Sing a simple blues melody while clapping four beats to the bar. Stress beats one and three. Repeat the recording and stress beats two and four. Describe the changes that the rhythmic shift brings about.
Walk through a large mall listening carefully to all the music you hear. How does this ever present and ever changing variety affect how we listen?
What was the “Great Awakening”? How did it affect jazz?
Find examples of the direct influence on jazz and on jazz musicians of the civil rights events of the 1960’s. Research the activities and music of Louis Armstrong, Thelonius Monk, Max Roach and Abbie Lincoln.
Listen to the Stan Kenton recording of “Machito” (Time/Life Classic Jazz, The Forties) and answer the following questions:
Is it a large or a small ensemble?
What is the rhythmic style?
What are the solo instruments?
Is it all improvised or are some parts written down? Discuss your reasoning.
