MUSIC 331 JAZZ: HISTORY AND ANALYSIS

Professor Marc Seales/ Music Building #14 phone: 543 -1231/no emails

Office hours: Friday @ 9:30-10:30

Teaching Assistant: Mr. Rich Pellegrin

Office Hours and location: TBA

Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 9:20 am are in Brechemin Auditorium (Room 124)

Textbook (required; sold in the University Bookstore) Jazz: From Its Origins to the Present Lewis Porter, Michael Ullman, Ed Hazell

Fall 2008

My objective is to give you an appreciation of jazz styles and the culture associated with jazz through a historical survey of jazz. Jazz is not only a "style" or "kind" of music; it is a “culture” or “subculture” whose place in American culture has evolved. Knowledge of music and music terminology is not required in this class. You will be learning some basic musical terms just to help understand the things we are listening for. One thing everyone should be prepared to spend plenty of time listening to the musical examples. If you can't make a lecture, you are responsible for getting the information from your classmates. *

LISTENING EXAMPLES: Online/ Details later.

GRADING and EXAMS: 3 exams, (2 midterms and a final) worth 75 points each and 4 quizzes on the readings worth 10 points each. The exams are not cumulative. You will need a mark-sense form (“scantron”) for the exams and quizzes. 2 jazz concert reviews worth 25 each (one jazz review due at the midterm 1 date, the 2^nd due on the last day of class.). Each exam will have “ extra credit points”. To get a 4.0, you must get 315 points or more.

CONCERT REVIEWS: All of the reviews should be presented in neat organized fashion. Typed or computer generated, it should be no longer than 2 pages single-spaced. Each review must have proof of attendance, like a ticket stub from a concert or a signature from one of the participants of the performance. A list of concerts/performances will be presented in class that will be acceptable for review. In writing your paper, please be as observant and detailed as possible about the musical performance. Late papers are not accepted. * Plagiarized papers will be given ''0'' credit and possible disqualification from class.

TOPICS SCHEDULE:

1. Defining “jazz.” Chapter1, Appendix 1,2 and glossary. Discuss the elements of jazz, the jazz musician and defining key musical terms.

2. Roots of Jazz, Early New Orleans Jazz. : Listening 1 Chapters 2 -7, We will primarily be looking at the early blues and jazz performers such as Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, James P. Johnson, etc. and talking about their contributions to the music.

3. Swing Era. Listening 2 and 3: Chapters 8-11, At this time we will be looking at the rise of the saxophone, big bands and the main architects of this time period; Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Art Tatum, etc.

4. Midterm Exam 1: Oct. 23 or 28

5. Bebop and Its Relatives. Listening 4,5,6: Chapter 12,13 Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and the rise of "modern jazz".

Cool. Chapter 14, Lennie Tristano, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Miles Davis and the evolution of "cool".

Hard Bop and Funky. Chapter 15, Art Blakey, Horace Silver and the Detroit- Philadelphia connection?

6. Midterm Exam 2 : Nov. 13 or 18

7. Miles Davis and Post-Bop. Listening 7 and10: Chapter 16, 19 and 20, The Evolution of Miles' music and the significant impact he has had on jazz. Bill Evans.

8. John Coltrane: Listening 8: Chapter 17

9. Free Music; the Avant-Garde. Listening 9: Chapter 18 and 22, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Mingus, etc.

10. Contemporary. (Fusion, jazz-rock) Listening 10 and 11: Chapter 21 Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, etc.

11. Review for the Final Exam December 4 and 5.

12. Final Exam: 8:30-10:20 am Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Thank You.

Prof. Marc Seales

 * Some changes may be made to this syllabus later. All dates are subject to change and are just guides to the time frame for the class with the exception of the final exam date.