Read Works
Read Works: Time for Jazz
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a girl named Lina who wanted to learn more about jazz music and its history. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Great War & Jazz Age (1914 1928)
This Library of Congress time-line series surveys World War I and the Jazz Age. When World War I broke out in Europe, many changes were going on in the United States. Women were voting for the first time and African-American culture was...
PBS
Pbs: Biography of Dizzy Gillespie
This PBS biography about trumpeter and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie includes photos, multiple audio features, and links within the text to other famous musicians.
University of Wisconsin
Welcome to the World of Jazz Improvisation
This site was developed by a college jazz educator based on one of her improvisation classes. Material suitable educators or the student who is serious about learning jazz improvisation.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Archive: New Orleans Jazz: Music!
Dozens of audio clips of New Orleans-style jazz music from different time periods: 1920s and 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and the year 2000.
Other
All About Jazz: Where to Begin?
A guide to help a newcomer to jazz become familiar with the genre.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Listen to and learn about King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band here. Site includes a description and discography of the greatest early jazz band.
Other
Off Jazz Terminology of Jazz Dance
Comprehensive list with definitions of jazz movements, including basic steps, leg movements, ondulations, rolls, falls, turns, jumps, and other steps.
Other
Off Jazz Terminology of Jazz Dance
Comprehensive list of jazz dance steps, including turns, rolls, falls, leaps, ondulations, and other steps.
Other
Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Information about the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, includes company history.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Ferdinand Jelly Roll Morton
Red Hot Jazz offers a biography of jazz great, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, with selections of Morton's compositions and arrangements in Real Audio format.
Other
Jazz Dance History: Jack Cole
The influence and importance of Jack Cole in the development of jazz dance in the theater, includes shows he choreographed.
Other
Dance.net: Jazz Terminology
Short list of jazz steps with definitions and phonetic pronunciation guide for each.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Joe 'King' Oliver
A biography of one of the most prominent artists of early jazz.
Scott Alexander
The Red Hot Jazz Archive: Origins of Big Band Jazz
Examines the progression from Ragtime and New Orleans jazz to Big Band.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Jazz in Pennsylvania
Explore the history and influences of jazz in the state of Pennsylvania. Resource includes links to audio clips and video from artists, and stories of jazz from around the state.
Other
Article: What Makes Modern Jazz Modern?
A fairly long academic article on Modern Jazz and what "modern" really means.
Other
Jazz Age Culture: Part 1
Features numerous links to external sites that provide information pertaining to the flapper era, jazz and the Harlem Renaissance, prohibition, racial violence, and crime.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Music: Latin Jazz Issue
Learn about key aspects of Latin jazz from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued in 2008 to celebrate it.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Le Tumulte Noir: Paul Colin's Jazz Age Portfolio
The spirit of Jazz Age Paris, as captured by French poster artist Paul Colin. Includes portraits of Josephine Baker and of other musicians and dancers of the time who were the undisputed stars of Parisian theater.
Other
Jazz Improvisation Primer/ Free Improvisation
A look at what makes free jazz musically unique. Contains specific examples of free rhythm and tonality.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: Ella Fitzgerald
Learn about the life of Ella Fitzgerald, from her childhood as an orphan to her rise as a successful jazz singer. Includes audio (requires RealPlayer).
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong (1900 1971)
This site from Red Hot Jazz contains a good biography of Louis Armstrong, arguably the most influential jazz musician. Very interesting and informative, also includes a picture.
Other popular searches
- Jazz Dance
- Jazz Music
- Jazz Age
- History of Jazz
- Jazz Music Lesson Plans
- Jazz Dance Terms
- Jazz Dance Terminology
- Jazz Musicians
- Jazz Rhythms
- Jazz Dance Technique
- Jazz Dance Moves
- Jazz Dance History