Dave Hagedorn: Jazz Appreciation
Expanded description: The class is organized by topic and then discussed historically each week. This will point out innovations through time on each instrument, rather than dealing with a specific time period each week. A week is also devoted to Minnesota musicians, and the last week for current trends. Performers studied are the primary innovators on specific instruments, so there will be a number of players not studied.
A textbook will be used to help navigate through the recordings. This book is organized so you can use clock time to reinforce hearing the events that happen in the music. The book has many more examples than we can cover in an 8-week class, so would be a great resource for further study on your own.
Jazz, first edition, Scott Deveaux and Gary Giddins, W.W. Norton, 2009, ISBN 978-0-393-11460-7 The instructor will share a free downloaded pdf of the book to the class. Otherwise, used copies are available at used book outlets, starting at $8.29, and up.
The last two sessions involve music with Minnesota connections, and current artists, so the textbook does not have listening guides for that music.
Week 1: What is Jazz? recording, Leonard Bernstein from 1956. YouTube https://youtu.be/E67GEok6Uj0 Please listen to this before the first class – 42 minutes long. It is a great introduction to the styles and forms that are present in jazz, and Bernstein does some comparisons to classical music. We can refer to this for discussions throughout the entire term. In this class we will explore several elements of jazz: the instruments–brass (solo and section), woodwinds (solo and section); rhythm section; forms and arrangements–blues, free form/atonality, small groups/large ensembles; styles and innovations. A list of what students should listen to in preparation for this and all other classes will be shared with enrolled students once the class membership is determined.
Week 2: The trumpet
Week 3: Alto and Tenor Saxophones
Week 4: Piano
Week 5: Big band
Week 6: Vocalists
Week: 7 Minnesota/Twin Cities Connections
Week 8: Current and Fusion