Episode 195: Deep Roots, the Essential Elements of Jazz (with Steve Haines)

Steve Haines, professor and interim director of the Miles Davis Jazz Studies program at University of North Carolina talks about what he sees as the most essential elements of jazz. And we play music to illustrate some of those elements.

What are the essential elements? They include the expected ones—blues and swing. But just as important are gospel, repetition, precedent (attending to what came before), and especially—freedom. Also essential is inclusion—something he feels has been lacking in the jazz world.

As usual, you’ll hear a lot of great music this episode. Includes recordings by Steve Haines himself with Peter Bernstein, plus tracks by Cannonball Adderley, Ma Rainey, Oscar Peterson, Arizona Dranes (who, you ask?), Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Roy Hargrove, and Hazel Scott.