Lecture 1
Presentation/What Is Jazz?

I.       Introduction

A.   Presentation

B.   Course Overview

II.    What Is Jazz?

A.   Introduction

B.   Definitions

1.                 Kinds of Definitions

a)                Essentialist

b)                Cultural\Sociological

2.                 Combination

C.   Ontology and Aesthetics

1.                 Introduction

2.                 Notions

a)                Composition

b)                Performance

c)                 Recording

D.   Jazz Music Characteristics

1.                 Performance Centred

2.                 Improvisation

3.                 Rhythm

4.                 Happens in Particular Contexts in History

III.  Reading and Listening

A.   Today: Gridley, p. 2-10

1.                 But with Caution!: Essentialist Perspective

B.   For Next Class

1.                 Gridley, p. 374-381 (Not the ‘Scales, Keys, etc.’ Section)

2.                 Gridley, ‘Drums’, p. 23-26

3.                 In Conjunction with the Jazz Demonstration Compact Disc (JDC), Tracks 1-15

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