Jazz (Ry Cooder album)

Jazz is the sixth studio album by American guitarist Ry Cooder, released in 1978. The album is a collection of pre-1940s jazz, blues, and ragtime tunes, performed by Cooder and an ensemble of musicians. It showcases Cooder's instrumental virtuosity and his deep appreciation for early American music.

The album features a variety of instruments, including guitars (acoustic, electric, and slide), mandolin, banjo, tuba, and piano. The arrangements are largely faithful to the original recordings, but Cooder often adds his own unique touches and improvisations.

The songs on Jazz cover a range of styles, from the New Orleans jazz of Jelly Roll Morton to the blues of Blind Willie McTell to the ragtime of Joseph Spence. Some of the notable tracks include "Big Bad Bill Is Sweet William Now," "Face to Face That I Shall Meet Him," "The Pearls/Flashing Lights," and "Nobody."

Jazz was well-received by critics and is considered one of Cooder's most accomplished and influential albums. It helped to popularize early American music and introduced a new generation of listeners to the sounds of jazz, blues, and ragtime. The album is also notable for its historical accuracy and its meticulous attention to detail. Cooder researched the songs extensively and attempted to recreate the sound of the original recordings as closely as possible.