Best jazz albums list

The Best Jazz Albums of All Time (Essential Listening Guide)

booking jazz gigs

How To Book Jazz Gigs (step-by-step guide)

Famous Saxophone Players cover

The Most Famous Saxophone Players in Jazz History

DIY publicity for a new jazz release

Releasing New Music Without A Publicist?

About Jazzfuel

Jazzfuel was started in 2016 by European booking agent Matt Fripp as a way to share tips and resources with independent jazz musicians. It’s evolved into a team of writers and music industry specialists who aim to produce the best content for both fans and professional players.

Alongside our weekly newsletter, we also work more hands-on to support artists as publicists for new album releases, and through our private Jazzfuel PRO community.

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Matt Fripp portrait square (2024)

For Jazz Fans

Jazz music may have existed for only a little over a century, but its history is rich and varied. The ever-growing collection of articles on this site aim to highlight the best musicians, essential jazz albums and hidden stories in the genre. Whether you’re a total newcomer, or lifelong devotee, we hope you’ll find something which catches your ear!

Latest articles

Why Charlie Parker Was Called “Bird” — And the Tunes That Carried His Nickname Into Jazz History

Though the origins of his nickname remain disputed, one thing is clear: Charlie Parker and the words “Yardbird” or “Bird” …

Cannonball Adderley Plays Fiddler on the Roof

Jazz history is full of unexpected pairings, but few are as intriguing as the moment Cannonball Adderley decided to record …

“You’re Not Getting Paid Tonight” – The Making of an Unlikely Jazz Masterpiece

Some of the greatest albums in jazz history were born not out …

How John Coltrane’s Soprano Saxophone Transformed The Jazz World

For all the stories of marathon practice sessions and gradual musical evolution, …

The Charlie Parker Blindfold Test: Inside the Ear of a Genius

The Charlie Parker blindfold test is a rare and early insight into …

Miles Davis in Paris: Elevator to the Gallows

In the late 1950s, Miles Davis recorded the haunting soundtrack to Louis …

Kenny G’s Rise to Fame: The 1980s Smooth-Jazz Explosion

Kenny G: the pantomime villain of the contemporary music scene. That may …

Becoming Chris Potter: The Story of a Teenage Jazz Prodigy

Far too often, child prodigies in any field burn out young, failing …

Chet Baker’s Last Moments in Rome

The history of jazz is full of tragedy and addiction, but few …

For Jazz Musicians

Working as a jazz musician in 2024 – whether independently or with a team – is not easy! Whilst there are no easy shortcuts to success, we’ve pulled together more than 2 decades of industry experience to share resources, tips and guides on topics such as booking gigs, releasing new music and promoting yourself.

Looking for more support? Check out our services page for more information on how we can work together.

Latest Industry Articles

A Conversation with Jazz Writer Tim Larsen

What happens when a lifelong jazz fan takes the leap from simply listening to actually writing about the music? Tim …
Interview with Seth Abramson

Interview with Seth Abramson: Gilmore, Jazz Fellowships & Career-Building

There are people who keep the jazz ecosystem moving—quietly spotting talent, building stages, and channelling resources where they’ll make a …

A Life in Music with Pianist and Composer Mathias Landæus

Just like many aspects of our personality, years of listening, travelling, playing, …

Behind the scenes with saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz

There’s no shortage of incredible musicianship on the international jazz scene today, …

Au Cœur du Jazz: Interview with Nicolas Pommaret

As host of France Musique’s daily jazz show Au Cœur du Jazz, …

Promoters Trust Promoters

Just when you think you’ve found the perfect place for a holiday, …

Gig Pitching in the Sunshine

If, like most jazz musicians, ‘gigging and touring more’ is near the …

Lead Magnets for Music Teachers: 101

In this short guide, we’re going to look at how offering a …

First you imitate, then you innovate..

Alongside all the great music, Miles Davis also gave us a fair …

Instrument Guides

We’ve enlisted the help of professional musicians and teachers on the most popular jazz instruments to round up everything you need to know about learning, choosing, maintaining or upgrading your playing experience. Choose your category below to get started…

Piano articles

Piano

everything saxophone

Saxophone

Guitar articles

Guitar

Drum articles

Drums

Trumpet articles

Trumpet

jazz singer articles

Singers