“Jazz” is hard to define because it’s fluid and ever-evolving. A big reason jazz is hard hard to define is because it has continually mutated and thrived for well over a century.

Continual evolution has kept jazz fresh and surprising. Bebop, for example, evolved in the 50s and 60s, while “jazz fusion” arose in the 70s. Jazz musicians today continue to innovate while simultaneously harkening back to and riffing on the genre’s brilliant past.

Even bands which focus on music of a century ago are evolving, not only in their performing but also by creating new pieces in the old style. “Tuba Skinny,” for example, published a whole album of original pieces their band members composed that sound like songs from the 1920s and 1930s.

Most of my first four “Jazz I Love"s – #1, #2, #3, and #4 – have been jazz from the past few decades. While there has been a ton of brilliant jazz in recent decades, there’s also a ton of older stuff, though it’s harder to find as online videos.

I’ll now share a 1960s edition, which I hope to follow up with additional decade-focused editions. I hope you enjoy!