The culture of jazz

Jazz has been called the one truly American form of music, with its roots in New Orleans and later Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis and, of course, New York. The musicians of these jazz meccas paved the way for a whole new subculture that later rose to be a recognized and appreciated form of music. From jazz’s it’s troubled start to its heyday of Miles Davis and Duke Ellington, jazz has changed right alongside the rest of America, accepting innovation and change as a way of growth. University of Nevada, Reno, music professor David Ake explores this growth in his new book, Jazz Cultures. Ake weaves the experiences of the musicians themselves into the book, telling the stories of jazz through the ones who experienced it first-hand. Ake will be discussing and signing his book at Barnes & Noble, 5555 S. Virginia St., 1-3 p.m. May 11. Call 826-8882.