`             Jazz History and Literature                            Fall Semester  2006

 

Professor:  Brad Goode

 

Office :  C129 Imig   Office Phone: 303-735-2970  Email: brad.goode@colorado.edu

 

Required Texts:  EARLY JAZZ by Gunther Schuller, pub. Oxford Univ. Press

                            THE SWING ERA by Gunther Schuller, pub. Oxford Univ. press

                            THE BIRTH OF BEBOP  by Scott DeVeaux, pub. Univ. of Calif. Press

                            JAZZ MASTERS OF THE 50Õs  by Joe Goldberg, pub. MacMillan

 

 

 Required Recordings: THE SMITHSONIAN COLLE CTION of CLASSIC JAZZ (cd box)

                                     THE BRANDEIS CONCERT

                                     WEATHER REPORT,ÓHeavy WeatherÓ

                                     EDDIE HARRIS ÒSilver CyclesÓ

                                    

 

Recordings on reserve in the music library.

 

 

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

 

1.  Regular and punctual class attendance. Two  unexcused absences constitutes the        lowering of your grade by one full letter.

 

2.     Successful completion of 8 assignments. Assignments will often involve individual research-with presentation of such in class, passage analysis and critical listening. Assignments will always be due at the class meeting following the one in

      which they are assigned.

 

3.     A research paper, suggested length of 15 to 20  pages, which will focus on a musical

or stylistic aspect of an artist not covered in the course. This paper should be analytical  and biographical in nature,  also discussing the  social and historical relevance and importance of the artist. . Topics must be discussed with and approved by the professor. Due Dec.5.

 

4.  Active participation in discussions.

 

5.  Three book reviews, each review to be of a scholarly text or biography in jazz.

Each review should give an overview of the book, a description of the approach/presentation of material, and an evaluation of its usefulness as a possible

Academic tool. Suggested length, 3-4 pages.

 

6. A final exam. The exam will be comprehensive, and essay style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    The objective of this course is to provide the student with a deepened knowledge of

the history of jazz, through a survey and analysis of the most important artists and to

understand the socio-cultural aspects of this history. It is my desire that the materials and methods of this course will provide the student with an advanced understanding of the subject, one that will allow him or her to be comfortable and prepared to teach this material in the future.

 

 

 

 

                                                  Calendar Of The Course

 

. 1/17.   Presentation of the syllabus.  Overview:

 

Techniques for Analysis; A.Harmonic   B. Rhythmic  C. Developmental Techniques D. Influences  E. Historical Context.  F. Social Context

 

. 1/22.   History, Historiography, Research. Primary vs. Secondary Research Methods.

 

 .1/24.   The origins of jazz . African American traditions and European American traditions.

             Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ, pp.1-88.

 

.1/29.    Early jazz and the recording industry.. Jelly Roll Morton

             Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ, pp. 134-187.

 

. 1/31.    Louis Armstrong.

         Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ, pp. 89-133 Assignment #1:   Transcription and thematic analysis of  a  Louis Armstrong improvisation.

 

. 2/5.   Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer. Race relations in the early jazz era.

        Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ,pp.187-206. Assignment #2:         Harmonic analysis of ÒSinging the BluesÓ.

 

.2/7.    Piano styles, New Orleans, Harlem. Earl Hines.

         Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ, pp.214-225.

 

 

.2/12.     History of Early big band  writing.

         Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ, pp. 242-317 Assignment #3: Formal analysis of a Bill Challis or Don Redman arrangement.

 

 

. 2/14.      Bill Challis, Don Redman.

 

. 2/19.     Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington.

            Read and prepare for discussion: EARLY JAZZ, pp.318-357. Assignment #4:

Analysis for tonal/instrument combinations.

 

 

. 2/21.     Duke Ellington

             Read and prepare for discussion: THE SWING ERA, pp.46-157 .

 

 

. 2/26.    Coleman Hawkins

           Read and prepare for discussion: THE BIRTH OF BEBOP, pp. 1-164 . Assignment # 5: Harmonic analysis of ÒBody and SoulÓ solo.

 

 

. 2/28.    Lester Young

           Read and prepare for discussion: THE SWING ERA, pp. 547-562.

Assignment #6: Harmonic analysis of ÒLady Be GoodÓ solo. Comparison of

Hawkins and Young.

           

 

.3/5.     Art Tatum

           Read and prepare for discussion: THE SWING ERA, pp.476-502

 

.3/7.    Count Basie and the Territory Band Tradition.  FILM: ÒBorn to SwingÓ.

          

 

.3/12.   Dizzy Gillespie

         Read and prepare for discussion: THE BIRTH OF BEBOP, pp. 167-269

 

.3/14.     Thelonious Monk , FILM: ÒStraight, No ChaserÓ    Read: JAZZ MASTERS, pp.24-44.

          

.3/19    Charlie Parker

          Read and prepare for discussion: THE BIRTH OF BEBOP, pp.364-450

          Assignment #7. SOLO ANALYSIS: ÒKoKoÓ.

 

.3/21.     Clifford Brown. Sonny Rollins. Read and prepare for discussion: JAZZ    MASTERS, pp.87-112.

 

 

 

.3/26.     Wes Montgomery

 

 

 

.3/28.     .Lennie Tristano : FILM : ÒManhattan StudioÓ

 

.4/2.     Gerry Mulligan, Gil Evans, ÒWest Coast JazzÓ Read and prepare for discussion:

            JAZZ MASTERS, pp.9-23

         

 

.4/4.       Miles Davis. Read and prepare for discussion: JAZZ MASTERS, pp.62-86.

 

.4/9.       Third Stream Jazz . Discussion: ÒThe Brandeis ConcertÓ(recording on reserve)

 

.4/11.      John Coltrane.   Read and prepare for discussion: JAZZ MASTERS, pp.189-        212.

               Assignment #8: Identifying ColtraneÕs modal structures.

 

 

.4/16.   Eric Dolphy,. Charles Mingus , FILM: ÒLast DateÓ Read: JAZZ MASTERS,    pp.132-153.

 

.4/18.     Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor.

          Read and prepare for discussion: JAZZ MASTERS, pp. 213-246.

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.4/23.    The Avant Garde. A discussion of African-American Identity and the modern jazz movement.

 

.4/25.    The Avant Garde; Chicago & Europe

 

.4/30.      The Jazz Fusion Movement Discussion: ÒSilver CyclesÓ ÒHeavy WeatherÓ (recordings on reserve)

 

.5/2.         Postmodernism & Jazz.

 

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