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Website
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Joy2 Learn: Jazz With Wynton Marsalis

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a tour about jazz with jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. Through video segments, you'll learn about the trumpet, the history of jazz and key famous jazz legends.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jazz and Ww Ii: A Rally to Resistance, a Catalyst for Victory

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson plan that teaches the roles that jazz music and jazz musicians played in the war effort and that demonstrates the effect that the war had on jazz in America.
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Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong (1900 1971)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
Other

Article: What Makes Modern Jazz Modern?

For Students 9th - 10th
A fairly long academic article on Modern Jazz and what "modern" really means.
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Website
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
Lots of information on jazz bands and musicians at this RedHotJazz.com site.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Sonny Rollins

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical account of Sonny Rollins, an American jazz musician, a tenor saxophonist who was among the finest improvisers on the instrument to appear since the mid-1950s.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Cootie Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of Cootie Williams, an African-American trumpeter whose mastery of mutes and expressive effects made him one of the most distinctive jazz musicians.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Ben Webster

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Ben Webster, an American jazz musician, considered one of the most distinctive of his generation, noted for the beauty of his tenor saxophone tone and for his melodic inventiveness.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Marsalis, Wynton

For Students 9th - 10th
This concise encyclopedia article tells about Wynton Marsalis as both a classical and jazz musician. There is a link to his own website.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Louis Armstrong

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS provides an overview and highlights of the life of jazz great, Louis Armstrong.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Lena Horne

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS profiles American jazz singer and actress Lena Horne's life and music. Includes video.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Monk, Thelonius

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief account of Thelonius Monk, jazz pianist, and his influence on the jazz scene.
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Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Billie Holiday

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine the life and historical contributions of renown jazz vocalist and Pennsylvania native, Billie Holiday in this concise biography.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Mingus, Charles

For Students 9th - 10th
In this encyclopedia entry, you learn about Charles Mingus, jazz bassist and composer.
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Handout
Tennessee History For Kids

Tennessee History for Kids: Bessie Smith

For Students 3rd - 8th
Often known as the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith influenced entire generations of blues, jazz, and rock musicians and was the highest-paid black entertainer of her time. This website will provide more information about Smith's...
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Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Sarah Vaughan

For Students 9th - 10th
An informative biography of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990 CE) is presented highlighting her long musical career.
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Website
Other

Wynton Marsalis

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to information on Wynton Marsalis's latest recordings, this resource contains a biography and liner notes from other recordings. Some short sound clips. Links to other sites as well.
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Article
Scott Alexander

Lieutenant James Reese Europe: Songs Back From the Battle

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is an extensive biography of World War I African American soldier and jazz musician Lieutenant James Reese Europe. It includes much detail about Europe's life, experience in the military, and success as a bandleader. Photos,...
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Handout
Arlington Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery Website: James Reese Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
This unofficial site about those interred in Arlington National Cemetery offers a brief biography of James Reese Europe, African American jazz musician who was the leader of the military band attached to the 369th Infantry Regiment, the...
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Website
Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada: Willie Eckstein, Pianist and Composer (1888 1963)

For Students 9th - 10th
Willie Eckstein was also known as "The Boy Paderewski" or "Mr. Fingers" for his prodigious talent as a pianist. Trained as a classical pianist, he performed vaudeville and as an accompanist to silent movies, often attracting more...
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Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: William Strayhorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine the historical contributions made to the jazz world by this noted composer and arranger from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Sun Ra

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about black American jazz composer and keyboard player, Sun Ra, who led a free jazz big band known for its innovative instrumentation and the theatricality of its performances.
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Handout
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Fats Waller

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a brief biography about jazz pianist and composer Fats Waller. Also featured in this resource are a couple of audio clips of his music.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Mc Coy Tyner

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life and career of McCoy Tyner, an African-American jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer noted for his technical virtuosity and dazzling improvisations.

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