Pennsylvania State University - HIS 1961Recordings and Information for Discussion Board 4

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Recordings and Information for Discussion Board #4 Of the many jazz styles pioneered by Miles Davis, perhaps none has been more admired than the modal jazzexplored by his 1959 sextet on the album, ... Kind of Blue. We'll hear three tracks from the album, with stellar solos from Davis, Coltrane, Adderley, and Bill Evans. Bill Evans went on to lead his own piano trio not long after recording with Davis. His 1961 trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian is widely regarded as his most exceptional leader work. We'll hear two tracks from the Bill Evans Trio's landmark album, Sunday at the Village Vanguard. Evans and LaFaro pioneered a more interactive, conversational role between piano and bass that has had lasting influence. John Coltrane is another giant of jazz. On this discussion board we'll hear some of his excellent works as leader from 1957 to 1964. We'll hear an evolution in his creative style over these years--both as composer and performer--yet there is an aspect of Coltrane's performance artistry that remains distinctly identifiable throughout his career. Remarkably, his music will evolve further in the last three years of his life (1964-1967)--into the realm of free jazz, some of which we will hear in the next lesson. The first two Coltrane selections are quintessential hard bop tracks, with such notable sidemen as trumpeter Lee Morgan and pianist Tommy Flanagan. The last two recordings feature Trane's classic quartet, with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones. It's hard to overstate the significance and influence of this band. With Coltrane as their leader, these four created a new modal sound that remains fresh nearly half a century later. McCoy Tyner's piano sound is like no one else's who came before him, exploring voicings in fourths (quartal harmony) with a pentatonic foundation--a sound inspired by Coltrane's compositions. Elvin Jones plays drums in a more dynamic, polyrhythmic, wave-like manner than any drummer before him. Such innovative playing was possible because of the sturdy, responsive manner in which Jimmy Garrison played bass. While the least prominent of the four instrumentalists, in a real sense he holds their sound together [Show More]

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