Jazz Night in America

"There was a lot of tears. There was a lot of anguish," Jimmy Greene says of writing Beautiful Life. Jimmy & Dena Katz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Jimmy & Dena Katz/Courtesy of the artist

Jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan doesn't mind that, despite her critical acclaim, she's not a household name. "The people that respect what I do and hire me, that's all I need, you know?" she says. "I just need to keep doing this music as long as I live. " Richard Laird/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Richard Laird/Courtesy of the artist

Henry Threadgill conducts the Society Situation Dance Band at the Very Very Threadgill festival. Shahar Azran/Courtesy of Harlem Stage hide caption

itoggle caption Shahar Azran/Courtesy of Harlem Stage

Herbie Hancock and Pharrell Williams performed Williams' hit "Happy" at the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz hide caption

itoggle caption Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz