Jazz & Blues The origins of Western popular music can often be traced back to the two strains of African-American music that developed towards the end of the nineteenth century - jazz, hot from the urban melting pot of New Orleans, and blues, from the desolate landscapes of Texas and the Mississippi Delta. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues explores the history and developments of jazz and blues, from New Orleans marching bands and the slave hollers of the Mississippi cotton fields to fusion jazz and modern-day electric blues heroes. Organised by decade, each chapter includes background information and discussion of how the music evolved during the period, while biographical sections explore the lives of important musical figures. The informative text is supported by hundreds of atmospheric photographs, painting a vivid picture of the people and places that have informed the development of jazz and blues music over the years. Written by a team of experts, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues is an ideal reference volume for anyone with an interest in these two most influential and enduring of musical styles.