Elements of Jazz: From Cakewalks to Fusion

By: Bill Messenger, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Bill Messenger

Jazz is a uniquely American art form, one of America's great contributions to not only musical culture, but world culture, with each generation of musicians applying new levels of creativity that take the music in unexpected directions that defy definition, category, and stagnation.

Now you can learn the basics and history of this intoxicating genre in an eight-lecture series that is as free-flowing and original as the art form itself. You'll follow the evolution of jazz from its beginnings in the music and dancing of the antebellum plantations to its morphing into many shapes as its greatest innovators gave us ragtime, the blues, the swing music of the big band era, boogie-woogie, and big band blues.

You'll follow the rise of modern jazz in all of its many forms, including bebop, cool, modal, free, and fusion jazz. And you'll learn how the course of jazz was changed by key technological innovations, such as the invention of the microphone, which allowed smaller-voiced singers like Bing Crosby or Mel Torme to share a limelight once reserved for the bigger voices of stars like Bessie Smith or Al Jolson.

Beginning the story on those antebellum plantations, Professor Messenger reveals how the "cakewalks" of slave culture gave birth to a dance craze at the end of the 19th century that was ignorant of its own humble roots. And he explores the irony of the minstrel shows, which derived from Southern beliefs of black cultural inferiority yet eventually spawned a musical industry that African-American musicians would dominate for decades to come.

As a bonus, the lectures are also very entertaining, with Professor Messenger frequently turning to his piano to illustrate his musical points, often with the help of guest artists.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1995 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1995 The Great Courses

Great, but video is probably greater.

A very nice survey of jazz history by an accomplished and very capable performer. Unfortunately, references to visuals, and too little time spent on modern jazz detract from the lecture series. It would have benefited from being longer and being in video form.

Could also be called “How to Love Your Piano”

As a jazz enthusiast, this is what you want to know about the music. Additionally, there is very little name dropping, making the lessons stand on their own.

No more confusion about Jazz on to Fusion!

Jazz has been the music of my choice from my earliest memories. The way it progressed and evolved is fascinating. Some of the Modern Jazz seems out of bounds from traditional Jazz. There is so much to choose from; I do and am never disappointed.

A good complement to more comprehensive treatments

The virtue of this lecture series is that Messenger illustrates his points at the piano, sometimes with guest musicians.

pretty solid

Bill is fantastic! I'll check out more from him. Wish there was more depth to the 'curriculum' however. It's a very light endeavor.