Jazz; A History of America’s Music

Jazz: A History of America’s Music is the companion volume to the acclaimed PBS documentary series directed by Ken Burns. Authored by historian Geoffrey C. Ward, this comprehensive work traces the evolution of jazz from its origins in New Orleans to its status as a global musical phenomenon.​

The book delves into the lives and contributions of seminal jazz figures such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. It examines how jazz intersected with significant social and cultural movements in American history, including the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and the counterculture era.​

Enriched with over 500 photographs and illustrations, many of which were not featured in the television series, the book offers readers a visual and narrative journey through the rich tapestry of jazz history. Essays by notable jazz critics and scholars, including Dan Morgenstern, Gerald Early, Gary Giddins, and Stanley Crouch, provide additional insights into the genre’s development and impact.​