Discover Jazz with Mike Greensill
Don’t know bebop from bossa nova? Can’t tell Count Basie from Cecil Taylor? Get the inside scoop from jazz pianist and educator Mike Greensill, along with special guest artists. This three-part series of classes and a concert will explore the rich traditions of jazz, its forms and variations, and the history and future of America’s great indigenous art form. Each 60-minute class and the final 90-minute concert will include some history, plenty of music, and a lot of fun.  Classes are designed for novice jazz listeners, experts… and the simply curious. They may be taken individually or as a series.

Part 1: June 23
What is Jazz?
Jazz is America’s first original art form. We’ll explore its history from the early days in New Orleans to the contemporary scene in New York and beyond. Along the way, we’ll discover diverse styles like swing, bebop, and more.

Musical demonstrations by Mike Greensill, piano; plus recorded examples.

Part 2: June 30
The Building Blocks of Jazz
What is improvisation? What is the purpose of a rhythm section? What is swing? Why all the saxophones, trumpets, and trombones? What is the origin of the classic jazz piano trio? These and many more mysteries of the jazz world will be revealed.

Musical examples by Mike Greensill, piano; John Wiitala, bass; Vince Lateano, drums.

Part 3: July 7
Jazz and the American Popular Songbook
We’ll examine the priceless contributions of American composers like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Frank Loesser, Cole Porter, and many others, whose timeless songs jazz musicians love to play. We’ll also study the development of the soloist in jazz, from Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins to Miles Davis and Charlie Parker, as well as the legacy of great jazz vocalists.