Profile America for the 23rd day of Black History Month, 2011.
It has been called “the only true American art form." Over a century old, it's appreciated around the world—what else but the music called jazz? A blend of religious and work songs, Spanish and French influences, ragtime and marching bands, all laid over African rhythms, the history of jazz is uniquely tied to the African-American experience. From Jelly Roll Morton to Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis on to Wynton Marsalis, African-Americans have kept jazz evolving through the decades. Nearly 8 percent of adults in the U.S. attend a live jazz performance at least once a year.
You may Listen or download this story in .mp3 format or as a .wav file.
This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
It has been called “the only true American art form." Over a century old, it's appreciated around the world—what else but the music called jazz? A blend of religious and work songs, Spanish and French influences, ragtime and marching bands, all laid over African rhythms, the history of jazz is uniquely tied to the African-American experience. From Jelly Roll Morton to Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis on to Wynton Marsalis, African-Americans have kept jazz evolving through the decades. Nearly 8 percent of adults in the U.S. attend a live jazz performance at least once a year.
You may Listen or download this story in .mp3 format or as a .wav file.
This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
