PBS
Pbs: Black and Blue: Jazz in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison was a musician who later became a writer. His book Invisible Man is written like a jazz composition. In this lesson, students will interpret key themes and concepts in Invisible Man that are also found in jazz music.
Black Past
Black Past: Marsalis, Wynton
This concise encyclopedia article tells about Wynton Marsalis as both a classical and jazz musician. There is a link to his own website.
Black Past
Black Past: Mingus, Charles
In this encyclopedia entry, you learn about Charles Mingus, jazz bassist and composer.
Black Past
Black Past: Monk, Thelonius
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief account of Thelonius Monk, jazz pianist, and his influence on the jazz scene.
Scott Alexander
The Red Hot Jazz Archives
Lots of information on jazz bands and musicians at this RedHotJazz.com site.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Sun Ra
This entry features Sun Ra, a black American jazz composer and keyboard player who led a free jazz big band known for its innovative instrumentation and the theatricality of its performances.
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: Lena Horne
PBS profiles American jazz singer and actress Lena Horne's life and music. Includes video.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Scott Joplin
Considered the "King Of Ragtime", Scott Joplin is introduced in this informative web page. Learn more about his background and his music.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Rex Stewart
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Rex Stewart, a black American jazz musician unique for playing the cornet, rather than the trumpet, in big bands as well as small groups throughout his career. His mastery of expressive...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Jimmy Smith
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Jimmy Smith, an American musician who integrated the electric organ into jazz, thereby inventing the soul-jazz idiom, which became popular in the 1950s and '60s.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: William Grant Still
This resource describes how William Grant Still (1895-1978 CE) started out playing the violin and then began teaching himself to play other string instruments as well as the oboe, clarinet, and saxophone. His most famous work is...