October 13, 2006: What is Jazz?
The inaugural edition of The Friday Riff presents the central concerns of the show: how and why has jazz been defined in the ways it has been defined over the last century? What kinds of music fall inside or outside the label of “jazz” and who decides? What is jazz and why does it matter? What influence has jazz had on other music around the world and within the Americas? Bryan and Rob present a diverse range of musical selections that in one way or another are within the orbit of jazz music. Also presented are readings from critics and scholars including John Szwed, Robert Walser, and others.