| |
Discover Jazz Course: The Tenor Saxophone
Thursdays, February 7–March 6, 6-8PM
$25 per class
Full Course: $75 SFJAZZ Members
Full Course: $100 General Public
Course Description
Through each period of jazz history, visionary musical innovators defined the music and culture of jazz. What would bebop sound like without Charlie Parker? And what would 1940s culture look like without the important influence of the cutting-edge bebop musicians?
While the evolution of American culture is complex and multi-faceted, jazz music’s role from decade to decade is paramount, and like culture itself, constantly evolving.
Within this evolution, the great tenor saxophonists were continually at the forefront of jazz’s growth, pushing the music in new and often unexpected directions. Through each era, from early jazz to hard bop and beyond, the lineage of the tenor sax men exemplifies the maverick spirit inherent to jazz, and provides an excellent lens to view the broader picture of jazz history, music, and culture.
In the Spring Discover Jazz series, the tenor sax stands in as a symbol of jazz’s modern impulse. Each week, we’ll take a look at the unique timeline of jazz history, and the most important and influential tenor saxophonists associated with each historical era.
- 2/7 Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and the Art of Swing
with special guest Dave Ellis
In the 1930s and ’40s, swing music dominated American culture. Swing was a salve for the Great Depression, and provided the soundtrack for the war years. In the swing era, the jazz soloist took on a prominent role in the big band, and three of the greatest tenor players in jazz history rose to stardom. Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and Lester Young all made major contributions as jazz icons, and paved the way for each great saxophone soloist that followed.
In the first Discover Jazz class, we’ll go in depth into swing, and get to know the unique and colorful traits that defined Webster, Hawkins, and Young, both musically and culturally.
- 2/14 Sonny Rollins: Bebop, Hard Bop, and the Saxophone Colossus
with special guest Dayna Stephens
Sonny Rollins' sound and style is the natural culmination of Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, yet is distinct, original, and innovative. When Rollins released his classic record Saxophone Colossus in 1956, he was already a jazz star, having performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Clifford Brown, and Max Roach. But it was his original voice and concept that came clearly through his solo efforts, cementing his place as a living legend.
In the Sonny Rollins class, we’ll take a look at the evolution from bebop to hardbop, and how Rollins helped guide jazz in the 1950s in bold and swinging new directions.
- 2/21 John Coltrane: The Master of Innovation
with special guest Robert Stewart
John Coltrane is rightfully seen as not only one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz, but one of the most important figures in the music’s history. Coltrane’s tireless pursuit for musical and spiritual depth brought a new dimension to the persona of the jazz legend. For Coltrane, his musical search reached an apex in the 1960s, with his classic quartet featuring McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison. The group is often listed as the most influential group in jazz, both in terms of ensemble sound, and instrumental virtuosity.
In the Coltrane class, we’ll look at the evolution from his work with Miles and Monk, to his groundbreaking efforts in developing one of the most distinct and recognizable voices in jazz.
- 2/28 Wayne Shorter: Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Weather Report and Beyond
with special guest Howard Wiley
It was no easy feat for Miles Davis to replace John Coltrane. After Coltrane left to develop his own group, Miles went through a number of skilled tenor players before finding his creative match in the great Wayne Shorter. Shorter’s compositions and improvisations provided energy and direction for Miles’ second quintet, featuring Miles, Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, and Ron Carter. For the SFJAZZ 2008 Spring Season, we are paying tribute to the great Wayne Shorter and showcasing his quartet on April 11.
In the Wayne Shorter Discover Jazz class, we’ll take a close look at Wayne Shorter the saxophonist, the composer, and bandleader, and listen to some of his most influential recordings, from his work with Miles, to his solo efforts, and on to his groundbreaking work with Weather Report.
- 3/6 Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, and the Modern Jazz Masters
with special guest Steve Heckman
Too many jazz history books end with Wayne Shorter and Weather Report. To say that jazz stopped evolving in the early 1970s is to leave out of the picture the great modern tenor pioneers, including Dewey Redman, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, and more recently, Joshua Redman. Each player delivered a new spark to the tenor saxophone tradition, and those still with us continually provide fresh and innovative material, both as performers and composers.
In the Modern Jazz Masters class, we’ll see how the tenor sax, in the hands of the modern greats, continued to evolve from the Coltrane and Shorter tradition into something new, often unexpected, and always exciting.
|
|
