The greatest album covers of jazz

Blue Note captured the refined sophistication of jazz during the early 60s, giving it its signature look in the process.
Follow Vox Earworm on Facebook for more: / voxearworm
When asked to visualize what jazz looks like, you might picture bold typography, two tone photography, and minimal graphic design. If you did, you’re recalling the work of a jazz label that single-handedly defined the “look” of jazz music in the 1950s and1960s: Blue Note.
Inspired by the ever present Swiss lettering style that defined 20th century graphic design (think Paul Rand), Blue Note captured the refined sophistication of jazz during the early 60s, particularly during the hard bop era, and gave it a definitive visual identity through album covers.
Some songs don't just stick in your head, they change the music world forever. Join Estelle Caswell on a musical journey to discover the stories behind your favorite songs.
Check out the entire Vox Earworm playlist here: bit.ly/2QCwhMH
Note: The headline for this video has been updated since publishing.
Previous headline: How one designer created the "look" of Jazz
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H

[@Vox]

Love Vox Earworm? Hop onto a live Q&A with Estelle Caswell, the creator behind the series, on December 20 at 5 PM ET by joining the Vox Video Lab, our new membership program on KZbin. She and other creators on our team will bringing you behind the scenes in a completely new way! (And if you missed the livestream, you'd still be able to see a recording). You can learn more about the other perks of joining the Video Lab at www.vox.com/join.

[@davenwok]

That looks suspiciously like Estelle at 2:39! :) Great video as always!

[@Tes-qe1jc]

Vox, I love your contents. I’m literally addicted to your videos. Can you please make a video about Ethiopian Jazz from the 60th and 70th. Please 🙏🏿😭 The legendary Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong visited Ethiopia in 1973 and even Duke Ellington was awarded medal from the then Emperor Haile Selassie I. Dr. Mulatu Astatke ( the father of Ethio-jazz) was his guide in Addis Ababa. I know you guys are going to make a video about it. Still waiting.....

[@jeshkam]

More Earworm, please! This is the best KZbin series I've ever had the pleasure to watch!

[@dlasky]

Props to the vox graphic designer who had to re-design all these covers for the purpose of animation.

[@skyerune]

I spent the whole video thinking about how much time it took to do all of that. The keyframes. THE KEYFRAMES!!!!

[@BLKCreativeStudio]

@@skyerune I got a headache thinking about how much work each animation took

[@rafaelbahia7683]

never even thought of that

[@davidpaq3]

Silasky I met Estelle last week, and she's been animating with After Effects for over 5 years now so she can do that stuff decently quick compared to all the time she puts in for research on the topics

[@Tadeoska]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ6phIWegKeDpqs check this out!! It's from 2011.

[@stargazer1359]

Would love a coffee table book of Blue Note album covers....

[@mutton7891]

Here you go: www.amazon.co.uk/Cover-Art-Blue-Note-Records/dp/1843405997/ref=la_B000APURYY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1542640430&sr=1-1 This one's great too: www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Note-Uncompromising-Expression-Finest/dp/0500517444/ref=la_B001HD37YU_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1542640466&sr=1-2

[@stargazer1359]

@@mutton7891 Yay! ...Thanks!

[@chrisedouard2473]

@@mutton7891 that was quick . i didnt think a coffee book like this existed thank you

[@TVC15ohoh]

@@mutton7891 VERY cool.

[@riccardoarpea9966]

@@mutton7891 you are a loved human on youtube today, i want you to know that

[@lisandroreynoso]

The VOX graphic designers and editors are the real MVPs!

[@Jarzyniak]

Apparently a lot of graphic design and animation is also done by Estelle, who narrates and researches the topics which makes it even more impressive

[@RobertHohan]

The editing and graphics on this clip are FANTASTIC!

[@ankokunokayoubi]

and this includes finding similar fonts and unedited photographs of the albums.

[@antonioofilhoo]

exactly.

[@PaulNelsonSplabman]

Voiceover, also brilliant.

[@mjears]

Fantastic is the word! Beautiful work. I was captivated. Just one mistake, to a musician: The reels on the tape recorder are turning the wrong way!

[@walterhayley7252]

mjears , my reel to reel ran in both directions... multi-track recording and playback...

[@isaackangas6921]

The guys names were Wolf and Lion? That's the coolest partnership I've ever heard!

[@PraveenKulkarni1996]

Since Sansa and Joffrey?

[@Lance_G]

Your motion design department is composed of gods. Just FYI.

[@alecothegecko]

As a visual artist, and someone who plays and listens to jazz regularly, I absolutely loved this video. I hope this series continues and is popular so you guys have more opportunity with it.

[@pierat1242]

Absolutely! We need more people to listen to jazz!

[@TheyCallMeNewb]

How in the world was this story edited?!

[@Tiffany-uu2hq]

yes it's so succinct and beautiful! gives you the right amount of info to stay curious and search for more

[@mdrzn]

Whoever did the graphic design / video editing part: huge props! Amazing skills.

[@aeroaddict]

They did an awesome work. It did justice to Reid Miles.

[@angeldrxx]

With After Effects

[@koredeaderele1666]

that powerful combination of typography and photography is something i've always found very compelling, it's interesting to see that this has some origins in jazz

[@JAMGAM-pb9rf]

Reid needs an exhibition in a museum fr his art is amazing

[@SteveRamsey]

This series is outstanding. Vox really produces some of the best videos on KZbin.

[@kenfany1]

The day Vox makes a documentary about contemporary dance or dancers I’ll be the happiest person ever

[@astralgen]

Fun Fact: Rudy Van Gelder was actually an eye doctor who started out recording local artists part-time at his parents' house in Hackensack

[@AeroModule]

I would argue that Rudy is (was) the biggest non-musician figure in the history of jazz. The day we lost him was a big day.

[@ilove2929]

The blue note archivist is like a dream job

[@observatoire5497]

I love the way you guys animated the typography of the albums. The movements are great, the jerky frame rate gives this a very vintage character. I also like the way it's edited. The music, the motion design sequences, the interviews and the narration are very well intertwined. Makes it easy to feel the creativity that you guys are talking about. Great work!

[@shareenajeon]

Love jazz, love Earworm. This video is the perfect combination

[@astrojazzman]

I got to teach a class at UCLA & The Grammy Museum about Blue Note & Impulse Records.Kenny Burrell a blue note alumni was also part of my class. Kenny Burrell said that he designed his first album cover midnight blue for blue note records what an amazing label with an amazing history....

[@Aaa-ho3sq]

Very creative. Each one is unique, but with a similar style of 'sophistication', and always with a very good choice of design. Turning and combining simple things into something emotional and visually pleasing.

[@adrienpiette6746]

That was awesome.

[@enricopersia4290]

Such a cool story, I love these covers and now I know why they are so wonderful and intimate at the same time

[@Ngasii]

This episode is great! I am mad that it is so short.

[@youssefhiggins1493]

Who got the jazz? We've got the jazz.

[@astriniadisoma419]

I want more jazz!!!

[@Bati_]

YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT VOX! THANKS FOR REMEMBERING HIDDEN GEMS OF ART HISTORY AND CONVEYING THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY’S POWER. BIG LOVE AND RESPECT FOR REID MILES AND OTHER JAZZ GIANTS! GREETINGS FROM TURKEY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. SPREAD THE KNOWLEDGE AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! PEACE!

[@gxrlboi]

Every Vox video is a gem.

[@DaveWraptastic]

Blue Note and their coverstyle is so iconic that even someone who can barely name 10 jazz artists, like me, instantly recognizes it.

[@DJBFAD]

I've literally picked up Blue Note albums based on the covers alone (and have never been disappointed)...

[@noahhinton2657]

i am so amazed by their creativity

[@ryecl]

That Unity album by Larry Young is always coming to my mind when I'm thinking of Blue Note. It's absolutely timeless, which you can not say about most album covers from the late 70's and until today.

[@drunkenmasterii3250]

My love for graphic design is fulfilled by this video. This is making me so happy.

[@stinkleaf]

Reid Miles created what we call a "Design System". It's a consistent voice that the eye can detect as part of a brand collection.

[@mutton7891]

Would love to see you guys do something on the ECM label as part of the Earworm series. Their entire aesthetic from the beautiful album covers to the particular sound that most of the artists on their roster have is just so unique and worth digging deeper into.

[@AlexBaldwinFTW]

These videos have been amazing for me getting into jazz, thanks so much! Just followed a bunch of blue note's playlists on Spotify

[@BarelyNoticeable]

Estelle Caswell and Gina Barton, the animation is this video was absolutely stunning and incredibly captivating. I was so fully immersed in the story telling of the whole video too. Everything was just so beautifully well done. Please keep making amazing work such as this.

[@JPLToyExperience]

Now you must acquire a taste for... Freeform Jazz.

[@JVelthoven]

My favorite Vox series at the moment!

[@lawrencetchen]

The animations leading up to each final album cover are stunning. Keep up the great work, Vox!

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

Grew up seeing many of these classic album covers. Always was fascinated by Jazz album covers. So sophisticated. This was a great video. Love this series.

[@FortYort]

The design and visual art culture built around jazz will always be one of the coolest scenes. Such a neat, well-edited video. Thanks Vox!

[@AlexandraGamma]

I wish there was a full movie based on this video. It's absolutely gorgeous!

[@shaddjimenez4524]

could tell you guys put a lot of effort into this series of videos, keep them going. 👍🏼

[@detesla9575]

I love this episode, one of my favorites. As a great jazz fan, i treasure this. Thanks Estelle (And editors)

[@danieleflorean7064]

This is one of the best videos i saw on youtube in the whole year. Congratulations to Vox's team for creating those little gems

[@emmanuelalfredomendoza7365]

the graphic designer/animator in this video deserves a raise

[@desciplesofthomassankara3021]

*We need more jazz vox!*

[@IgorQuadrosvmq]

as a jazz fan and graphic designer, this hit me right in the heart

[@TheSteelDialga]

Thank you Vox for making this video!! I've always wondered why so many jazz covers have such a unique style

[@bingo1232]

THANKS for increasing my APPRECIATION of Jazz!!!

[@hellozup]

The writing, editing, and graphic design is amazingly well done! And the designer for those covers had a great eye both for representing the music through the design and also in catching people's attention in record store

[@rockheadkengo]

This series is wonderful. Looking forward to part three!

[@bfunkt4313]

Giant Steps aside, this is the best short visual explanation for so many things related to the acoustics of Western music. I have seen many short videos on this topic. This one is the best. Good job!

[@KeelyBurnMusic]

That album cover with the exclamation points is so visually pleasing. Well, all of them are, but I like that one in particular.

[@JacobCarlson]

I am *loving* these jazz videos. Looking forward to part three!

[@mariusbraun450]

Earworm has to be the best series on this channel! I love jazz, and seeing my favourite albums on Vox makes me super happy! Keep up the good work, Estelle :)

[@ilove2929]

🙏 Having that level of creativity without graphic design degree, photoshop/creative software or internet is something the young designers cant imagine it possible

[@RailsharkX]

Those Blue Note covers are at a league of their own. Top-notch photography and inventive art direction all rolled into one.

[@ag5396]

I loved your hip-hop and rap videos and now I'm loving your jazz videos too! Keep up the awesome work Estelle Caswell !!

[@wolfgangmarx2847]

I love jazz. I grow up around jazz, in Germany, in the 50's got here to U.S. in 1960. My favort ,the bird love that sax

[@callum2474]

this is great and i want next week's episode now please thank you

[@tevbuff]

As a massive Jazz fan, I'm loving these videos. Thanks Vox :) keep them coming.

[@akesq01]

Such an informative and beautiful piece of academia, music, culture, video, history and style. Wow. Thank you so much.

[@CanaldoMiauOfficial]

Eu gosto de Jazz desde pequeno e meu interesse tem se tornado cada vez maior. Essa série de vídeos me deu uma ideia do cenário dá época e de como eles faziam o Jazz. Eu também gosto da Bossa Nova, que é o Jazz do Brasil.

[@dreaminginnoother]

The art is really cool, but i also like how ya'll animated the art in this video. Very visually appealing.

[@mjollnirtsubo]

Possibly my favourite series on KZbin. Love it!

[@falconclutch4051]

These Jazz videos make me so happy thank you

[@Ungruma]

I have always loved the covers of Blue Note, they have a lot of personality and it goes very well with the spectacular music. Thank you for this! Greetings from Argentina.

[@povilaskirna4108]

these jazz episodes are truly epic

[@joebaumgart1146]

I always loved jazz.

[@TurtleGamers1]

Funny that Vox is doing these jazz-series just as I am starting to listen to more and more jazz

[@orangefanta6567]

Favorite series of Vox

[@mrzachblk]

Being a graphic designer I must say these covers made me want to study design and also these covers made me fall in love with jazz. Thank you for creating this video this is pretty awesome! I always wondered who designed the blue note covers and also who took the photos! Thanks!!

[@georgeolsen5042]

I swear if this lady just took over VOX and made every video about art and music the channel would be a million times better

[@thomasdantas]

You're absolutely nailing these jazz videos

[@MapleMilk]

This makes me love Photography, Jazz, and Album Covers more.

[@bassemb]

I'm impressed both by the original photography and design of the covers, and by the work of your motion graphics team. Great video all around.

[@christopherchng5587]

Thank you so much Vox for doing this. I am eternally inspired.

[@Dannzio]

This is hands down your best video series yet. Very interesting subject from a lot of different angles. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@MrKozndakozmonaughts]

Parts 1 & 2... Fantastic! Well done. I am anxiously awaiting part 3. But of course, take your time with it.

[@robertaglass]

Enjoying this series! You are hitting it out of the park on each episode. Keep up the great work.

[@abenezer210]

When I first discovered francis wolff's photos i was so blown away it changed my life

[@wormface5000]

That was so . . . eff in . . . awesome. Damn, I'm going to watch it again.

[@jevonashman4775]

Keep the jazz videos going. I'm loving it!

[@EricAllenDolphy245]

Wouldn't have lasted ( or Happened) Without the Music 🎶 Mighty Warriors and Artists

[@chris-hayes]

I love how you guys showed the original photograph and then overlayed the final album cover. Really cool stuff.

[@ryanmccullough4831]

All I want for Christmas is a feature length Earwork Documentary.

[@PsyceBorneo]

Those Album, Cover Really Give A Good Impression OF Great Music And It Really Does When I Buy My Jazz Collection. The Color Itself Giving These Some Sort Of Fascinating Feel Before You Listen To The Song Excitement And Enjoyment.

[@jimheid9027]

This is superbly done! A noble tribute to Blue Note's greatness.

[@sket179]

Thanks once again for educating me. I knew I loved those covers but now I know why and who made them

[@Hovzlozki]

Freddie Hubbard is by far my fav Jazz Artist, awesome to see the story behind his amazing album covers!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Excellent coverage of a key aspect of Blue Note history and jazz.

[@vikramrajiyer]

Incredible production on this video, Vox. Real treat to watch and listen to.

[@arothmanmusic]

As an amateur jazz drummer and graphic designer myself, I appreciate Vox doing this topic.

[@esk_71]

I'm really enjoying your series. Thank you.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Can't wait for the next part in the jazz series!

[@stefanosk27]

Amazing covers. Also glad for the switch from pop to jazz.

[@rosspalumbo]

Bravo Vox!!! Another amazing video and tribute. I'm on the edge of my seat anticipating every video you guys release!

[@andresvillogas4025]

Wow this is one of the best videos Vox has done in a while. Editing with the contact sheets and the graphics was insane. Really awesome video.

[@marypdot]

well done! crazy great editing! i would love to see this curated as a museum exhibit, with the music from the albums playing in the background -- or as part of the audio tour.

[@sergiog5557]

this series about jazz is just so jazzy!!!