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During the Cold War, Duke Ellington became one of America’s most powerful cultural ambassadors. Beginning in the 1960s, Ellington and his orchestra toured Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa as part of U.S. State Department goodwill missions. -
In 1956, Dizzy Gillespie led one of the Cold War’s most influential cultural missions — the U.S. State Department’s jazz goodwill tour.
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In 1959, at the height of his career, saxophonist Sonny Rollins disappeared from the jazz scene. But Rollins wasn’t done -- he was searching. He found his practice space high above New York City on the Williamsburg Bridge. -
Jazz has always been rich in creativity, but making a living as a jazz artist can be a different story. From the earliest days of big bands to today’s streaming era, musicians have had to balance artistry with economic reality. -
Jazz has always been more than notes—it’s a conversation, a release, and a way to center the mind. When musicians improvise, they enter a state of focused presence. The past and the future fall away, and the only thing that matters is the phrase unfolding in the moment. That’s mindfulness. -
Many of the innovators who shaped bebop’s explosive new sound had deep roots in the Carolinas. They brought with them the rhythms of the South, the spirituals of the church, and the blues traditions that defined their communities. -
From the early days of jazz, a remarkable musical exchange flowed across the Atlantic, connecting the creativity of Harlem with the cultural embrace of Paris. -
Detroit has long been a powerhouse in American industry—and in American jazz. In the mid-20th century, the Motor City’s working-class neighborhoods produced a wave of extraordinary musicians who shaped the sound of modern jazz. -
Jazz is constantly evolving—shaped by fresh voices and new waves of creativity. Today, two powerful movements are commanding attention: the return of the alto sax to center stage, and a rising generation of innovative vocalists. -
Alice Coltrane’s music is a journey -- one that extends far beyond jazz tradition into the realms of spirit and transcendence. After her husband, John Coltrane, died, she devoted herself to exploring sound as a path to healing and enlightenment. -
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In the late 1950s, jazz legend Mary Lou Williams underwent a profound spiritual transformation that reshaped her music and mission. Out of that calling emerged her groundbreaking sacred works—compositions that blended jazz with liturgical tradition.
