Bringing jazz greats to the classroom

SWING UNIVERSITY: FALL 2008
BRINGING JAZZ GREATS TO THE CLASSROOM

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University offers insights and expertise shared by jazz scholars and historians who have witnessed the history first hand, plus the rare opportunity to learn about jazz from the musicians themselves.

· DRUMS AND THE RHYTHM SECTION with Lewis Nash (Mondays, 9/15; 9/22; 10/6; 10/20; 6:30-8:30pm)

Drumming giant Lewis Nash will guide you to understand the workings of the rhythm section and the musical blending that distinguishes great rhythm sections. This course will help you recognize drum stylists such as Art Blakey, Big Sid Catlett, Papa Jo Jones and Max Roach.

· CHARLIE CHRISTIAN with Vincent Pelote (Mondays, 10/27; 11/3; 11/17; 12/1; 6:30-8:30pm)

Charlie Christian was the essential pioneer of the electric guitar and one of the swing era’s rhythmic revolutionaries. Guitarist Vincent Pelote is librarian of Rutgers University’s Institute of Jazz Studies.

· JOHN COLTRANE with Phil Schaap (Tuesdays, 9/16; 9/23; 10/7; 10/14; 10/21; 10/28; 11/4; 11/11; 6:30-8:30pm)

John Coltrane dominated jazz during the early and middle 1960s playing primarily tenor sax. Trane played bebop, helped start hard bop and the use of modes in jazz, then took the art form to new places and heights. Phil Schaap is the curator of Jazz at Lincoln Center and hosts Birdflight on WKCR.

· THE SWING ERA with Carline Ray (Tuesdays; 9/16; 9/23; 10/7; 10/14; 10/21; 10/28; 11/4; 11/11; 6:30-8:30pm)

Bassist, guitarist, vocalist and educator Carline Ray is the widow of Louis Armstrong’s music director Luis Russell and the mother of pop-singing sensation Catherine Russell.

· JAZZ 101 with Phil Schaap (Wednesdays; 9/24; 10/1; 10/15; 10/22; 10/29; 11/5; 11/12; 11/19; 6:30-8:30pm)

Discover the A to Z of jazz. Meet the Crescent City pioneers who taught musicians everywhere how to swing and the Big Band Era heartthrobs who brought jazz into prime time. Relive the bebop revolution and follow its descendents–cool, hard bop, modal and free jazz—into the modern era.

· JAZZ PIANO ICONS: Past, Present and Future with Dick Katz (Wednesdays; 9/24; 10/1; 10/15; 10/22; 10/29; 11/5; 11/12; 11/19; 6:30-8:30pm)

Tour the history of jazz piano with two-time GRAMMY® nominee for jazz writing and celebrated pianist Dick Katz. Learn the difference between ragtime and stride, what it means to "comp" or to "voice" a chord, and more as you study innovators such as Fats Waller, Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock.

WHERE: Irene Diamond Education Center, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street, New York City.

HOW: Courses from $125 to 250. To enroll, contact subscription services at 212.258.9999.

CONTACT: Bridget Wilson, Associate, Public Relations 212.258.9868