hi! not discouraging anyone else from jumping in on this, but do check out some previous posts on the history of jazz (or go hang out in /r/jazz)

• Was jazz a reaction to classical music?

• What is the historical context that spawned jazz?

• Why has African american style music become pop music in some shape or form?

• examples: How popular and mainstream was jazz music in its prime?

Apologies for my lateness, I've been canoeing.

I'll begin by mentioning that it's somewhat backwards to view the 1960s as any kind of high-point in black American participation in jazz. By this decade the balance between white and black musicians had begun to even. Black musicians would continue to produce the majority of the most memorable albums of this period, but this is arguably the last decade they would hold such a serious monopoly.

Now, why might jazz in the 1960s seem particularly black? I'd argue that much of the reason would be the political nature of the decade, and the musical response by the black (and white!) jazz community. Consider for example John Coltrane's Alabama, written as a response to the 16th St. Baptist bombings. Jazz musicians of this (and following) decades commonly associate political statements with their music. Since one of the major political movements of the day was the civil rights movement, it's easy to see why music which reflected that movement would be thought of as representative. Consider:

Fables of Faubus - Charles Mingus

Freedom Suite - Sonny Rollins

We Insist! The Freedom Now Suite - Max Roach

Each of these pieces are both artistically and politically powerful, and this combination is what makes the music of black groups in this period more lasting. There are certainly plenty of amazing and important white contributions in this period, but they are far fewer than equivalently strong black offerings.