MUJS 1470, Introduction to Jazz Recordings

MUJS 1470.001, MWF 9-9:50, 3 credit hours, room 282
Jay Saunders, room 275, 369-7951,
jay.saunders@unt.edu

Office hours: TBA each semester
MUJS 1470 was designed for entering jazz majors, but it may also be taken by those with a desire to learn more about this music. It is intended to:
1. familiarize jazz students with the sounds of most of the important and influential stylists, improvisers, and arranger/composers in the post swing era of jazz history
2. provide a basic list of 'listening source materials' that students can use throughout their study of jazz
3. give a brief overview of jazz history that will provide some perspective until they take MUJS 4470, History of Jazz
The required text for this class is McCalla, Jazz, A Listener's Guide, 3rd edition, Prentice-Hall.
There are 5 exams during the semester and a final examination.
The course begins with a study of the most important large ensembles. The leaders, their arrangers, some of the most important sidemen and the various instrumentations they used to get their unique sounds are taken into consideration. Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Gil Evans, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Bill Holman, Terry Gibbs, Gerald Wilson, Don Ellis, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Gerry Mulligan, Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis, McCoy Tyner, Bob Florence, Bob Mintzer, The Mingus Big Band, Maria Schneider, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Tom Kubis, Clayton/ Hamilton, Jack Sheldon, Kim Richmond, Gordon Goodwin, Clarke/Boland, Peter Herbolzheimer, The Metropole Orchestra, Rob McConnell, The WDR Big Band, Norrbotten Big Band and the studio projects of Joe Henderson, Pat Williams, Don Sebesky, Chuck Owen, Marty Paich, The GRP Big Band, Frank Mantooth, Carla Bley, and Dave Holland are examined.
Next is a survey of (most of) the most influential soloists (and their groups) from the 50's and 60's. We begin with Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and continue with the groups of: Clifford Brown/Max Roach, Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt, Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck, Kenny Burrell, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Benny Carter, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Clark, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Dorham, Bill Evans, Jim Hall, Booker Ervin, Art Farmer, Carl Fontana, Erroll Garner, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Griffin, Grant Green, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, J.J. Johnson, Lee Konitz, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Wes Montgomery, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker/Gerry Mulligan, Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins, Frank Rosolino, McCoy Tyner, Larry Young, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Woody Shaw, Sonny Stitt, Stanley Turrentine and Lester Young. Many other very important jazz soloists like: Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Wynton Kelly, George Coleman, Art Pepper, Carmell Jones, Connie Kay, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Rowles, et. al. are also noted as sidemen on these very important recordings.
We finish the semester with an examination of many of the important and influential jazz vocalists. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Ernestine Anderson, Nancy Wilson, June Christy, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Chris Conner, Shirley Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, Diane Schuur, Diana Krall, Mel Tormé, Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, Michael Franks, Tony Bennett and Bobby McFerrin are covered. (Jazz vocalists Dianne Reeves, Kevin Mahogany and Johnny Hartman are heard earlier.) Lastly, we check out the vocal groups of: Lambert, Hendricks and Ross; Les Double Six; The Swingle Singers; The Four Freshmen; The Hi-Lo's; The Singers Unlimited, Take 6, The New York Voices and The Real Group.