MUS 11700 History of Jazz - Honors

Trace the history of Jazz from its roots in Africa through the fields of North American slavery and on to the metropolises of the United States. Field hollers, work songs, blues, ragtime, swing, bebop, and contemporary forms are discussed in context of regional styles emanating from major cities: New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City, and New York. Explore this uniquely American art form through historical, sociological, and musical perspectives as we listen to leading innovators, from Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis. Research paper and performing art event attendance required.