The Untold Story of West Coast Jazz

Jazz from the West Coast was tremendously popular in the 1950s, but it also caused lots of controversy. To this day, some say a distinct West Coast sound never existed. Others say West Coast jazz mainly appealed to whites and reflected the racial segregation of the jazz world in those days. In this half-hour documentary, jazz journalist and producer Reese Erlich explores these controversies and the incredible music of that era.

This story comes to us via the Public Radio Exchange.