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Discover Jazz Discover Jazz Class DescriptionsClass One - 9/10 From its rural incarnation as field hollers and folk blues to its subsequent transformation into jazz, R&B, and rock and roll, Blues has defined American popular music in style, form, and approach for generations. In the first class of the series, we will cover the basics of the blues: Where did it come from? What makes a song a blues? What is the blues form? What is the difference between traditional blues, electric blues, and blues-influenced jazz? Why is the song form still so widely used by jazz and rock musicians alike? As with every class in the series, we will listen to many audio examples and watch some short, pertinent video clips, bringing this lively musical form to life. Class Two - 9/17 Arguably jazz’s most recognizable song, “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin made its first appearance in the musical Crazy Girl in 1930. A simple melody based on the five note pentatonic scale, the harmonic structure of “I Got Rhythm” has evolved into one of jazz’s most played song forms. During the class, we’ll look at the influence of Tin Pan Alley and Broadway composers on the history of jazz. We’ll continue by learning why the 32 measure, AABA song form exemplified in “I Got Rhythm” plays such an important role throughout the history of jazz. Guided listening examples will make the AABA song form more recognizable for the listener. In addition, we’ll listen to various recordings of “I Got Rhythm,” illustrating how jazz musicians personalized Broadway show tunes and, in the process, turned a simple song like “I Got Rhythm” into a true jazz standard. Class Three - 9/24 In jazz vernacular, the standard chord progression from the Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” is commonly referred to as “Rhythm” Changes. Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman have all transformed this chord progression into bold new compositions, which have become jazz standards in their own right. Like the blues, “Rhythm” changes remain a proving ground for jazz musicians’ ability. Building on the “I Got Rhythm” class, “Rhythm” Changes will look at what makes the chord progression distinct. Why do jazz musicians love this particular set of chords? Why has it inspired so many classic compositions? In addition, the study of rhythm changes will bring us to the compositional practice that shaped and transformed the sound and history of jazz music: writing new material over existing Broadway songs. In large part, bebop was shaped by this practice, with the most famous example being Charlie Parker’s “Donna Lee,” taken from the form and chords of “Indiana.” Transformation is the bedrock of jazz and we’ll listen to lots of fun and creative examples of famous jazz musicians re-working existing material into brand new themes, In addition, we’ll begin addressing improvisation and some of the background concepts behind the jazz solo. Class Four - 10/1 Studying the rhythm section affords an inside glimpse at some of the key points in jazz history. Typically consisting of piano, bass, and drums, the rhythm section is responsible for driving jazz performance. Rhythm players provide the “swing” and give songs a harmonic foundation so soloists can branch off to improvise new melodies. In the rhythm section class, we’ll start by listening to early jazz, focusing on the rhythmic styles of the rhythm section. We’ll move on through some of the key styles of jazz – swing, bebop, hard bop, modal, cool and free – listening to how the rhythm section shapes the performances. We’ll also look at some of the key figures that fundamentally changed the approach to their respective instruments: Max Roach, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Ray Brown, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans and many others. In addition, the SFJAZZ High School All Star rhythm section will provide live examples of important concepts. Class Five - 10/8 When jazz is at its best the soloist is electrifying, taking the audience through spontaneous twists and turns that seemingly all occur at the spur of the moment. Improvisation played only a minor role in early jazz performance. Through “ragging” an existing tune, early ragtime musicians began personalizing melodies through syncopation and ornamentation, which over time lead to the concept of jazz improvisation as we think of it today. How did improvisation in jazz develop over the decades? What were the key milestones in the history of improvisation? Where would improvisation be without the groundbreaking early work of individuals like Louis Armstrong or Lester Young? What made Miles, Coltrane, Monk and Ornette so unique? In the soloist class, we’ll dive into what makes a jazz solo great with the overall goal of taking some of the mystery away from jazz improvisation. We’ll listen to and discuss key recordings, watch some important video footage, and break down some of the simple concepts behind constructing a good solo. SFJAZZ High School All-Star members will give examples of improvisation in action, capping the Discover Jazz series with a great live performance. |
FUll Course
Individual Classes
The BluesMon, Sept 10, 2007 • 6PM
"Rhythm" ChangesMon, Sept 24, 2007 • 6PM
The SoloistMon, Oct 8, 2007 • 6PM |