Jazz: From New Orleans to Big Band Swing

IN THIS FOUR WEEK LECTURE SERIES, Dr. Mike Daley tells the story of the first half-century of jazz, from its roots in West Africa and then blues and ragtime, through its flowering in turn-of-the-century New Orleans and then as it spread throughout the world via recordings. The mass popularity of jazz in the 1920s established New York and Chicago as new jazz capitols, and when large dance bands took on jazz style, the big band era was born. The big bands dominated popular music until the end of World War II, when the modern small-band bebop style began to emerge. Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Jelly Roll Morton, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday and many more are featured. Each lecture is richly illustrated with rare photos, video clips, and musical selections.

Note: a minimum of 75 participants is required for this series to run.

MONDAY JANUARY 10 10AM–12

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans: Roots and Branches of Traditional Jazz.

MONDAY JANUARY 17 10AM–12

Big City Noise: Jazz in Chicago and New York in the 1920s.

MONDAY JANUARY 24 10AM–12

Swing That Music: The Big Band Era

MONDAY JANUARY 31 10AM–12

K.C. Moan: Swing in Kansas City and the Territories