Bessie Smith: Next Steps

Editors' Notes Though Bessie Smith's early cuts defined a blues sound based on signature vocal-and-piano arrangements, her ‘30s sessions showed a jazzier side that influenced Billie Holiday and countless others. Mating her from-the-gut roar with swinging horn arrangements, historic cuts like “Down In the Dumps” and “Take Me for a Buggy Ride” broke the blues through to something new and set the stage for jazz to come.