February 4, 2008
You may Listen or download this story in .mp3 format. or as a .wav file
Profile America for the fourth day of Black History Month. It has been called the only true American art form. Over a century old, its appreciated around the world what else, but the music called jazz? A blend of religious and work songs, Spanish and French influences, ragtime and marching bands, all laid over African rhythms, the history of jazz is uniquely tied to the African-American experience. From Jelly Roll Morton to Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis on to Wynton Marsalis, African-Americans have kept jazz evolving through the decades. Nearly 11 percent of adults in the U.S. attend a live jazz performance at least once a year. This special edition of Profile America for Black History Month is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.