LAA0042 - Our Favorite Things: Currents of Change in Jazz Traditions and Innovation
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' (Composed by Bobby Timmons)
Course Description
A Jazz pianist and an anthropologist come together in a unique class that explores five defining eras in jazz through listening, discussion, and history: Hard Bop’s soul, ECM’s sound explorations, Bill Evans’ trio interplay, Coltrane’s avant-garde controversy, and Archie Shepp’s blues and spirituals legacy. You will analyze key recordings and innovations, tracing jazz’s changing identity, roots, and revolutionary spirit in a dynamic, engaging short course.Course Outline
Improvisation # 1: The Hard Bop Style – Horace Silver and Art Blakey
Explore how Horace Silver and Art Blakey pioneered Hard Bop, blending blues, gospel, and bebop influences in the 1950s through groups like The Jazz Messengers. Students will analyze and listen to landmark recordings.
Improvisation # 2: Bill Evans’ Classic Trio with Scott LaFaro
Delve into the innovations of Bill Evans’ trio, focusing on its influential, conversational style featuring bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. Students examine how their recordings redefined piano trio interplay.
Improvisation # 3: John Coltrane Looks Forward – Avant-Garde and DownBeat Controversy
This unit explores John Coltrane’s innovative leap into the avant-garde jazz world of the early 1960s, especially the critical firestorm he and Eric Dolphy faced after the “anti-jazz” controversy published by DownBeat magazine. Students will examine how controversy surrounded performances and recordings, paying attention to Coltrane’s artistic goals and the split reactions from critics and audiences.
Improvisation # 4: Manfred Eicher & The ECM Label – Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea
This unit examines Manfred Eicher’s founding of ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) and his vision for modern jazz recording, focusing on the expansive catalog and its influence across genres. Students will listen to and discuss essential ECM releases, analyzing the label’s signature production aesthetics and musical adventurousness.
Improvisation # 5: Archie Shepp Looks Back – Blues and Spirituals
Archie Shepp’s work of the late 1970s and early 1980s marks a profound exploration of traditional African-American musical forms, setting his avant-garde sensibilities within the framework of blues and spirituals.
Learner Outcomes
- Identify and describe key jazz styles and innovations from Hard Bop to avant-garde and blues revival.
- Analyze influential recordings and artists including Horace Silver, Art Blakey, ECM label artists, Bill Evans Trio, John Coltrane, and Archie Shepp.
- Explain the socio-cultural and historical contexts that shaped these jazz movements.
- Develop critical listening skills to recognize stylistic elements and ensemble interplay.
- Discuss the evolving identity and cultural significance of jazz as an art form.
- These outcomes provide a foundation for deeper appreciation and understanding of jazz history and artistry.
Scott Cashman is a cultural anthropologist who earned his Ph.D. degree at the University of Massachusetts. His specialization is in the political economy of expatriate jazz and blues musicians in Europe. He has also developed his interests in how ghosts and spirits are understood in cultures around the globe. Dr. Cashman is the founder and Co-Director of Harper's Back Porch Revue, an American folk music ensemble. In addition to his work at Harper College, he teaches Cultural Anthropology at the College of Lake County (IL).
Ken is a jazz pianist, teacher and bandleader who has been active as a professional musician in the Chicago area for over 10 years. Ken has performed weekly at the Plaza Club on the top floor of the Prudential Building from 1997 to 2001. He also performed with the Curt Warren Quartet at the Texas Jazz Festival from 1997 to 1999. Ken has performed with many major jazz artists including Louie Bellson, Ira Sullivan, Rufus Reid, Richie Cole, Greg Abate, Marvin Stamm and Joe Gallardo. In addition, Ken has also played and/or recorded with many local jazz artists including Rusty Jones, Nick Tountas, Joel Spencer, Kelly Sill, Larry Grey, Greg Fishman, Jackie Allen and Bob Rummage. Ken is an active member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians and A.P.O.L. (Association of Professional Orchestra Leaders). In May of 2001 he released his first CD recording,