Previous episodes of Ken Burns’s JAZZ showed how jazz symbolized hope, relief, or escape for Americans during the Great Depression, but the seventh episode, “Dedicated to Chaos” shows jazz as a symbol of something else during the Second World War: defiance. This is one episode that is self-contained enough and good enough that I recommend…
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Episode five of Ken Burns’s JAZZ touches on many of the themes of the previous episode, with reminders that are particularly resonant right now: music brings people together and uplifts the spirit. Whether it was dancing to a swinging big band, or dreaming to a blues melody, Americans during the Great Depression found comfort in…
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Yesterday, the world lost a jazz legend. Dave Brubeck passed away at the age of 91. Today would have been his 92nd birthday. Brubeck was a pianist and composer whose style ran the gamut of jazz. He had a background in classical piano, but he had a talent for improvisation. He’s best known for his…
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