Status: Available

History of Jazz in America

Jazz from the 1920s through the 1960s

Spring 2024

Wednesday Morning

Moderators: Jim Harvey, Len Melnick

Details

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this seminar is to become aware of the development of jazz music and to enjoy listening to vintage jazz produced in the 1920s thru the 1960s.

DESCRIPTION:

This seminar will look at the way today’s jazz has developed from its roots in blues and ragtime. We will note the impact on jazz by such factors as racism, economic inequality, and other genres of music, such as church music. We will also spend considerable class time listening to examples of jazz provided by participants from personal collections as well as the wealth of YouTube videos.

ROLE OF PARTICIPANTS: Members of the seminar will form teams that will do the historical research of a particular jazz era and provide musical illustrations of how that era’s jazz sounded.

RESOURCES:

The best resources are YouTube videos, personal collections.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR: Jim Harvey learned to appreciate jazz from his uncle, a self-taught jazz pianist. He has led seminars on a wide variety of topics. Len Melnick is a retired clinical social worker who has lived in Northampton for 39 years. He has enjoyed jazz for many years. This is his first seminar as a co-moderator.