Throughout this musical experience participants will be exposed to the high art of vocal jazz pioneers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Jon Hendricks, and Sarah Vaughan. Time will also be spent exploring their legacy through the music of their modern counterparts: artists including Cassandra Wilson, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, and Dianne Reeves.
Through the study of these artists (and more) participants will be encouraged to develop their “ear” and attempt vocal jazz improvisation (i.e. stylizing a melody or scat-singing) and vocalese (the art of setting text to pre-recorded instrumental jazz solo and then singing it back as invented by the vocal jazz trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross).
Practical aspects of musicianship will also be explored such as preparing a lead sheet, reading chord symbol notation, sight-singing, transcribing, transposing, microphone technique etc…
Additional emphasis will be placed on ensemble singing as we explore the music of vocal jazz groups such as The Manhattan Transfer and The New York Voices. Participants will also have the opportunity to work one on one with a jazz rhythm section. Ultimately we will prepare a presentation that will exhibit a body of work that has evolved out of our time together.
Course Instructor: Matt Fogg
For more information about this ensemble, call (207) 837-2955 or fill out the form below.
