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How the Great Streaming Swindle Has Robbed Musicians
The Root of It All

How the Great Streaming Swindle Has Robbed Musicians

The music industry is leaving brilliant artists high and dry. What do we stand to lose?

Sampling and the Common Ground Between Hip-Hop and Jazz
The Root of It All

Sampling and the Common Ground Between Hip-Hop and Jazz

The use of samples by hip-hop producers is part of a much longer tradition that goes back to the roots of jazz.

James Brown cd
The Root of It All

James Brown and the Evolution of Groove

How the funk pioneer and his intrepid band changed musical culture.

The Last Black Guitarist
The Root of It All

The Last Black Guitarist

Columnist Anthony Tidd considers how the guitar has fallen out of favor with young Black musicians.

In Memoriam: Genre-Shattering Bassist Richard Davis
The Root of It All

In Memoriam: Genre-Shattering Bassist Richard Davis

From Eric Dolphy to Van Morrison, the legendary bassist would not be pinned to any one genre.

The Birth of Live Hip-Hop
The Root of It All

The Birth of Live Hip-Hop

A Philly jam session with the Roots crew helped bring performing musicians into the fold.

NYC jam session
The Root of It All

How to Survive a Jam Session—A Bassist's Guide

Jamming is an essential part of American musical tradition, and should be part of yours. Here are some bass-centric tips.

The Path to Perfect Pitch
The Root of It All

The Path to Perfect Pitch

So what if you weren’t born with perfect pitch. Here’s one way to develop your ears.