The Asian American jazz movement has roots in 1970s San Francisco. It was a dynamic time. The term “Asian American” was first being used, as people were building political coalitions among and across racial lines. Art reflected all of that.

Many Asian American artists and activists found inspiration in Black musicians who used jazz as a tool for social change. Today, the work continues. The next generation of local Asian American jazz musicians are asking what it means to make music that honors history, and speaks to the moment. KALW’s Cara Nguyen has the story.