Schedule

The African Roots of Jazz: Spring 2024 Schedule

Jan 22 - Introduction: From Roots to Branches (Keynote Lecture); course expectations, review of materials and assignments. Listening and reflection together.

Jan 29 - Keynote Lecture: Mother Musics ~ Rumba (Cuba), Bomba (Puerto Rico), Calypso (Trinidad & Tobago) and Samba (Brazil); First Weekly Journal Reflection DUE; Spotify Playlist: African Diaspora in the Americas

Feb 5 - Unit I: Cuba and its Music ~ Reading and discussion: Excerpts from Decoding Afro-Cuban Jazz (Course Reader 146-180); group rhythm exercises: Cuban Rhythmic Structures handout; Understanding the Cuban Clave; Spotify Playlist: RJAM Cuba

Feb 12 - Unit I: Afro-Cuban Sacred & Secular Traditions ~ Keynote lecture, listening reflection and discussion; Spotify Playlist: African Diaspora in the Americas

Fri Feb 16 - Convocation & Masterclass w/ Chucho Valdés, BOR, 10-11:50am

Sun Feb 18 - Masterclass: Inside the Afro-Cuban Rhythm Section w/ Horacio “El Negro” Hernández & members of Irakere 50, SFJAZZ Center Miner Auditorium, 1-2:30pm - FREE!

Feb 19 - Unit I: Cuban Popular Music & the Roots of Salsa: Danzón, Trova, Son, Cha-cha-chá, Mambo & Guaracha; Listening and reflection together; Spotify Playlist: RJAM Cuba; Repertoire study: Almendra, Mambo, Lágrimas Negras, Son de la Loma and others

Feb 25 - Unit I: Cuban Music After the Revolution: Songo, Timba, Cuban Hip-Hop and more; Listening and reflection together; Spotify Playlists: RJAM Cuba, Timba Sampler and A Taste of Cuba

Mar 4 - Unit I: Music of the Antilles - Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic & Haiti; Listening & reflection together; Spotify Playlist: Bomba & Plena For the People; Repertoire focus: Bomba Voulez

Mar 11 - NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

Mar 18 - Unit II: Afro-Cuban Jazz ~ Keynote lecture & class discussion; Listening and reflection together; Spotify Playlist: RJAM Latin Jazz; 

Mar 25 - Unit II: Afro-Cuban Jazz, Contd. Listening and reflection together; Spotify Playlist: RJAM Latin Jazz; Repertoire focus: Mambo Inn, Manteca, etc; Research Project Proposal DUE.

Apr 1 - Unit III: Music of Brazil ~ Keynote lecture & discussion; Rhythm Exercise: Brazilian rhythm handout; Reading and discussion: “Samba: The Heartbeat of Rio” (Course Reader 181-197); Listening and reflection together; Spotify Playlist: RJAM Brazil

Apr 8 - Unit III: Samba, Bossa Nova and Beyond; Reading and discussion: “Bossa Nova: The New Way” (Course Reader 198-207); Repertoire study: A Felicidade, Chega de Saudade, Águas de Marco; Spotify Playlist: RJAM Brazil

Apr 15 - Unit III: Contemporary music in Brazil. Repertoire focus: Partido Alto, Loro, the music of Hermeto Pascoal and others. Repertoire study: Loro, Yatra Ta, Bananeira, etc

Apr 22 - Live Performance Review DUE; Advising on Research/Creative Project (we will meet 1-on-1 and review your project)

Apr 29 - Last class and Research Paper/Creative Project DUE; Student Oral Presentations; All assignments complete (live concert review & journal reflection)

Syllabus