Third Stream Jazz

Third Stream was coined by Gunther Schuller in 1957 to descibe a style which combines the elements of classical music with jazz. It borrows jazz's improvisation, rhythmic drive, language and its gesutres and uses classical's instrumentation, forms and composisional techniques. Because the technique is as involved in classical as it is in jazz it is required of the composer that he or she be involved in both. It may be because of this reason third stream is not as popular of a movement.

The third stream time period extends from 1959 to the present. Important composers in this movement include John Lewis, Gunther Schuller, David Baker, and William Russo.