Today, a celebrated, revered art form, jazz is still evolving and growing. The rhythms of African American music lie underneath modern forms like rap and hip hop. And Hip Hop techniques are beginning to influence the sound of jazz today. It’s obvious that jazz musicians simultaneously continue to look back and look ahead, while paying attention to what’s going on right in front of them. Since jazz is America’s own music––JAZZIstry explains––the history of jazz is our history. As always, the unique language of jazz melds histories, traditions, improvisation and experimentation in order to express the most fundamental conditions of the human experience. It is an art form treasured around the world as one of America's greatest legacies and gifts!
