Jazz isn't the only form of music that has great solos, but it wouldn't be what it is without 'em. This week on The New Jazz Archive, we go inside the art and craft of one of jazz's most quintessential elements: the solo. We’ll talk with veteran jazz instructor Bill Sears about the challenge of teaching students the art of jazz improvisation, and trace the evolution of the jazz solo from its roots in New Orleans to some of its present day incarnations. And we’ll countdown the all-time most influential solos in jazz history with our favorite jazz historian Lewis Porter, and take a look at jazz’s age-old showcase for show-offs: the jazz cutting contest. That plus some great music from Mel Torme, Oscar Peterson and Christian McBride, this week on The New Jazz Archive.
The Art of the Solo
