New Orleans is a special place that gave rise to a special kind of music. In this course we will tap into the exhilaration and pathos of traditional New Orleans jazz, examining its history, its inner workings, and its relevance to our lives today. Through guided listening and group discussion, we will gain a greater appreciation of what such artists as Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, George Lewis, Kid Thomas, and Wynton Marsalis have to say to us. Along the way we’ll examine brass bands, the first jazz record ever made, musical rule-breaking, the role of the church, the primacy of the emotional connection, and some of the music’s stylistic outgrowths. Heck, we might even stage our own second-line parade if we feel like it.

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