Electronic Jazz, Part 1: Before the Synthesizer

Jazz that incorporates electronic music of some kind, although common today, had roots in the 1960s. The experiments closely followed the availability of technology for making electronic music. There were essentially three waves. The first experiments, covered in this episode, combined jazz with electronic music on tape. In future episodes, we’ll hear about the second and third waves of electronic jazz—that using electronically modified instruments and then the introduction of the synthesizer as a performance instrument.

Om Podcasten

Thom Holmes is your curator and guide to vintage electronic music recordings and audio experimentation. Drawing from his collection of vintage electronic music recordings spanning the years 1915-1985, each episode explores a topic or theme of historical interest. Holmes is the author of the book, Electronic and Experimental Music, sixth edition, 2020.