Introduction

Welcome to our first unit of study in the jazz idiom. Each week we will be looking at a new musician. I have created links for pages that will help you answer questions. Each week you will expected to contribute to the discussion by adding a comment. There will also be a weekly assignment - click on the WEEK 1, 2, 3, 4, etc ASSIGNMENT link at the bottom of each week's feature musician, and follow instructions.

Each class we will build on what each of you have read about the "musician of the week". This blog is designed to help you in several ways:

1. Outline what is expected of you
2. It is for you to find and fill in the assignments, which will be talked about in class.
3. It will have due dates of assignments
4. Help you keep in contact with the rest of the class, and see where everyone is up with the subject matter

I will be checking it regularly to read comments and answer questions.


EXPECTATIONS

I expect everyone to participate by doing the weekly assignments, participarting in class time and leaving comments on this blog to show that you understand. Plus comments help me gauge how you are enjoying this unit, so feel free to put your thoughts down. (Note: any unhelpful comments or swearing will be taken off.)

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

The weekly assignment will be due on the Friday of that week so I can print them out and mark them over the weekend, and give them back to you on Monday.

FINALLY...

This blog is here to help you learn. It is designed so those of you who enjoy self-paced work will feel more comfortable in contrast to classroom work all the time.

Enjoy!

Week 1 - Miles Davis

The first musician we will study is jazz trumpet player Miles Davis. The reason I have chosen him is that he appeals to most people, and is one of the first jazz players I was introduced to.

Here are some links. Please choose at least one to read. In class we will be talking about what we found out about Miles Davis, and the assignment sheet is attatched. After reading about Miles Davis, click on a Youtube link and see him play. (This is important, as some of the questions you will be asked are about his live performance).

Miles Davis Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_davis

www.milesdavis.com

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/miles-davis

Youtube Clips:

So What tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEC8nqT6Rrk

Footprints tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrxZLOCa_io

Miles Davis' interview 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHeYG9SNaS0

WEEK1 ASSIGNMENT - due Friday this week

http://weeklyjazzmusicianassignments.blogspot.com/

Week 2 - Louis Armstrong

We are studying Louis Armstrong this week. He is another trumpet player (earlier than Miles Davis).
He was major influence on jazz, shifting the focus from collective improvisation to solo performers. As well as his trumpet playing, he was an amazing singer, and I chose him because he is my favourite singer. This week we will study him, and find out why he has been described as "perhaps the most important American musician of the 20th century."

"And all I'm saying is, see what a wonderful world it would be if only we would give it a chance. Love, baby, love. That's the secret. Yeah." - Louis Armstrong quote



Louis Armstrong Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong

http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/louie_armstrong/overview.htm

http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/armstrong/index.htm

YouTube links

"When the Saints" tune (Louis singing and playing trumpet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErUrPXt31vo&feature=related

"What a Wonderful World" - a treat for you guys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc&feature=related

WEEK 2 ASSIGNMENT - DUE FRIDAY

http://weeklyjazzmusicianassignments.blogspot.com/

Week 3 - Dave Brubeck

This week I have chosen Dave Brubeck for us to study. He is a famous piano player, and has written many jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". He may appeal to the classical students in the class, as he was classically trained. Brubeck often uses unusual (or "odd") time signatures. The most famous of these (written by his alto saxophone player Paul Desmond) is called "Take Five".



Dave Brubeck Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Brubeck

http://www.duke.edu/~smt3/brubeck.htm

(Dave Brubeck albums and descriptions)
http://dave-brubeck.com/

YouTube clips

"Take Five" tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V9VSxn2F9M&feature=related

"Blue Rondo a la Turk" tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8E5A27PJHk

WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT - DUE FRIDAY

http://weeklyjazzmusicianassignments.blogspot.com/

Week 4 - Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker (or "Bird") was an alto saxophone player and composer. He played an important part in the development of Bebop. He introduced new harmonic approaches to jazz and improvisation.





Charlie Parker Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Parker

(The Official Site of Charlie Parker)
http://www.cmgworldwide.com/music/parker/

http://www.jazzine.com/jazzstuff/biographies/charlie_parker.phtml

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_parker_charlie.htm

YouTube clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFx9ZBlBUuc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkvCDCOGzGc

WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT - due Friday this week

http://weeklyjazzmusicianassignments.blogspot.com/