History of Jazz and Blues

Catalog description

This course explores the history of American music through various styles under the umbrella of jazz, aiming to define jazz by its historical characteristics. Special attention is given to the Blues, both as a distinct style and as a major influence on 20th-century music, especially in North America. The course examines American cultures as they evolve historically such as the Creoles, teenagers during the rise of radio, Harlem as a center of Black culture, and the shift from agrarian to industrial urban society. Students engage with the works of influential figures like Armstrong, Ellington, Parker, Miles Davis, and Coltrane, and study key trends through readings, videos, and music. Marshall Stearns- The Story of Jazz helps illustrate how slavery shaped music differently across regions like Cuba, Brazil, Louisiana, and Texas. The course also covers significant Southern U.S. history and the cross-cultural blending of African, Afro-American, and Euro-American genres post-emancipation, which led to uniquely North American music in the 20th century. Jazz styles studied in depth include traditional, swing, bebop, modal, and free jazz, with emphasis on recordings by innovative performers.