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Women in Jazz is a music class that focuses on the important contributions of women to jazz music, past and present, as instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, arrangers, and producers. Jazz originated in the U.S. as a phenomenon of the 20th Century and quickly spread throughout the globe, by offering artists of all backgrounds a vehicle for innovation, expanded aesthetics and individuality. Jazz has been an important influence in the development of hip hop and other modern musics throughout the world. However, jazz has historically been a male dominated field. Who are the artists whose work emerged to spark gender justice in jazz, what is their music, and what are their stories of inspiration, creativity, struggles and triumphs? Through our exploration of recordings, scholarship, music journalism, video, film and live music performance we will answer these questions, and gain a better understanding of how the politics of gender have challenged jazz music. In learning about the work of important women innovators of jazz, we will learn about numerous musical styles within jazz. Students will develop critical thinking skills while discerning the contrasting perspectives of critics and musicians involved in this vital music.
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