Preview
  • Why Jazz Happened

  • By: Marc Myers
  • Narrated by: Peter Lerman
  • Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
  • 3.3 out of 5 stars (3 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Why Jazz Happened

By: Marc Myers
Narrated by: Peter Lerman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Why Jazz Happened is the first comprehensive social history of jazz. It provides an intimate and compelling look at the many forces that shaped this most American of art forms and the many influences that gave rise to jazz’s post-war styles. Rich with the voices of musicians, producers, promoters, and others on the scene during the decades following World War II, this book views jazz’s evolution through the prism of technological advances, social transformations, changes in the law, economic trends, and much more.

In an absorbing narrative enlivened by the commentary of key personalities, Marc Myers describes the myriad of events and trends that affected the music's evolution, among them, the American Federation of Musicians strike in the early 1940s, changes in radio and concert-promotion, the introduction of the long-playing record, the suburbanization of Los Angeles, the Civil Rights movement, the “British invasion” and the rise of electronic instruments. This groundbreaking book deepens our appreciation of this music by identifying many of the developments outside of jazz itself that contributed most to its texture, complexity, and growth.

The book is published by University of California Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“A highly engaging, thoroughly researched book.” (All About Jazz)

“A needed historical overview...Highly recommended.” (CHOICE)

"Excellent new jazz history. . . . A refreshingly concrete volume on a genre that stubbornly, sometimes proudly, refuses to be defined." (The New York City Jazz Record)

©2013 The Regents of the University of California (P)2023 Redwood Audiobooks
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Why Jazz Happened

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book, misleading title 

It’s an interesting book and contains  material I have not come across elsewhere. it could perhaps more accurately be described as: The commercial aspects of jazz from swing to fusion. For example, there is extensive treatment of the recording industry and the musicians union but early jazz such as New Orleans, stride and ragtime are not really discussed; except that  the first jazz recording is discussed in some detail.  Bob Dylan is discussed a bit but I don’t recall him ever mentioning Buddy Bolden.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!