Here's the definitive one-volume resource on everything jazz and blues! From their roots in African culture to their expression in the music of the twentieth century, the history of jazz and blues reveals how this truly American music came to be part of the soundtrack of contemporary urban life. Comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible, The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues is organized chronologically by decade. Each section gives a historical overview plus an A to Z of influential artists and their key recordings. Readers will learn how jazz and blues have changed over the past century--and then use dedicated Web links to hear those changes. With history, artist biographies, and illustrative mp3s, this book is one-stop shopping for a great overview of two important musical forms.