The history of the American musical art form, Jazz, from its roots within African American work songs through fusion and new directions in jazz.

History of Jazz - MUSI-3630-RM

Course Instructor

Cameron L. Crotts
Professor of Practice, Director of Jazz Studies - School of Music
Instructor's email: chip.crotts@music.gatech.edu

Course Information

This class will examine Jazz from its origins in early 20th century New Orleans to the multiplicity of styles in the present-day. Special attention will be given to pivotal figures in the history of Jazz such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman. Throughout the course, the history and development of the Jazz language will be connected to the historical, social, and economic contexts in which it developed. The majority of class time will be spent listening to, analyzing, and discussing a wide variety of recorded Jazz performances. Outside of class you will be attending live Jazz performances, listening to recordings and reading about the artists that brought this music to life. The overarching course goal is to help you increase your understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of this great American art form, as well as developing listening skills and your ability to communicate clearly and intelligently about music.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Develop improved critical and analytic listening skills.
• Acquire an ability to identify and discuss stylistic trends in Jazz through recognition of musical characteristics and performance practices.
• Understand how, where, and why Jazz developed as it has.
• Possess an awareness of the important innovators throughout Jazz history and know why they are considered as such.
• Recognize and discuss the musical styles and cultural practices that influenced the evolution of Jazz.
• Identify Jazz styles studied in the course and articulate the distinctive characteristics from each well-defined period of Jazz.
• Have an increased awareness and understanding of the history of Jazz in terms of its place in the American cultural, political, economic and social fabric.
• Be aware of issues of race and discrimination in America as they relate to Jazz music, musicians and their evolution.
• Understand how the evolution of recording technology and radio broadcasts impacted Jazz and its development.
• Listen to unknown examples – similar to those studied in the course – and based on the musical elements and stylistic characteristics, make conclusions about its historical context, possible artist, approximate date, and genre.
• Utilize important terms and concepts in discussions about representative Jazz styles as portrayed through live performance and recordings.

Grading Scale:

90-100 - A

80-89 - B

70-79 - C

60-69 - D

59 or below - F