David, Keith

Jazz divides into cool and hot, traditional and modern, inthe decade after World War II.

During World War II, swing becomes a symbol of democracy and freedom and on the home front, established musicians make way for a new musical style, bebop.

Just before World War II jazz continues its great popularity as demonstrated when Benny Goodman holds the first jazz concert ever at Carnegie Hall.

In the mid-1930s, white musicians start to make important advances in jazz, even conducting black orchestras.

Jazz helps lift America's spirits during the early years of the Depression as the sale of records boom and jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are at the top of their form.

It's the Roaring Twenties and jazz is flourishing everywhere in America.

Looks at the Jazz Age, which began in 1917 and flourished until the mid-1920s, predominately in Chicago and New York.

Jazz is born in the African-American community of New Orleans but it grows up with the influence of ragtime, band music, spirituals, and the blues.

By the 1960s, rock and roll is the musical phenomena and jazz drifts into the avant-garde, often used as a form of social protest.

In the years between 1955 and 1960 jazz faces plenty of competition from rhythm and blues and rock and roll.