Archive for April 2026

If you’ve been following this series, you know the philosophy behind the music. You understand the architecture of the repertoire, and you know that jazz is, at its core, a conversation. But when you finally step onto the bandstand and the rhythm section looks at you for direction, theory takes a backseat to instinct. You…

Jazz standards didn’t emerge in isolation—they were built and transformed across generations. The Original Composers (The Architects) These songwriters created the foundation: They wrote songs for Broadway and film—but jazz gave them new life. Jazz Composers Some standards came directly from jazz artists: These works were designed specifically for improvisation. The Great Interpreters These artists…