Jazz Performance Report
PLEASE NOTE THAT, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THIS ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN MODIFIED SO THAT YOU WILL VIEW JAZZ VIDEOS INSTEAD OF ATTENDING A LIVE PERFORMANCE. PLEASE SEE THE COURSE SYLLABUS (e-mailed to you at the beginning of the semester) FOR DETAILS. Where this description and the syllabus may differ, the syllabus will take precedence.
Assignment Details
Your assignment is to watch at least five video performances by historically important professional jazz musicians and write a review of them. In the case of very long pieces, 40 total minutes of music will suffice. You may use videos from the list in the course syllabus (which was e-mailed to you) and/or others like them. You must list in your review the URL addresses of each video that you discuss.
The videos you write about must be in one or more of the mainstream jazz styles that are presented in the text, and they must be of professional groups (i.e., not student or amateur groups). You may not use performances in other genres (e.g., blues, funk, soul, or rock) for this assignment. The length of your review should be equivalent to three typed and double-spaced pages.
There are several jazz videos listed on pages 7 and 8 of the syllabus. However, you do not have to use those particular videos for your review. You may use others by the same artists, or others by similar artists from similar style periods. Choosing at least some videos that are not listed in the syllabus may indicate some curiosity and research on your part.
If you are unsure of whether a particular video or artist qualifies for this assignment, contact Dr. Lajoie before beginning your work. This assignment constitutes 10% of your final grade.
In the first paragraph, be sure to mention:
The name of the bandleader (or band).
Names of, and instruments played by, all other musicians.
The venue at which the performance was held, if known.
The date of the performance, if known.
In the body of the review, discuss at least five (5) of the pieces that were performed. For each piece, discuss any or all of the following:
The title (and composer, if known).
The style of the piece. As best you can, identify the genre or genres (e.g., cool jazz, bebop, etc.).
The form of the piece. Describe significant sections and/or improvised solos. Who played solos? How many choruses?
The tempo of the piece (fast, moderate, danceable, slow/ballad, etc.).
Any distinctive tone colors.
The melody of the piece. Is it singable by the average listener? Which instrumentalist(s) played it?
Did the piece swing in the jazz musician’s sense of the term? (Note that most ballads are not played with jazz swing feeling.)
Did the piece feature improvisation? If so, was it collective or solo improvisation?
Which instrumentalists played improvised solos? Did the soloists interact with the ensemble or other musicians? How long did each solo last (minutes and seconds, or number of bars)? What were your impressions of them?
What was your impression of this piece overall? Did you have a favorite section?
In the concluding paragraph(s), discuss your overall impressions of the performance. Did a particular piece stand out? Did you have a favorite soloist? Would you want to see these particular jazz musicians perform again?
