BESSIE SMITH (Jazz Empress) / Jazz History Ep. 20

Singer Bessie Smith was known as the ‘Empress of the Blues’, one of the earliest singers to be promoted by record companies who realized the potential of the market. She became the highest-paid black entertainer in the 1920s and used her position of influence and economic power to speak out forcefully for gender and racial equality. In 1929, she starred in St. Louis Blues, one of the first sound films and one of the first to feature an all-black cast. ABOUT THIS SERIES The Jazz History series is a video adaptation of a PowerPoint presentation used to teach a university course. It traces the roots of jazz from Ragtime at the turn of the 20th century to jazz-rock fusion at the end of the 1960s. You’ll find a lot more videos like this one in the JAZZ HISTORY playlist on this channel. If you want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of playing jazz, check out the videos in the JAZZ TACTICS playlist. JAZZ TACTICS SUGGESTIONS Do You Speak Jazz?    • You ALREADY KNOW how to IMPROVISE (Jazz Ta...   What Makes Jazz Jazz?    • TRADING FOURS WITH FREDDIE HUBBARD (SORT OF)   Why I Can't Teach You Jazz    • WHY I CAN'T TEACH YOU JAZZ (a theoretical ...   What's So Great About Chet Baker?    • TRADING FOURS WITH FREDDIE HUBBARD (SORT OF)   Guido Basso: A Voice You Won't Forget    • GUIDO BASSO (A voice you won't forget)   Trading Fours With Freddie Hubbard    • TRADING FOURS WITH FREDDIE HUBBARD (SORT OF)   Improvising on Rhythm Changes    • IMPROVISING ON RHYTHM CHANGES   ABOUT THIS CHANNEL On this channel, jazz trumpeter, educator and author Chase Sanborn offers advice and tips for musicians and music students, based on more than forty years of experience as a professional musician. PLAYLISTS This link will take you to all the playlists on this channel:    / @chasesanborn   MORE INFORMATION For more in-depth and personal information and instruction, check out Chase's books and online lesson options on his website: http://www.chasesanborn.com