Another important music genre is jazz, which, as some critics note, is one of the most important American art forms of the 20th century. In “What is Jazz?” Dr. Billy Taylor, noted jazz pianist, historian, and educator, shares glimpses of his extensive knowledge of jazz music from its roots in the African-American slavery experience, through the early days of ragtime, and onward through swing, bop, and progressive jazz.

Classroom: Defining Jazz

The history of jazz as portrayed in the PBS Ken Burns series on Jazz demonstrates how certain artists continually built on previous artists by refining their techniques and creating new ways of using the trumpet, sax, bass, and drums. A key moment in the history of jazz was the Harlem Renaissance and the rise of jazz artists such as Duke Ellington.

Duke Ellington tour: the Smithsonian Museum

During that era, writers such as Langston Hughes wrote poetry that was highly influenced by jazz rhythms.

Classroom: Visualizing Jazz Scenes of the Harlem Renaissance
[study of poems by Langston Hughes (“The Weary Blues,” “Red Silk Stockings,” “Juke Box Love Song”) and song lyrics by Duke Ellington (“Take The A Train,” “It Don't Mean A Thing,” “Drop Me Off in Harlem”)]

Classroom: Transcending Poetry, Jazz, Rap, and Hip Hop
studying how poetry, jazz, hip hop and poetry reflect the culture of the time.

Click here for an extensive site on the history of jazz with links to a lot of different aspects of jazz.

Webquests: Jazz

Jazzing It Up

Jazz Webquest

Jazz in the 1920s

For further reading:

Burns, K, & Ward, G. (2000). Jazz: A history of America’s music. New York: Knopf.

Cook, R., & Morton, B. (2003). The Penguin guide to jazz on CD. New York: Penguin.

Grindley, M. (2002). Jazz styles: History and analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Michael Jarrett (1999). Drifting on a read: Jazz as a model for writing. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

Module 9: Word document

The Value of Studying Popular Music

Purposes for Studying Popular Music as Media

Development of Recorded Popular Music

Different Music Genres

Rock

Jazz

Soul/Motown

Blues

Hip Hop/Rap

Punk

Folk

Country

Cajun/Zydeco

The Music of Protest

Music Videos

Film Music

The Economics of the Popular Music Industry

Studying Radio

Teaching Activity

References