Jazz blues Jazz blues is a style that blends the harmonic vocabulary and improvisation of jazz with the forms, phrasing, and feeling of the blues, often using 12-bar patterns enriched with ja…
Jazz fusion: origins, characteristics, and influence Jazz fusion An expanded overview of jazz fusion—its emergence in the late 1960s, defining musical traits, key artists and recordings, substyles, performance practice, and lasting influence on…
Jazz piano: roles, techniques, and historical development Jazz piano Comprehensive overview of jazz piano: its musical roles, characteristic techniques (comping, voicings, stride), stylistic evolution, importance in ensembles, and guidance for learn…
Je ne sais quoi (Hera Björk song) Je ne sais quoi (song) Upbeat pop–dance single by Icelandic singer Hera Björk, performed for Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The title is a French phrase meaning "I don't know what."
Jedward (Irish pop duo) Jedward Jedward are Irish twin performers John and Edward Grimes, known for energetic pop performances, The X Factor (2009), Eurovision entries, chart singles and a colourful media presenc…
Jefferson Airplane (American psychedelic rock band) Jefferson Airplane Jefferson Airplane was a pioneering San Francisco psychedelic rock band formed in 1965, central to the 1960s counterculture and known for hits from Surrealistic Pillow and later of…
Jennifer Lopez: Feelin' So Good (video album) Jennifer Lopez: Feelin' So Good A 2000 documentary-style video album documenting Jennifer Lopez's early music career, combining interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, music videos and performances; released on DV…
Jenny from the Block A 2002 single by Jennifer Lopez that emphasizes her roots amid fame; contemporary R&B/hip-hop track known for its chart success, music video, and cultural catchphrase.
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Israeli conservatory and performing-arts academy in Jerusalem, part of Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus, providing professional and academic training in music, composition, con…
Jesus Christ Pose — Soundgarden song and controversy Jesus Christ Pose 1991 heavy rock song by Soundgarden from Badmotorfinger, noted for its aggressive sound and a controversial music video that provoked debate about religious imagery and media respo…
Jet (Australian rock band) Jet (band) Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 2001, best known for the debut album Get Born and the international hit single "Are You Gonna Be My Girl".
Jethro Tull: British rock band led by Ian Anderson Jethro Tull (band) Jethro Tull are an English rock band formed in Blackpool in 1967, known for blending rock, folk and progressive elements and for Ian Anderson's distinctive flute-led sound and thea…
Jew's harp (jaw harp): overview, history and playing technique Jew's harp A small, ancient plucked instrument held to the mouth. Produces overtone-rich tones by changing mouth shape; known worldwide by names such as jaw harp, dan moi, khomus and morsing.
Jim Hall (musician) American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger celebrated for subtle, harmonically rich playing and influential collaborations with Chico Hamilton, Bill Evans and Sonny Rollins.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Jimi Hendrix Experience A concise, balanced overview of the 1960s rock trio led by Jimi Hendrix: formation, members, sound, key recordings, influence on psychedelic and hard rock, and lasting legacy.
Jimmy Eat World: American alternative rock band formed in Mesa, Arizona Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1994, known for hits such as "The Middle" and for bridging emo and mainstream rock with melodic song…
Jingle Bell Rock A 1957 Christmas pop/rockabilly song first recorded by Bobby Helms, written by J. Carleton Beal and James R. Boothe; now a perennial holiday standard with many notable covers.
Jingle Bells A nineteenth‑century American popular song originally titled 'One Horse Open Sleigh', frequently associated with winter holidays and widely recorded and performed worldwide.
Jinusean: Pioneering South Korean Hip-Hop Duo from YG Entertainment Jinusean Jinusean is a South Korean hip-hop duo formed by YG Entertainment in 1997. Their 1997 hit "Tell Me" helped bring hip-hop into mainstream K-pop. The duo later returned from a long h…
Jive: dance, music, slang, and cultural meanings Jive Jive denotes an energetic swing-derived dance and its music, a style of slang or deceptive talk, and various modern brand names. This article explains origins, features, uses, and…
Jive Records: history, artists, and legacy Jive Records American record label known for hip hop and pop acts, influential in 1980s–2000s music scenes; later absorbed into RCA Records during a corporate reorganization in 2011.
JJ Project (South Korean pop duo) JJ Project JJ Project is a South Korean pop duo formed by JYP Entertainment in 2012 as a pre-debut unit for GOT7. The pair—JB (Jay B) and Jinyoung—debuted with "Bounce" and reunited in 2017 t…
JLS (English pop and R&B boy band) JLS Overview of JLS, the English four‑member pop/R&B group formed by Oritsé Williams; membership, career milestones including The X Factor, chart success, style, and later activities.
Joanne (song) — Lady Gaga’s intimate folk-pop ballad Joanne (song) “Joanne” is a reflective folk-pop song by Lady Gaga from her album Joanne, written about her late aunt. A stripped-down piano version won a Grammy and became a key moment in Gaga’s…
Joaquín Turina: Spanish Composer and Exponent of Andalusian Color Joaquín Turina Overview of Joaquín Turina (1882–1949), his musical style, major works, career and legacy as a key Spanish composer influenced by Andalusian folk traditions.
Job for a Cowboy — American death metal band Job for a Cowboy Job for a Cowboy is an American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona, formed in 2003. They moved from early deathcore influences toward technical death metal, with releases incl…
Joe Jackson (musician) English singer-songwriter and pianist known for late-1970s new wave hits, 1980s jazz-influenced pop, and later classical-influenced compositions; recorded 19 studio albums and mult…
Johann Pachelbel — German Baroque composer and organist Johann Pachelbel Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706) was a German Baroque composer and organist best known for his keyboard and church music, notably the Canon in D, and for influencing later composers in…
Johann Strauss I Austrian composer, conductor and violinist who helped popularize the Viennese waltz; best known for the Radetzky March and for founding a family dynasty of dance-music composers.
Johannes Brahms Comprehensive overview of Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): life, musical style, major works, compositional habits, and his legacy in Romantic-era music.
John Cale Comes Alive (live album) John Cale Comes Alive A concise encyclopedia entry about John Cale's 1984 live album, its recording and release, musical approach, context in Cale's career, and its reception and legacy.
John Jenkins (1592–1678): English composer of viol consort music John Jenkins (composer) English composer celebrated for intimate consort music for viols, especially fantasias; active at court and among gentleman-amateur households. Roughly 800 works survive and he inf…
John Lewis (pianist): jazz pianist, composer and Modern Jazz Quartet leader John Lewis (pianist) John Aaron Lewis (1920–2001), American jazz pianist and composer best known as musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet and for blending classical forms with modern jazz.
John Mackey (American composer) John Mackey American composer John Mackey (born 1973) is best known for energetic contemporary works for wind ensemble and orchestra, with a background in dance composition and music education…
John Michael Montgomery (1995 album) John Michael Montgomery (album) Third studio album by American country singer John Michael Montgomery, released March 28, 1995; a radio-oriented country collection issued during the mid‑1990s country music boom.
John Persen (1941–2014), Norwegian composer John Persen John Persen was a Norwegian composer known for his work in contemporary music, recipient of Lindemanprisen and multiple Edvardprisen honors, and an honorary member of the Norwegian…
John Zorn: American Composer, Improviser, and Avant‑Garde Musician John Zorn Overview of John Zorn, his musical style, major projects (Naked City, Masada), game pieces, Tzadik label, collaborations, and contributions to contemporary improvised and experimen…
Johnny B. Goode — Chuck Berry's landmark rock and roll song Johnny B. Goode A concise encyclopedia article about 'Johnny B. Goode', Chuck Berry's 1958 rock and roll classic: origins, composition, recording, cultural impact and notable appearances.
Jonas Brothers (American pop rock band) Jonas Brothers American pop rock band formed by brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas from New Jersey; rose to fame in the 2000s, split in 2013, and reunited in 2019 with the No.1 single "Sucker" an…
Jonathan Nott (English conductor) Jonathan Nott Concise profile of conductor Jonathan Nott covering his background, education, key appointments with Lucerne and Bamberg, recordings, repertoire, and contributions to contemporary…
Journey (American rock band) Journey (band) Journey is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973. Known for arena rock and power ballads, they achieved global success with hits like "Don't Stop Believin'" and wer…
Joy Division: English post‑punk band and cultural influence Joy Division Joy Division were a Manchester post‑punk band active in the late 1970s. Known for Ian Curtis's vocals, the albums Unknown Pleasures and Closer, and the single 'Love Will Tear Us Ap…
Joy to the World (hymn) Joy to the World A widely sung Christian hymn commonly used at Christmas. Words by Isaac Watts; familiar melody arranged by Lowell Mason and sometimes linked to Handel. One of the most-published Ch…
Judas (Lady Gaga song) Judas (song) A 2011 electropop single by Lady Gaga from Born This Way. Combines house and techno elements with biblical betrayal imagery; reached the top ten in North America and earned multi‑p…
Judas Priest English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969, celebrated for twin-guitar attack, Rob Halford's vocals, influential albums like British Steel and Painkiller, and lasting im…
Judy and Mary — Japanese rock band (1992–2001) Judy and Mary Judy and Mary, active 1992–2001, were a popular Japanese rock group led by vocalist YUKI, known for hits like "Sobakasu" and an energetic blend of pop, punk and alternative rock.
Jug band: history, instruments, and cultural influence Jug band An ensemble built around a blown jug and homemade instruments. Originating in early 20th-century American vernacular music, jug bands blended blues, ragtime and folk and influenced…
Jules Massenet: French composer of lyric opera and mélodies Jules Massenet Jules Massenet (1842–1912) was a leading French composer best known for lyric operas such as Manon and Werther, and for a large output of songs, orchestral and sacred music.
