From its birth at the beginning of the century, and throughout its many subsequent twists and turns, jazz has evolved into one of popular music's most enduring forms. Jazz: The Ultimate Guide is a beautifully illustrated, easy-to-follow reference work that highlights the key periods, principal movements, and greatest musicians that make up the rich cultural history of jazz. This book charts the fusion of American migrant cultures that created the original New Orleans jazz, and the movements to Chicago and New York that eventually produced the hugely popular big band swing music of the 1930s and 40s. These pioneers, and the developments that followed, are all discussed in detail, along with illustrated biographies of over 500 of the top names in jazz.