With origins in Africa, Cuban rhythms mixed with American jazz in the 1940s, and opened the door for fusions with pop, rock and soul in the 1960s. Robin Lloyd tells the story of Afro-Cuban jazz. Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. In 1969, Miles Davis pioneered the sound of jazz fusion, creating a ripple effect as members of his band went on to form their own iconic side groups. Steve Edwards captures the moment that defined the sound, instruments and key figures of jazz fusion.

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. Often using an electric Hammond organ, soul jazz drew influences from gospel, blues and R&B and, of course, the popular soul genre. Stephanie Anne Johnson explores the early days of the soul jazz.

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. Free jazz might shove you a bit – or a lot – out of your comfort zone. Carl Pogue suggests that might not be such a bad thing.

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. In the 1960s, a lyrical Brazilian style of music lent a sweet touch to jazz. Robin Lloyd has the story of the bossa nova.

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. In the 1950s and early '60s, jazz lovers got a bit territorial. There were two main sounds of jazz—the East Coast hard bop sound and the mellower West Coast sound— called "West Coast cool" — or simply "cool jazz."

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. You got the music – and I have the words! But more than that - it’s a singer-songwriter taking a musical line and singing original lyrics. It’s a mutual appreciation of poetry and vocals. Paige Hansen walks us down the ‘vocalese’ road.

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. Derived from the soloing of the swing era, musicians Charlie Christian, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and others expanded the language of jazz with bebop, then known as "modern jazz."

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz but “America’s music” did some growing up in Kansas City. Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24.

Walk through the history, the decades, and the innovators of jazz with KNKX and Jazz24. Debuting before the Great Depression, the swing era brought about big bands, new dances and spotlight solos still enjoyed today.