Spotlight: New York
As the 1950s began, jazz entered it most successful eras. Musicians like Miles Davis were becoming world-renowned and pianist Dave Brubeck was awarded the first platinum album for jazz music. Also around this period, many major music labels, such as Atlantic, Prestige, and Riverside were becoming very popular, releasing major hits frequently. Many of these labels continued their success into the coming decades. Jazz began to transform itself in the 1960s. New styles were emerging, such as soul-jazz, post bop, avant-garde, and fusion. Mile Davis was one of the premier pioneers of fusion in the 1970s when the trumpeter released his albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. Fusion jazz was even further developed in the 70s when musicians began to incorporate electronics into their style of play. Recording techniques improved and synthesizers were often integrated into the jazz. Jazz as a genre was revolutionized when groups started to fuse jazz with rock, funk, and even Latin music, creating a very new sound that only slightly resembled the jazz of the 20s and 30s. To this day, New York is recognized as a birthplace of jazz. Jazz clubs are still a lively place for musical creation and performance and New York City is still home to some of the best jazz in the world.