History of Recorded Jazz
In early 1917, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band made the first jazz recording. Over the next 100 years we have heard transcendent leaps of creativity and staggering virtuosity; we have experienced the music of crushing pain, breathless romance, anger, exhilaration and humor. “Jazz at 100” is that story – one hundred years of jazz recordings – in 100 one-hour programs that will present representative music from a century of recorded jazz history.
Jazz at 100
In 2017, WTJU’s Rus Perry produced 100 one hour episodes covering the history of recorded jazz. Syndicated from coast to coast, this enormous body of work has now been adapted as a free, online class for anyone to enjoy and learn from. Each lesson is expected to take about an hour.
Please note that there is no login or account creation. You will need to track your own progress.
To take the course, please click a button below.
- Can be taken on your own
- Lessons build upon each other
- Can be used by anyone
- Activities & Knowledge Checks
- 14 Lessons + Course Intro&Review
- Requires an Instructor
- Lessons are Independent
- Intended for grades 9-12
- Lesson Plans, Activities & Tests
- 14 Individual Lessons
You can hear the original 100 episodes and the follow up “Jazz at 100 Today!” at: wtju.net/jazz100
This was produced by Lewis Reining and Brooke Whitehurst with consultation and editing from Rus Perry. The “History of Recorded Jazz” was produced with support from the National Endowment of the Arts.
