Course Description

Instructor: James Rozzi

Six sessions: Jan 22-Feb 26

At just over 100 years old, jazz has changed dramatically from its earliest roots in blues and New Orleans music to reflect the most tumultuous century in history. In Part 1, we will explore jazz’s beginnings up through the 1940s big band era via recordings, written histories, photos, and videos. Part 2 will be offered in a later session, commencing with the complexities of 1940s bebop through jazz’s current, multi-cultural musical trends. Jazz is the most substantial of American art forms and our gift to the world. The aim of this course is to entertain while increasing understanding and accessibility. Please join us as we listen and discuss the evolution of this multi-faceted musical genre.

James is a saxophonist, bandleader, and published jazz journalist. His critically-acclaimed 10-piece band, Tempest, has performed throughout the southeast.