InfoGuides: Jazz Studies Guide: Find Articles

Find Scholarly Articles in Databases

Use scholarly articles to learn about original research on a specific topic in jazz.

First, try searching for scholarly articles through the library search. Simply type in a keyword search, press enter, then use the left-hand sidebar to filter to "Availability: Peer-Reviewed Journals" and "Resource Type: Articles." Here are a few examples of keyword searches:

Aaron Copland AND jazz

"Acid jazz" AND "Hip-Hop"

Modal Jazz Piano Techniques

After looking up articles through the library search, dig deeper by using our article databases. A few are listed below. For a comprehensive list of all databases related to music, please check out our Music Database List.

JSTOR
Collection of core scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences digitized in most cases back to the first date of issue. Includes selected books, primary sources and other materials for academic work.
View a tutorial on this database here.
Music Index
Citations from hundreds of international music periodicals from 1970 to present, covering every aspect of classical and popular music; includes book and record reviews. Tutorial for the Music Index database.
Performing Arts Periodicals Database
Provides indexing and abstracts for international periodicals, plus full text for the indexed journals (1864-present) on the subjects of the arts and entertainment industry - including dance, drama, theater, stagecraft, musical theater, circus performance, opera, pantomime, puppetry, magic, performance art, film, television and more. Previously called International Index to Performing Arts (IIPA). View a tutorial on this database here.
RILM Abstracts of Music Literature
Comprehensive bibliography on writings about music featuring citations, abstracts and indexes. It covers nearly one and a half million publications from around the world on traditional music, popular music, jazz, classical music and related subjects. Coverage begins in the early 19th century and extends to the present. Tutorial for the RILM Abstracts of Music Literature database.
Music Periodicals Database
Provides indexing and abstracts for several hundred international music periodicals and full text for the indexed journals. The database includes recent ten years of publication. Some complete journal runs are included, with indexing back to 1874. Covers the spectrum of subjects and all aspects of music, including music education, performance, ethnomusicology, musical theater, theory, popular music forms and composition. Previously called International Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP).
View a tutorial on this database here.

Important Jazz Periodicals

Here are a few important scholarly journals that focus exclusively on jazz. You can search for more in our Journal Finder.

Jazz Perspectives (Abingdon, England)
Jazz Education in Research and Practice (Bloomington)

Here are a few popular trade publications for jazz musicians, composers, educators, and listeners:

Jazz Times (Silver Spring)
JAZZed: The Jazz Educators Magazine (Las Vegas)

Jazz Online News

Stay up to date through these websites and online magazines and newspapers for jazz news, interviews, and performances.

Jazz NPR
Jazz news, interviews, performances, and radio from National Public Radio
All About Jazz
Jazz news, podcasts, interviews, and performances
Jazz - The New York Times
Updates, articles and reviews on jazz from the New York Times
Jazz - The Guardian
Jazz news and reviews from The Guardian