1.

Jazz And American Culture: Introduction

Questions
How many have listened to jazz before? How many have purchased 10 or more jazz recordings? How many here have been to 5 or more jazz concerts in their lives? How many people here are not sure whether they like jazz music? How many people here have played a musical instrument? How many people here like many other styles of music other than jazz? How many people are here because they want an easy A?

Past
Louis Armstrong Potato Head Blues

Present(sort of)
Michael Brecker Choices

Future
Esperanza Spalding I Know You Know

A. Overview
Class Outline Website Syllabus/Grading Policies My Bio

Syllabus
Jazz And American Culture 4credits Instructors: George Colligan ghc@pdx.edu Room:TBA July 23 to August 17th

Course Format:
Lectures, Audio/Video Presentations, Performances. Required Materials: A computer or internet accessa notebook or some other way to take notesCourse Objective: To learn to appreciate jazz and related forms of music, not just in a musical sense, but also in terms of it's relationship to U.S. History. To learn about jazz music in the present day and to discuss it's controversies and it's potential future.

Course Content
Lectures, powerpoint presentations, listening and analysis, class discussion/debate, guest performances.

Course requirements
Grades will be based on Midterm(30 percent), Final (30%), Class Presentations(30%) and 5 Live Performance Reviews (10%). Attendance policy is as follows: An excused absence means you notify me before the class. Not showing up means an unexcused absence. 2 of those are allowed. After that, your grade is lowered one degree. So if you have one unexcused absence and your grade is an A, you get an A-. Im a nice guy.

 Quizzes will be either drop the needle, multiple choice, or essay, but they are only to gauge attendance. This means that if you take the quiz, you get an A and full credit. If you miss the quiz, you get a 0. Tests will be mostly multiple choice. There will be some listening, but it will be more about recognizing styles than naming the song or the artist.

Make Up Assignments
There is a chance to save your grade if you blew the midterm and missed a bunch of quizzes. Generally, the missed quizzes or performances can be replaced with CD reviews. With the midterm, each letter grade you need to raise your test is one CD review. For example, if you got a D and want to get a B, two CD reviews. Cappice?

WRITE DOWN THIS WEBSITE NOW!

http://psujazzandamericanculture.blogspot.com/

 All of the powerpoints and playlists will be available on the website. Most important information will be on the website. The review for the test will be on the website. When in doubt, go to the website, first.

 Disability Resource Center A service for all students attending Portland State University The Disability Resource Center page has moved! Please find us at http://www.drc.pdx.edu. Disability Resource Center Portland State University 116 Smith Memorial Student Union 1825 SW Broadway Portland, OR 97201 Phone: (503) 725-4150 Fax: (503) 725-4103 TTY or Relay: (503) 725-6504 Email: drc@pdx.edu

Outside performances.
Here is a partial listing of jazz venues in Portland Ivories Jazz Lounge 1435 NW Flanders Wilfs Restaurant 800 NW 6th Avenue at Union Station Camillia Lounge 510 NW 11th Ave

The Blue Monk 3341 Southeast Belmont Street

Touche Restaurant 1425 NW Glisan St. Portland

Clydes (Sunday night Jam Session) 5474 NE Sandy Blvd Brasserie Monmatre 626 SW Park Ave Tommy Os Pacific Rim Bistro 4101 Southeast 192nd Avenue Vancouver, WA Portland Jazz Festival is in February

Class Outline
July 23rd 1. Jazz And American Society: Introduction July 24th 2. A Brief History of Music(in Europe and Africa and The U.S.A) July 25th 3. A Brief Overview Of Jazz Styles/Minstrelsy July 26th 4.What Jazz Musicians Do Part 1.

July 30th 5. KEN BURNS PART 1 LOUIS ARMSTRONG July 31st 6. KEN BURNS PART 2 DUKE ELLINGTON August 1st 7. MILES PART 1//REVIEW FOR MIDTERM August 2nd 8. Midterm/Miles Part 2

Class Outline p2
August 6th 9. Highbrow/Lowbrow August 7th 10. BAM/Jazz in Film August 8th 11. IS JAZZ DEAD? European Jazz/ICONS AMONG US/Don Byron August 9th 12. What Jazz Musicians Do Part 2. August 13th 13. THE AVANT GARDE/ JAZZ AS A FORM OF PROTEST August 14th 14. JAZZ PIANO STYLES/Hammond B3/ August 15th 15.FUSION THEN AND NOW/JAZZ SINGERS:American Idols?//Review For Final August 16th 16. FINAL/All Concert reviews Due

http://jazztruth.blogspot.com/
This is a blog which I started in the summer of 2010. Ive done over 200 articles covering many different aspects of jazz. There are interviews, CD reviews, lessons, book reviews, product reviews, opinion, humor. It might interest you to look at it sometime. Ive gotten nearly half a million hits. Great success!

A little about your professor

Born in Summit New Jersey in 1969 Started trumpet in 4th grade Given jazz recordings by neighbor, teacher Signed out records from the library Studied trumpet and music ed at Peabody Conservatory Switched to jazz piano (self taught) Started playing piano professionally in 1988

Colligan bio 2
Freelanced in Baltimore, Washington DC until 1995 Moved to New York City in 1995 Toured, performed, and recorded with : Cassandra Wilson, Ravi Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Stefon Harris, Buster Williams,etc

Colligan Bio 3
Recorded CDs as a leader from 1995 to today Taught at Juilliard School of music for 2 years Taught at University of Manitoba for 2 years Started jazztruth blog in 2010 Moved to Portland in August

What is Jazz?
1. Definition/Salient Characteristics: Jazz originated in the United States during the beginning of the 20th century, although it incubated during the the 19th century in the form of work songs, ring shouts, blues, spirituals, ragtime, and minstrel show music. Jazz is a mix of African and European elements. Jazz now has many subgenres, and is recognized world wide as Americas great and unique contribution to music.

Is This Jazz?(Yes)
. . a. Oscar Peterson-Caravan B. Tom Harrell-"Sail Away" C. Wynton Marsalis-"Autumn Leaves"

Is THIS jazz?(Probably not)

a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE 1hI b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGyPuey1Jw c. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGS8re8cI

Is This Jazz?(maybemaybe not)

a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NDujMyVyA b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svTuSRiFP oc&feature=related c. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9nG2KyE p2A

American Culture: What Is It?

How to Listen To Music

Everyone perceives music in their own way. However, there are some basic things we should name and look for in order to have a more analytical approach. Hopefully, this wont make you enjoy the music any less; on the contrary, I would hope it would make you enjoy it more! Lets make the following our informal checklist for everything we listen to in class:

12 things to listen for:

1. Rhythm 2. Melody 3. Harmony 4. Lyrics if Any 5. Form 6. Instrumentation 7. Orchestration 8. Program 9. Style 10. Compare And Contrast 11. Influences 12. Personal Assessment

1. Rhythm
I picked Rhythm fist because rhythm is debatably the most important element of jazz. It might also be the most human element of music. Maybe the voice was the first instrument of early man, but the second was definitely percussion. Rhythm is the beat, the groove, is that which makes you want to move.(Thats probably part of a song.)The official definition is : the pattern of regular or irregular pulses caused in music by the occurrence of strong and weak melodic and harmonic beats.

Examples of Rhythm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVVLhzJH 0os&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWg6OLq HlNM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d6aY3IH 9ts&feature=related

2. Melody
Melody is the tune, the motif, or succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity.Its what you sing in the shower or whistle while waiting for a bus. Its possibly the most relatable part of a song or piece of music. Jazz musicians are supposed to know the melody, but it is not what we care about most. Which is probably what makes jazz difficult to listen to for many non-jazz fans.

Examples of Melody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef4Bv5Ng0w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gERptKVcx TM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDdI7GhZ SQA

3. Harmony
The Chords, which are defined by two or more notes played simultaneously. This can be in the form of chunked chords on the guitar or piano, or in the form of moving inner voices on various instruments or voices. It can be crucial in the emotional feel of music, and yet its the most complex and abstract aspect for many non musicians.

Examples of Harmony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa 31o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KylMqxLz NGo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TysCyqI4 kY&feature=related

4. Lyrics if Any
Folks these days seem to gravitate towards lyrics maybe more than anything. Especially with the rise of hip hop, which has debatably put a dent in the business of melody. Still, when you consider the following words of sheer poetic genius, you can imagine Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, and Cole Porter somewhere with smiles on their faces..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf VsfOSbJY0
(Yeah, Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah-Ark) Oo-ooh-ooh, hoo yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah-ah-ah Yeah-ah-ah Yeah-ah-ah Yeah-ah-ah Yeah, yeah, yeah

7am, waking up in the morning Gotta be fresh, gotta go downstairs Gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal Seein everything, the time is goin Tickin on and on, everybodys rushin Gotta get down to the bus stop Gotta catch my bus, I see my friends (My friends) Kickin in the front seat Sittin in the back seat Gotta make my mind up Which seat can I take?

And now some really good lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YuaZcylk_o&feature=fvst Just before our love got lost you said "I am as constant as a northern star" And I said "Constantly in the darkness Where's that at? If you want me I'll be in the bar" On the back of a cartoon coaster In the blue TV screen light I drew a map of Canada Oh Canada With your face sketched on it twice Oh you're in my blood like holy wine You taste so bitter and so sweet

Oh I could drink a case of you darling Still I'd be on my feet oh I would still be on my feet Oh I am a lonely painter I live in a box of paints I'm frightened by the devil And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid I remember that time you told me you said "Love is touching souls" Surely you touched mine 'Cause part of you pours out of me In these lines from time to time Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine You taste so bitter and so sweet Oh I could drink a case of you darling And I would still be on my feet I would still be on my feet I met a woman She had a mouth like yours She knew your life She knew your devils and your deeds And she said "Go to him, stay with him if you can But be prepared to bleed" Oh but you are in my blood You're my holy wine You're so bitter, bitter and so sweet Oh, I could drink a case of you darling Still I'd be on my feet I would still be on my feet

5. Form
The Structure of the song or piece of music. Blues and Rhythm Changes are common structures in jazz, or AABA is also common in tin pan alley songs. Many classical works use Sonata Form. Ragtime has AABBAACCDD or something similar. Much of todays pop music uses verse chorus verse chorus bridge chorus. Even hip hop can use that, or something like it.

Forms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmruHc4 S9Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVR8lg1YL uc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99JCF0g9 9fA

6. Instrumentation
Hopefully most of you have heard of at least some of the following instruments. Much of todays music is made using sampled sounds or modeled sounds. Perhaps future generations wont even know what a real violin sounds like. Well, you cant stop progress..

Typical Jazz Instruments-Drums

Acoustic Bass

Electric Bass

Guitar

Piano

Saxophones

Brass-Trumpet

Brass-Trombone

Jazz Vocals

Less Common Jazz Instruments

Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Violin Banjo Congas/bongos Flute/Alto Flute Harmonica Cello Harp

Hammond B-3 Organ

Jimmy Smith-The Cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJsE9fo9 pT0

7. Orchestration
This is where its not only important to know what instruments we are hearing, but how they are combined to make a collective sound. From a symphony orchestra to a jazz big band to a piano trio to a bluegrass band, orchestration is important to listen for.

Examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdFXMc6 Abek&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYLbrZAko 7E

8. Program
The idea of programmatic music was well realized by Beethoven. Instrumental music can be abstract, especially if you call your piece, Etude #12 in F flat double minor for basson. Beethoven called his 6th symphony the Pastorale and if you keep this in mind, it gives you a different feeling. Mingus called one of his tunes Free Cell Block F, Tis Nazi USA. I bet that gives a different feeling..

Examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCEPsvdi6E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daGvOZ50 YAo&feature=fvwrel Taking of Pelham 123 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGvBIIrbJc

9. Style
Theres an endless amount of styles of music in the world. Jazz alone has tons of subgenres. Some people dont think of jazz as a style, its really a way to play any music. Thats probably a good topic for debate. I think that good jazz players can usually play a lot of different styles, whereas classical musicians might not be able to play I Shot The Sheriff , and reggae musicians might not be able to play Bartoks Concerto For Orchestra. Although Bartok did smoke a lot of Ganja

Subgenres of jazz(Covered in lecture 3)

Blues Ragtime Boogie Woogie Dixieland Tin Pan Alley Swing Gypsy Jazz Bebop Cool Modal Free Avant Garde Fusion Brazilian/Latin/Flamenco Smooth NeoClassic/Young Lions Modern Mainstream Mbase Acid Jazz Indian Influence ????

What style is this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6bFTVi0h Hs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaoFjVJDg Ck&feature=fvst http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIueBl56 MV8

10. Compare And Contrast

11. Influences

12. Personal Assessment