Why Jazz Happened

By: Marc Myers

Narrated by: Peter Lerman

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

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.