Jazz music Album Review

 

What instruments do you hear?
Is this the case for every song on the album or does the group change?
Does the instrumentation suggest a certain movement in Jazz history? Does it go against conventions?

What style of Jazz do you consider this?
Do not look this up. Use your ears to identify things discussed in class. Cite specific examples from the recording using time stamps.

How do you differentiate between each song on the album?
Are they different tempo/speed?
Do they have a different mood? How do you think this is achieved?
‘Big Picture’ elements of form

What is the album’s arc?
When listening to the entire album straight through, does it build in intensity? Does it build for part and then come down? You must listen to each piece in the proper order to hear this.

These questions are not the only thing to listen for. They are provided as a point of departure or to guide your listening.

 

Album Options

(All albums have been released within the last 10 years)

Melissa Aldana
12 Stars

Brian Blade
Body and Shadow

Anat Cohen
Luminosa

Dave Douglas
Overcome

Robert Glasper
Black Radio III

Art Lande
Resist the Eel Panda

Brad Mehldau
Jacob’s Ladder

Ron Miles
Rainbow Sign

Ted Nash
Transformation: Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance, and Evolution

Kurt Rosenwinkel
Star of Jupiter

Esperanza Spalding
12 Little Spells

Ben Wendel
High Heart

 

Last Completed Projects

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