The developments in popular music in the twentieth and twenty-first century have been vast and diverse, with a gradual shift from basic instruments and simple, melodic structures towards more complex works and an increasing use in advancing technology.

However, the origins of Western popular music can often be traced back through its many artists and influences to the two strains of African-American music that developed towards the end of the nineteenth century - jazz, hot from the multicultural, urban melting pot of New Orleans, and blues, from the desolate, rural landscapes of Texas and the Mississippi Delta. Jazz and blues combined elements of African music with the cultural and social world of post-Civil War America, and gradually developed from their similar roots into two quite distinct musical genres, providing a solid basis from which further styles could grow.

Ultimately, the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues is all about the music, which is why we have decided to make a variety of classic tracks available here for our readers to experience. Each track has a brief commentary to place the music into context and to highlight any musical points or issues that may be of interest to the listener.

The tracks we have selected aim to show how, as jazz and blues developed, the new sounds and textures introduced can often be linked back to the music's earlier incarnations. Changing social, political and cultural climates have brought out different aspects of the genres' influences and musical make-up over the years, leading to the intricate and varied musical tapestries that represent jazz and blues music today, but the underlying roots of the music's humble beginnings are always present.

We hope that these legendary recordings will prove to be not only a valuable resource for those wanting to explore and learn more about jazz and blues music, but also a source of pleasure and inspiration to buy the old recordings, either on vinyl, CD or over the Internet.

Links

http://www.watsonguptill.com
The US Publisher of the Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues, Billboard Books is an imprint of Watson Guptill, a premier publisher of illustrated and reference books.

http://www.flametreepublishing.com
The UK publisher's web site, with high quality books and stationery catalogues, covering music, art and reference.

http://www.redhotjazz.com
This site provides an invaluable resource on early jazz, with extensive biographies, essays and downloadable tracks.