Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's collaboration was not just about music—it was about storytelling through jazz. Together, they transformed the big band into a narrative instrument, where every arrangement and solo contributed to a larger emotional journey.

Billy Strayhorn was more than Duke Ellington’s collaborator—he was a singular musical voice.

Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington shared one of jazz’s most legendary musical partnerships.

Blending jazz and rock styles showed that rock could be smart and sophisticated while remaining fun, energetic, and popular.

Steely Dan is a perfect example of how jazz shapes rock music. From the 1970s onward, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker infused their rock songs with complex jazz harmonies, sophisticated chord progressions, and tight, syncopated rhythms.

Jazz and rock are always borrowing and always inspiring each other. Here are a few rock songs shaped by jazz, where improvisation, rhythm, and harmony push the music beyond boundaries.

Jazz left an indelible mark on rock music. Take Van Morrison’s “Moondance," a jazz waltz turned pop hit, complete with swing feel, walking bass, and jazz-inspired solos, blending sophistication with accessibility.

Jazz has left its fingerprints all over popular music. From the swing era forward, jazz rhythms, harmonies, and improvisation have shaped the sound of pop.

During the Civil Rights Movement, jazz was a voice for freedom.

Jazz has had a profound influence on the Broadway stage. In the 1920s and ’30s, jazz rhythms and harmonies began to reshape the sound of the American musical, giving it a freshness and vitality audiences hadn’t heard before.