Christopher Torr's List: Jazz_culture

Not only does jazz sound really good, it can and does have some great medical benefits as well.  Why do you think things like music and art can have such a profound influence upon our well being?

Serious about studying jazz?  Then go to New Orleans!  But seriously here is a list of the top college jazz & music industry programs around the world.  There may be one in your community!  There is no assignment for this link.  I have provided it as a guide to assist those out there that are exploring music majors as they are making their college choices.

Who knows what the future holds?  The answer is no one.  Jazz is a unique and creative expression of an individual in music.  Watch this video and jot down any thoughts, ideas, and questions in preparation for class discussion in class.

Think the guys had all the fun?  Think again!  Women were some of the most prominent leaders in jazz and they still are.  Here are some of the more well known names in jazz.  Read these brief descriptions to gain an overview of each artist.  After reading be prepared to select either an artist already presented on the site (including the list at the very end) or you may select a more modern female jazz artist. The artist you select is the one you will be making a presentation on in class.  IF a large number of people select the same person, I will allow small group presentations (no more than three in a group!).

You know a Wikipedia page was going to make it here sooner or later! This page provides the breakdown of many of the jazz scales which are so critical to the improvisational quality of jazz. A musician must know these, and many more, in order to perform in a group or in a solo setting.

Christian Scott is an amazing talent that is taking the jazz scene by storm. Not only performing but writing his own original music along with creative and unique takes on classics, Scott is becoming world renowned. Here you may listen to some samples of his work.  In fact that is your assignment!  There are 15 tracks on the site. Listen to as many as you like and write down any thoughts, emotions, memories, anything that these samples invoke in you. Please be prepared to discuss in class. You may also purchase his albums here as well, if you so desire!

This is a very quick synopsis of The Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age.  Read the information on the site, listen to both songs (that thing playing it is called a "radio"!) and read the poem by Langston Hughes. Be prepared to discuss these three things in class tomorrow. Also do a quick search on the three books by F. Scott Fitzgerald and place them in order. Your first choice should be the one you would like to read the most.

To fully understand jazz, one must know the history.  Read this excerpt and write a 1-2 pg. paper (no more than 4-5 paragraphs) about three of the people or groups mentioned. Use this excerpt and the links for the specific artists for more information to better explain the contribution of each to jazz music.

There is a Hall of Fame for just about every major sport. Museums for art, science, history and things like that. But in Kansas City there is a museum all about jazz! Here people can get a hands on experience with America's unique music. Explore the site, specifically the "Education" tab, and jot down some thoughts and feelings about specific things that inspired or moved you in some way. Be prepared to contribute to class discussion tomorrow.

Can two different art forms coexist? The answer is yes. The genre known as "jazz poetry" was born in the 1920s during the Harlem Renaissance and still exists today. Here is the link to Pinsky's poem "Antique" that he is reading while the musicians play. Read the poem first, then watch this video.  How does the music make the poem better/worse? Or does the poem make the music better/worse? Be prepared to discuss in class.
http://interlitq.org/issue7/robert_pinsky/job.php

Jazz is not just found in New Orleans! Come here the jazz talent at the Third Annual Hillsborough Jazz Festival 2012! This one is purely a bonus points opportunity because you must pay to get in. That being said, for those that are able to attend, show me your ticket stub and you will receive five (5) bonus points on the next test.

Check out the stunning photography of life in New Orleans, LA. My friend, Jerry Moran, has taken all of these and more importantly they are set to music by genuine jazz musicians from the region. Go to "Portfolio/Slideshow" and choose any five (5) to watch & listen to over the course of the week. Make a journal entry each day for the ones you choose.

Starting at the very roots of jazz, the field calls of enslaved African Americans, this website provides detailed information about the growth and development of jazz.  Explore the first seven (7) links and write a one page essay about the one that had the biggest impact upon you.  Then click on "Jazz Cards" and email one card to six different people using all the jazz artists provided!

This is a great introductory website for anybody just discovering jazz. Starting at the birth place of jazz and continuing up to the 1950s, a brief description of the different eras are addressed America's music continued to grow. Read each section and listen to the audio links provided. Write a brief response to each section.