Question Description
Part 1:
Read the assigned reviews by noted Jazz critics found in: Week 7 Introduction to Jazz Reviews
Pay attention to how the reviewers describe:
musical elements of the recordings
specific performance aspects
musical events they are talking about (often using personal reactions to the music)
Part 2: Choose a selection from Approved Jazz Recordings for the Jazz Review Assignment (below)
Pick a track you enjoy, that moves you emotionally and that you can hear
and understand what is going on musically (from what you have learned
in this class).
Listen to the recording a number of times so you can really know the music and things that happen within the performance.
Write your own review of the performance you choose.
musical elements you hear, and how they indicate the style of jazz being performed.
commentary about specific musical events heard in the recording you are reviewing.
descriptions of the musical events that move you, referring to common
human experiences that can relate the musical performance to a reader
that is not a music expert.
descriptions of musicians performing and the musical elements and events
heard on the recording. Use the professional reviews you read as models
for your review
Be familiar with important aspects of the recording such as
instrumentation, names and instruments of artists (you need to look up
the album that the track comes from), who plays solos, aspects of the
arrangement, etc….
Find creative ways to describe HOW the musical affects you emotionally
or inspires a reaction or comparison to another human experience is an
important component of this style of writing. This type of writing can
use words which could also describe taste, feel, or emotional
reactions which compare to other types of human experiences. For
example: The saxophone sound is full bodied (like a wine.) His solo
explorations have a searching quality (like an explorer) ..Her singing
style is relaxed and confident, even as she engages in fast, athletic
runs of notes.. (like a highly trained athlete)
Include personal observations and descriptions of the musical activity and the musicians performances.
Make sure the following elements are included in your review:
Format
As you saw in the example reviews: list the album information: title,
artist, record label (company) and album #, and a listing of musicians
performing including their instruments (look up the album that the track
comes from.)
First paragraph: Describe the artist/group and the project in the first
paragraph, with any important information that is related to the whole
project.
Middle Paragraphs (2 or 3): Should include the descriptions of the
individual track and musical events that move the writer (solos, group
interactions, etc
Final Paragraph: Your conclusion and reaction.
Grading:
Reviews need to be written in a professional style, following basic
standards for grammar, sentence structure, citations (if used), and
other considerations for a Research Paper style assignment. Your
review should follow the format listed above (#4) and include the
musical elements and personal observations and reactions listed in #3
above.
Approved Jazz Recordings for the Jazz Review Assignment
Black Bottom Stomp Jelly Roll Morton
Struttin w some BBQ Louis Armstrong
Singin the Blues – Frankie Trumbauer with Bix Beiderbecke
Stampede Fletcher Henderson
Wrappin it Up – Fletcher Henderson
Body and Soul Coleman Hawkins
Taxi War Dance- Count Basie
Lester Leaps In Count Basie
Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
Willow Weep for Me Art Tatum
Seven come Eleven – 2:44 – Charlie Christian w Benny Goodman
Shaw Nuff Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie Misterioso THELONIUS MONK
Line for Lyons Chet Baker/ Gerry Mulligan
Django Modern Jazz Quartet
Artistry in Rhythm Kenton
Moanin – Art Blakey
Song for My Father Horace Silver
Pent Up House – Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach
Four on Six Wes Montgomery
Giant Steps- John Coltrane
Blue in Green Bill Evans Trio
Fables of Faubus Charles Mingus
Red Clay Freddie Hubbard 12:09 from CTI album
Lonely Woman Ornette Coleman
Air – Cecil Taylor
So What (live) Miles Davis 1964
Black Market (live) – Weather Report
Spain Chick Corea
Tumbleweed Michael Brecker
Black Codes Wynton Marsalis
