so high, I could hear all sorts of things rattling in the auditorium. I remember him also using a keytar to perform. It was awesome!

One of the most accomplished musicians in jazz, as well as one of its key innovators in the second half of the 20th century, Herbie Hancock is truly a musical legend. He has produced so much music that he definitely has something for everyone. I highly recommend checking him out if you haven't already.

Charlie Parker

Being interested in jazz music, I was knowledgeable of Charlie Parker's existence. However, also being a newbie to jazz, I never really got around to exploring his music until very recently. It went like this: I was reading Miles Davis's autobiography, and as many of you jazz afficionados already know, Miles got his start playing in Charlie Parker's band. Miles spoke very positively of Charlie Parker's musical skill and vision. Then, one day I was at the library, and decided to check out a Charlie Parker compilation CD.

I put it on when I got home, and was instantly amazed at Parker's virtuosity on the sax. Many of the recordings also feature a major player in jazz: Dizzy Gillespie. The "Diz and Bird" ("Yardbird" and "Bird" were nicknames that Charlie Parker was known by) team produced some of jazz's most memorable and innovative songs. Both were on the forefront of the bebop movement, which featured fast tempos, virtuoso playing, and improvization based on harmonic structure. When I listened to the albums, I am amazed at how many notes they manage to fit in such a short period of time. Incredible.

Immediate;y it was clear to me why people are so into Charlie Parker. Here's Parker's story: He started off as a teenager playing the sax, and apparently wasn't very good. Many of those around him expressed their displeasure with his music. In response, Charlie Parker got busy and practiced intensely--up to 15 hours a day for a period of 3-4 years. As an older teenager, Parker was involved in an automobile accident that reportedly got him hooked on morphine. This addiction led to heroin, which would haunt Parker for life.

Parker played in several bands around his home state of Missouri. He was influenced by people like Count Basie and Lester Young--another saxophone visionary. Parker soon moved to New York, and joined other famous musicians from the legendary 52nd street scene such as Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. This scene was the birth of the bebop movement, which was famously recalled as music that "they" (white people) could not play.

Unfortunately, Parker's heroin addiction caused him to miss performances. In addition, many of the performances that he did make it to, he was so ufcked up from the heroin and booze that he would nod off, and simply could not play as well as he could under normal conditions. His behavior became increasingly erratic, and at one point, he was committed to Camarillo State Hospital--A mental institution about an hour out of Los Angeles. Upon release, Parker appeared to be healthy, and returned to New York where his new-found health allowed him to do some of his best playing ever.

Parker went on to do an album that was a fusion of jazz and classical, entitled "Charlie Parker With Strings". At this point, Charlie Parker was one of the most famous jazz musicians in the world. He recorded several more legendary performances in the early 1950's that have all further solidified Parker's place in the history of jazz.

He died in 1955, at the age of 34. Years of abuse to his body caused the coroner to believe that Parker was in his 60s. Like many other musical visionaries, Parker worked hard and played hard. His musical genius is still respected and celebrated to this day.

Charlie Parker: An American music innovator and stellar performer. You have to hear this guy on vinyl to truly appreciate the intensity of his vision and playing. Get one today, and enjoy the music!

Charles Mingus is often seen as simply a jazz bass player. While it's true that the bass was his instrument of choice, referring to him as just a bass player is not enough.

You see, Charles Mingus (Or, as afficionados often refer to him, Mingus) was an innovative composer and bandleader, and played the piano, and brass in addition to the bass. He always aspired to be a Duke Ellington for a new generation, and in many ways he has. Based on the title of one of his later albums "Let My Children Hear Music", you can cleary see Mingus's aspiration to leave his music behind for future generations to enjoy.

My first encounter with Charles Mingus was around 2001, when I started collecting Ken Burns Jazz CDs to become more familiar with the most important recordings from artists that I was interested in. I picked up the Mingus CD, and immediately enjoyed the walking bass line for the opening "Haitian Fight Song". I also enjoyed the big-band sound, and emotional soundscape of "Solo Dancer, Stop! Look! and Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!", from Mingus's legendary composition "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady". I enjoyed the album, but never really dug deeper into the work of Mingus until I started doing research for this website.

I went out and got a copy of "Tijuana Moods", "Let My Children Hear Music", and most recently, "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady". All three albums are total knockouts in terms of the musical complexity, emotional subtext, and straight up musical enjoyment. Let My Children Hear Music is widely reported as one of Mingus's favorite albums, and The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady tops many of the greatest jazz albums in history lists.

So, without further ado, let me talk about what I love about Mingus.

First of all, I love the big band. Many of Charles Mingus's bands have 10-11 different musicians playing various parts of the composition. The resulting sound is big and complex, with all sorts of colors, textures, and emotions coming at you. People who love orchestral music are sure to appreciate the sound of Mingus's compositions.

I also love the unique instruments that Mingus uses in his bands. While many musicians prior to Mingus stuck with percussion, piano, brass and sax, Mingus's compositions have excellent guitar parts, as well as strings, flutes, oboes, tubas, and other instruments not commonly found in jazz.

Lastly, I wanted to talk about the emotions. Mingus's compositions are heavy emotionally. Being highly outspoken and political personally, it follows that the same sort of emotional expression would be found in the music. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is up there with A Love Supreme in terms of emotional intensity. Popping one of these albums on commands your attention, and is a feast for the mind.

Charles Mingus is one of the great contemporary composers of jazz music, and his music definitely deserves some attention. Pick up an album or two, put your feet up, grab a drink, and enjoy the music.

Jazz is one of the most important musical innovations ever created.

The soft drink world has Coca Cola, the music world has jazz.

Why do I like it? Well, here are 5 reasons...

#5: Not much singing:

It's strange, but I'm not a huge fan of lyrics and singing. I am more interested in what the instrumentalists are trying to tell me through their music. That's not to say that lyricists and vocalists are useless to me, I just like to be able to enjoy the music without the intentions of the lyricist. I mean, what if I like the music of a song, but the lyrics are depressing? Again, it's not to say that the lyrics should be undervalued, or that the lyricist doesn't have something important to say, but most of the time (me, at least), I like to just kick back, and enjoy the instrumentation.

#4 Instrumental Virtuosity

At my high school, the highest band you could get into was the jazz band. To be able to get in, you had to have a mastery of your chosen instrument. The reason is simple: Jazz musicians built their style of music by improvising and bringing new and unique sounds to their songs. That's not for amateurs, folks. The Jazz genre has produced several virtuoso instrumentalists who have not only gained a mastery of their instrument, but also changed the game for everyone to follow. No one played the sax like Coltrane, and anyone who does is merely following the footsteps of a musical prodigy.

#3 Mood

One of the things I like about Jazz is its ability to project a mood. You see, I feel like I can get a "vibe" from the various melodies played by Jazz musicians. When I put on a song, there are certain musical messages that are projected and interpreted by me in various ways. There are songs that project lonliness, joy, frustration, anger, spirituality, and all sorts of other emotions and mood. I also am a huge fan of the "visual" qualities of Jazz. When I listen to Jazz, I really enjoy closing my eyes, and envisioning a new landscape before me. I like how an instrumentalist can paint a landscape of sound, that can then be interpreted by me to mean what I want it to mean. There are few other genres that can effectively accomplish this for me, aside from classical, and the occasional rock piece.

#2 Intensity

One of the stereotypes of Jazz is that it is "elevator" music, and completely boring. Not true!!! I cannot emphasize this enough! There are so many Jazz pieces that have the energy of a punk band, and the emotional intensity of a Martin Scorsese film. Jazz musicians are a crazy bunch. Much like the rock musicians of today, many of the Jazz musicians of yesteryear were notorious, dangerous, and wildly unpredictable. These guys were on the cutting edge of life, the cutting edge of music, and they lived to tell us about it through music. John Coltrane's greatest work is "A Love Supreme", consisting of four parts to a suite of songs that he wrote and performed as his personal tribute to God. This album is very heavy, very intense, and one of the best musical experiences you can have. There are so many pieces out there that project the emotions of the human experience: Loudly, proudly, and deeply satisfyingly. Jazz is not for people who don't like to be moved by music.

#1 Beats

Where did Rap come from? Jazz. Sure, you're not going to hear really low bass hits in a lot of Jazz, but the framework was built in Jazz. Some of these songs just inspire you to get up, get going, be awesome. It's the beat. Jazz drummers will blow you away with their intensity, speed, and ability to get so much sound out of a little 3 piece set. As an old music instructor once told me "Jazz drummers are LIVE!" Translation: These guys are off the hook. These beats are phat, mesmerizing, intense, and just plain amazing. I believe that humans subconsciously receive messages and emotions from beats, and this explains how music came to be in the first place. Back in the old (old, old, old, days), humans made noise. They then set this noise to a rhythm. From there, melody was invented. Beats are the basis of all music, and beats speak to us on a subconscious level. The beats that are found in Jazz are exciting, moving, and very virtuoso.

So, there you have. 5 reasons why I like Jazz music. If you want to experience the greatest American musical innovation, you need to get some jazz in your collection. Read my post "10 Essential Jazz Albums (Part 1)" to get some ideas about the greatest of the great.

Jazz is one of those topics that people are either completely ambivalent about, or completely passionate about. Even if you're one of those ambivalent types towards jazz, there are so many great recordings out there. These are recordings that have inspired newer music from genres as varied as hip hip to rock music. In fact, some of the great jazz recordings have been sampled in the work of newer artists. The albums that follow are selections from the most famous jazz musicians of all time: Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.

A quick note to all of the jazz snobs out there. This is my list. If you don't like it, write your own. Thanks.

#10: Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Miles Davis' masterpiece concept album. This album has proven to be one of the greatest "jazz" albums of all time, although this album really defies categorization. Some call it fusion, some call it free jazz. Regardless, this album is not so much about melody, but more about creating a soundscape. Listening to the album, you are instantly transported to a new place where there are different emotions floating around in the space surrounding you. This is one of the most creative albums ever produced, and it belongs in all music lovers' collections.

# 9: John Coltrane - Giant Steps

This album is considered one of John Coltrane's greatest albums. This classic features Coltrane's style in full-force, yet while retaining the approachability that would be lost in later efforts. This album contains some of the most famous jazz songs ever written, and why not? With John Coltrane's impeccable command of the saxophone, as well as his intense and emotional compositions, this album is not to be missed.

# 8: Herbie Hancock - Inventions and Dimensions

This album is one of the most overlooked albums in Herbie Hancock's entire catalog. Featuring a trimmed down band (Just Herbie on Piano, some bass, and some percussion), this is an album for lovers of the piano. Herbie lays down some excellent melodies (Who doesn't love the opening to "Succotash"??), with the rhythm section throwing some latin-esque beats into the mix. Another song not to miss is "Mimosa", which Herbie Hancock worked on with Miles Davis. This is a great album!

# 7: Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool

This album is one of Miles Davis' earlier efforts, and contains the epitome of what people refer to as "Cool" jazz. In fact, many credit this album as the defining work of the "cool" jazz movement. This album has an upbeat tempo and style, and really brings you back to New York City in the early 1950's. One song I really like is "Bopliicity", which is a tribute to the bebop sound that Miles Davis is credited with being a major innovator. The title of the album sums it all up: This is a cool album!

# 6: Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain

While not a pure "jazz" album, the music on this LP combines elements of jazz, classical, and flamenco music. This album is a definite masterpiece, showcasing Miles' soulful horn playing, and the impeccable musical direction of Gil Evans. This is an album that contains many moods, and I find the music to be highly "visual", meaning that you can pop the album on, close your eyes, and be transported to a different place. This is a fantastic album that has appeal to a very wide audience.

# 5: Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage

This album is a certified jazz classic. Considered one of Herbie Hancock's most masterful works, Maiden Voyage is an album which aims to capture the various moods and emotions that go along with the sea. The concept is a success. This album will draw you in with its "storytelling" melodies, changes of emotions, and overall musical mastery. This album is not to be missed.

# 4: John Coltrane - Blue Train

Easily one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. This album was John Coltrane's first album under his own name, and was one of his personal favorites. The first track "Blue Train" is one of the most famous jazz songs ever recorded. The album already showcases the unique playing style of John Coltrane, and his signature "sheets of sound". It's best not to think of this as one of the greatest jazz albums ever recorded, but one of the best albums ever recorded.

# 3: Herbie Hancock - Headhunters

Headhunters was a defining moment in Herbie Hancock's career. After his free jazz days with his Mwandishi albums, Herbie produced this album which has a more melodic and funky feel to it. It is widely reported as the greatest selling album in jazz history. This album is not a simple "jazz" album, however. It is credited as the defining album of the so-called "fusion" sound. I cannot say enough great things about this album. It will blow you away with its energy and funkiness.

# 2: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

If you're interested in listening to jazz music, many people will point you towards this album first. Arguably the greatest album in jazz history (and the history of music, for that matter), Kind of Blue was produced when Miles Davis was innovating a new style of jazz, known as "modal" jazz, or jazz music based on modes. The style of this album is uber-cool, with relaxed, mellow melodies. This album features both John Coltrane and Miles Davis, and belongs in every single music lover's collection.

# 1: John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

This is one of the most deeply moving albums I have ever heard. This album was considered by Coltrane to be his gift to God. The liner notes feature an ode to God, written by Coltrane, and the end of the suite is a "musical narration" of this poem. Beyond the deep meaning of the music, this album contains some of Coltrane's most amazing playing, especially during "Pursuance". This album is one of the greatest ever produced in any genre. I can't recommend this album enough!