Jay Sweet is an American writer, educator, musician, podcaster, and researcher. He is the author of Ray Brown: His Life and Music (Equinox Books, 2025), the first official biography of the legendary jazz bassist. His other works include A History of American Music: An Origin Story, 1750-1950 (Kendall Hunt, 2021), The Music of 1964: The 50 Most Impactful Albums (Innovative Inc., 2024), and From Sound to Sense: A Modern Exploration of Music Appreciation, History, and Evaluation (Kendall Hunt, 2025). A noted interviewer and contributor, Sweet has written articles and reviews for Oxford University Press, Jersey Jazz Magazine, DownBeat, and the Annual Jazz Review. His podcasts--30 Albums for 30 Years: 1964-1994 and The Jazz Real Book--have further solidified his reputation in the music community.

As a musician, Sweet has released solo records and collaborated with jazz greats including Ted Curson and Norman Simmons. He has been a longtime member of the award-winning band Platinum and its sister group Platinum Soul for nearly two decades. His latest project, Atmospheric Trio, released its debut album, Following Polaris (Adhyropa Records), in 2025.

In addition to his work as a writer and musician, Sweet is a dedicated educator. He studied Jazz Performance and Composition at Berklee College of Music and holds a Master's in Jazz History and Research from Rutgers University. He teaches music history, bass, and guitar at Monmouth University and has also taught at Rutgers University and Middlesex College. Since 2004, Sweet has served as the owner and director of Sweet Music Academy, which has educated more than 5,000 students under his leadership.