The Spiritual Jazz Series has been going strong since 2008 and has always looked to celebrate a rich tradition of African-American songs that takes inspiration from a belief in a higher force, as well as focussing on certain geographical regions. The stylistic diversity across these traditions is vast. Historic labels like Blue Note, Impulse!, Prestige, and Steeplechase are also featured, offering a treasure trove of music relevant to Spiritual Jazz. Spiritual Jazz 16 focuses on Riverside and its associated labels, founded in 1953 by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer. This era marked the emergence of modern jazz, encompassing bebop, hard bop, cool, modal, and Latin jazz.