After World War II, Voice Of America radio broadcasts by Leonard Feather and Willie Conover helped to lay the foundation for subsequent tours. U.S. State Department sponsored the tours that sent Americs' jazz ambassadors around the world. They travelled from 1955 to the 70's and visited such different places as the Soviet Union, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, India, Thailand, Burma, Pakistan, Phillipines, Ceylon, Japan, Ghana, Cameroon, Confo, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Chile, Argentina, and Europe. Everywhere they played they were very well received and did a fantastic job as "Good Will Jazz Ambassadors".
The Jam Session CD contains music with some of the ambassadors, including:
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET
BENNY CARTER QUARTET
DUKE ELLINGTON & HIS FAMOUS ORCHESTRA
DIZZY GILLESPIE & HIS ORCHESTRA
WOODY HERMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA
CLARK TERRY & HIS ORCHESTRA