The Bluffer's Briefing: Jazz

Etymology: unknown, possible connections with the French jaser, to talk indiscreetly.

First appearance of the word on sheet music: Clarence Williams' Brown Skin, Who You For? described as a 'jazz song' in 1915.

Backhanded compliment: 'The way jazz is performed is always more important than what is being played' (Andre Previn).

Typical first names for jazz or blues singers: Art, Django, Fats, Leadbelly, T-Bone, Count, Duke.

Unlikely first names for jazz or blues singers: Kevin, Wolfgang, Thins, Entrecote, Viscount, Baronet.

Real name of Jelly Roll Morton: Ferdinand Lemott.

Real name of Bix Beiderbecke: Leon Bix Beiderbecke.

Why Ernest Evans changed his name to Chubby Checker: In homage to Fats (originally Antoine) Domino.

Results of Tommy Dorsey's band playing in Philadelphia zoo in 1940: the monkeys were reported to be unimpressed.

Most grammatically perplexing opening line: 'Is you is or is you ain't my baby?'