CONCERT REPORT FORMAT
For this assignment, you will watch three DVDs (one per assignment) that are on reserve at the Douglass Room (3rd floor of the Knight Library) and report on them. These are all movies of jazz concerts and utilize many of the techniques of jazz that we have discussed.
Begin each report with the basics: the full personnel (musicians’ names, plus all the instruments they play in the songs you’re reporting on), and where and when the concert took place (if you don’t know more, at minimum: country and year). Set the scene.
Then report on what you heard and saw for the four exact songs specified in the assignment. Present them in the order listed. Use terms from class to describe the styles of each song and the roles played by each instrument for each song. If a musician changes instruments on a given song, make that clear. If a trumpet uses a mute, or if there is a vocal, or if a musician does not play on a particular song, make those clear. Make it clear is the drummer is playing with sticks or brushes or mallets or a combination. (See your lecture notes, your textbook, the Basic Jazz Terms, the Modern Jazz Comparison, and Jazz History Overview found on Blackboard (Course Documents).
Then, choose one of the songs to discuss in detail. To the styles of each song and the roles played by each instrument, add the following: a sequence of events from the beginning to the end of the chosen song. These could include: an introduction, melody statements (the “head”), solos (by which instrument, in the correct order), trading between soloists, an ending, and so forth. Then select one solo within your chosen song to describe in more detail. How did the solo progress from beginning to end? Which soloist(s) heard in class did it remind you of? In your view, was the solo successful? Why or why not? What was your emotional response to it?
End your report with at least four complete sentences describing your emotional response to the overall performance (all of the songs, taken together). Was it pleasing to you? Why or why not?
A NOTE ON PLAGIARISM: If you choose to view the DVDs and brainstorm with a classmate, that’s fine. BUT, once you sit down to type out your report, all the writing must be your own. Your data (the name of the group, the names of the songs, the names of the instruments) may be the same as another classmate’s data, but the actual writing of sentences must be your own. Students who submit work that involves plagiarism will receive zero on the assignment, and may face stronger discipline. Also, you are responsible for keeping your assignments confidential and not letting others gain access to them. If one student copies from another student’s work, both students will get zero on the assignment.
Here are the DVDs. All are on reserve at the Douglass Room. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO VIEW THE DVDs!
Assignment Jazz Icons: Art Blakey
At the Douglass Room: VIDEO DVD 01666
Report on all of these songs, in order: Just by Myself (Chapter 1), Moanin’ (Chapter 2), I Remember Clifford (Chapter 3; do not use for your detailed song), A Night in Tunisia (Chapter 6)
For more information on this DVD: http://www.jazzicons.com/ji_blakey.html
SAMPLE CHECKLIST
Full personnel (musicians’ names & instruments)?
Where and when the concert took place?
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SONG #1:
style(s) of the piece
role(s) of piano
role(s) of bass
role(s) of drums (including sticks or brushes or mallets)
role(s) of horn players
SONG #2: (do not use “same as above”)
style(s) of the piece
role(s) of piano
role(s) of bass
role(s) of drums (including sticks or brushes or mallets)
role(s) of horn players
SONG #3: (do not use “same as above”)
style(s) of the piece
role(s) of piano
role(s) of bass
role(s) of drums (including sticks or brushes or mallets)
role(s) of horn players
SONG #4: (do not use “same as above”)
style(s) of the piece
role(s) of piano
role(s) of bass
role(s) of drums (including sticks or brushes or mallets)
role(s) of horn players
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FOR YOUR CHOSEN SONG (INTEGRATE THIS WITHIN SONG 1, 2, 3, OR 4):
Sequence of events: complete or incomplete?
FOR YOUR SELECTED SOLO WITHIN THE CHOSEN SONG (IDENTIFY WHICH SOLO):
How did the solo progress from beginning to end?
Which soloist(s) heard in class did it remind you of?
Was the solo successful? Why or why not?
What was your emotional response to it?
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CONCLUSION:
Emotional response to the overall performance: Was it pleasing to you? Why or why not?
At least 4 compete sentences?
