There are three listening assignments for this class. Together they count 30% toward your final grade. It is preferred that they all be live performances, but CDs or Youtube examples will also be permitted. The following instructions must be followed for your report to count:
Live Performance If you choose to report on a live performance, it must be a college level or above performing group. No high school. You must report on the entire concert, or on at least one set (usually about an hour) if you are hearing a jazz group in a nightclub. Be sure the group is a jazz group and not a blues group or a rock group. If you are not sure, better find something else. Going to jazz clubs in Kansas City is a great way to find good local jazz talent. See the D2L site for club suggestions. Compact Discs You must report on all the music contained on the CD. If you discuss only part of the music, your report will not count. The list below is a good place to begin when you are choosing a CD. CDs must be cleared with your professor if you are writing about musicians not listed below.
YouTube Your report must include a discussion of at least three different YouTube videos. The list below will be helpful as you search for videos to write about. YouTube videos must be cleared with your professor if you are writing about musicians not listed below.
Louis Armstrong Woody Herman Randy Brecker Miles Davis Gary Burton Michael Brecker Duke Ellington Charlie Parker Ornette Coleman Count Basie Chick Corea Woody Shaw John Coltrane John Scofield Sonny Stitt Sonny Rollins Buddy Rich Art Blakey Stan Kenton Pat Metheny Milt Jackson Wayne Shorter Herbie Hancock Coleman Hawkins.
The list above is just a suggestion. Other important people we discuss in class could be written about as well. It should be easy to find recordings of these artists at your local outlets, in itunes, or on YouTube. Avoid best of recordings. If you want to write about a person not included on the list, email me and I will let you know if they are appropriate. For example, Kenny G is not an acceptable choice. Writing the Report I have included some suggestions below in the form of questions you may want to ask yourself to stimulate your thinking. You certainly would not want to include answers to all these questions in your assignments, but they may help you get some ideas about what you want to discuss. Ask
yourself the following questions about these aspects of the performance:
The Head: (pre-arranged section or sections)
Is there a pre-arranged section?
Is it simple? (few notes, easy to sing along with)
Is it complex (many notes, difficult or iimpossible to sing along with)
How is it unique?
How is it typical?
How does it compare with other heads by the same composer; different composers?
What is the form? (12-bar blues; AABA; through-composed; other)
Is the tempo slow, moderate, fast, or extremely fast? Is it constant or changing? (Remember, jazz tunes are usually performed at a constant tempo throughout.)
What is the overall feeling or mood? (blue, soulful, frantic, calm, subtle, aggressive, other) How is the mood created? What musical techniques are used?Improvisation:
Is there any improvisation? How do you know?
What is the rhythm section doing? How is the rhythm section reacting to the soloist?
How does the music move toward a climax?
If there is more than one improvised solo, compare and contrast them.General Questions:
Why do you think the musicians made this recording? What were they trying to accomplish musically? Were they successful? Why or why not?
How did this music impact you?
Is this music historically significant? Why or why not?
Has this music changed you in any way? How?
Why did you choose this selection?
How is this music different or similar to the music you normally listen to?
Why do you think more people do not listen to this music?Things to avoid:
Subjective reactions: For example: As I listened, I could picture little elves dancing down a path through the woods, while flying robots from another dimension battled pink unicorns overhead. This may be what you were thinking of when you listened, but it says nothing specific about the music.
Statements that dont mean anything: For example: He had a round, full sound. This could apply to almost any jazz musician.
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