Choose one of the groups of artists listed by instrument below and provide a 1500 word written response to your chosen topic.

1. Saxophone: Charlie Parker (Bebop) / Lee Konitz (Cool Jazz) / Ornette Coleman (Free Jazz)
2. Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie (Bebop) / Chet Baker (Cool Jazz) / Clifford Brown (Hard Bop)
3. Piano: Bud Powell (Bebop) / Lennie Tristano (Cool Jazz) / Herbie Hancock (Hard Bop or Fusion)
4. Guitar: Charlie Christian (Bebop) / Jim Hall (Cool Jazz) / John McLaughlin (Fusion)
5. Bass: Paul Chambers (Hard Bop) / Ron Carter ('60s Post-Bop) / Stanley Clark (Fusion)
6. Drums: Kenny Clarke (Bebop) / Philly Joe Jones (Hard Bop) / Harvey Mason (Fusion)

From your chosen topics, provide the a Youtube link to a recording of each of the three (3) artists performing in the sub-genre identified (Bebop / Hard Bop / Free Jazz etc.). From the recordings you choose and further research, provide the following:

• A discussion and comparison of the defining performance practises of the sub-styles. Include discussion on ensemble size, common instrumentation, compositional / arranging practises and audience / public reaction.
• A brief biographical introduction to each artist, with specific discussion of their playing style, influence and innovation within the sub-style, using the selected recordings as points of reference.
• A brief musical analysis of the selected recordings - including time signature; form; instrumentation; harmony and groove/feel. This must be in a table format with timestamps to indicate the musical events.
• A discussion of the differences between styles (as per chosen topic eg. Hard Bop and Cool Jazz or Cool Jazz and Free Jazz) with regard to the influence of the public, technology, political and social climates of the era.

Assignment presentation:

• Title page with your name, student number and chosen topic
• Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
• Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
• You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
• You may refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion and reference appropriately
• Include in-text references
• Include a comprehensive reference list, adhering to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
• All excerpts from URLs for music scores or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
• Submit Microsoft Word (.docx) documents only.

*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

• Appropriate introduction and conclusion - 5%
• Accuracy and depth of historic analysis of the development of the musical sub-style and identification of principal artists - 20%
• Accuracy of identification of the contributing social and political influences - 10%
• Accuracy of discussion of the transition of styles - 15%
• Accuracy in the identification and discussion of the sub-style specific performance practises - 15%
• Accuracy in the discussion of musical elements - 10%
• Grammatical accuracy, punctuation and spelling - 10%
• Correct use of academic referencing conventions - 10%
• Evidence of wide reading - 5%

For this assessment task you are required to write a 2000 - 2500 word written assignment.

Topic:
Miles Davis (or groups led by Davis) recorded several albums that stand out in the history of jazz as ‘seminal recordings’. Three such albums are acknowledged as pioneering developments of new jazz sub-styles and are heralded as some of the most influential jazz recordings ever produced.

• Cool Jazz: ‘Birth of the Cool’ ushered in a transition towards a bebop influenced, yet ‘cool’ sounding jazz.
• Modal Jazz: ‘Kind of Blue’ steered jazz away from the frenetic sounds of bebop and complex chord progressions, towards a simpler, modal based music.
• Fusion: ‘Bitches Brew’ was a full-blown announcement that jazz had moved in the direction of technologically manipulated music, fusing jazz elements with rock instrumentation, among other things.

Choose one (1) sub-style from those provided (above) and discuss the significance of this recording by providing the following:

• A brief biographical introduction to Miles Davis.
• A historic overview of the chosen sub-style (Cool Jazz, Modal Jazz or Fusion), including an analysis of the musical, social and political influences.
• A summary of the performance practises associated with the chosen sub-style (instrumentation, size of ensemble, common performance elements etc).
• Background information on the associated album (Birth of the Cool, Kind of Blue or Bitches Brew). Such information may include the recording process, composer/arranger information and any important contributions from artists who recorded on the album.
• Using an original recording from Youtube, provide a musical analysis of the individual song associated with each recording in a timestamp/musical description format. The recordings are (Birth of the Cool: Boplicity, Kind of Blue: So What, Bitches Brew: Pharaoh’s Dance).

Assignment presentation:
• Title page with your name, student number, due date and chosen topic
• Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
• Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
• You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
• You must refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion and reference these appropriately
• Include in-text references
• Include a comprehensive reference list, adhering to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
• All excerpts from URLs for music scores or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
• Submit Microsoft Word (.docx) documents only.

*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

• Appropriate introduction and conclusion - 5%
• Accuracy of biographical history of the artist - 15%
• Precise and relevant account of the development of the musical sub-style and identification of contributing social and political influences - 10%
• Accuracy in the identification and discussion of the sub-style specific performance practises - 15%
• Accuracy and depth of research of the chosen album and associated artists - 15%
• Accuracy of musical analysis of the chosen recording - 15%
• Grammatical accuracy, punctuation, spelling and general presentation - 10%
• Correct use of academic referencing conventions - 10%
• Evidence of wide reading - 5%

You will undertake a history and listening test based on the unit materials presented in lectures and on the Moodle site during the term. The test will consist of the identification of works from a listening list and may contain short answer responses related to the history of the musical periods studied.

Accuracy and clarity of response to questions relating to the musical / historical period being studied.