Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: The Origins of Jazz
Red Hot Jazz outlines the origins of jazz, taking a look at the blend of cultures that existed in New Orleans at the turn of the century when jazz first emerged as a unique musical form. Includes links to additional information about...
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy
A brief biography of the life and musical career of Louis Armstrong from the National Portrait Gallery.
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: Louis Armstrong
PBS provides an overview and highlights of the life of jazz great, Louis Armstrong.
Other
Amg All Music Guide: The Dorsey Brothers
This resource offers a brief synopsis of the careers of brothers Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, and their successes and failures in the music business.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
Brief history of the Dorsey Brothers' musical careers including a good sized discography collection.
PBS
Pbs: Improvise a Short Story
This lesson incorporates the art of improvisation with writing a collaborative short story. Young scholars will learn the relationships music has with other disciplines outside of the arts.
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: George Balanchine
From the PBS series, American Masters, this is the biography for the American jazz dancer and choreographer, George Balanchine.
PBS
Pbs: Continental Harmony
PBS presents several activities and lesson plans that cover the concepts of identifying different forms of music, learning about musical imagery, writing in response to music, and creating lyrics. The Sound Lounge has many interactive...
PBS
Pbs: Cole Porter: You're the Top
A high school lesson plan designed to delve deeper into the life of Cole Porter and the meaning in his music.
Black Past
Black Past: Queen Latifah
This encyclopedia entry extols Queen Latifah as the most influential female rap singer. You can read about her evolution as a rap singer and actress.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Learning Through the Duke
Describe the life of Duke Ellington and his contributions to the field of jazz, write an original poem using a variety of popular vocabulary from the 1920's and respond to Ellington's composition "Mood Indigo" by creating a painting.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot jazz.com: Tom Brown's "Jass" Band
Stop here at RedHotJazz.com for some early history of Dixieland jazz, dating to the early 1900's and one of the first known jazz bands.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Langston Hughes
This resource focuses on the works of famous African-American author, Langston Hughes.
Other
Flemenco World: The First Solo Recordings, Paco and Jazz
This site provides an excerpt from Paco Sevilla's book "Paco de Lucia: A New Tradition for the Flamenco Guitar" which tell of Paco de Lucia's first solo recordings.
Scott Alexander
The Red Hot Jazz Archive; Thomas "Tommy" Dorsey
A biography of Tommy Dorsey with links to his contemporaries, a discography, filmography, and suggested reading.
Other
Nat King Cole Society: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
This site provides information about Nat King Cole, as well as a timeline of his life. Nat King Cole was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Benny Goodman
A biography from the John F. Kennedy Center on jazz legend Benny Goodman discusses his foray into jazz music with his band and the legacy he left with his music.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Wynton Marsalis
A biography of jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. A musical prodigy, he began playing in orchestras while still in high school. He later won the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
Read Works
Read Works: Program Notes Rhapsody in Blue
[Free Registration/Login Required] This PDF is the Program Notes from The New York Philharmonic's production of "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin. It provides information about Gershwin and his writing of the "jazz concerto." It is...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Techno Pop
Feature series on "The Secret History of Technology and Pop Music," traced partly through the story of an Indiana company that stopped making pianos and started cutting 78 rpm records using the talents of famous jazz musicians and others.
Rutgers University
One More Once: A Celebration of the Life of Count Basie
Here is a truly wonderful site devoted to the life and music of Count Basie. A musicography tracks his creations through the decades of his life, and there are also photo essays to add celebrity interest to this excellent site.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two of the greatest jazz composers, collaborated on hundreds of works. As you explore this exhibition, you will have an opportunity to view original music scores, listen to audio clips, and view videos...
Other
The Official Miles Davis Site
Learn about the famous jazz musician Miles Davis. Links to an extensive biography, music, pictures, and more.
Other
Oscar Peterson's Official Web Site
On Oscar Peterson's official web site, you can find biographical information, music samples, lists of everything he has published, his journal and photos of him with other jazz greats.
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