The Giants of Jazz

Jazz at the Albert will soon be able to provide in-depth talks on jazz musicians from the past, using an entertaining format with audio and visual aspects to support the talk. Based on a BBC Radio Bristol series by Ian Storror, it was broadcast ‘live’ over many years from 1998, in association with the BBC’s Keith Warmington on his Drive Time and Late shows. The Giants of Jazz series covered the life, the times, and the music of a diverse range of artists from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Ornette Coleman and Medeski, Martin and Wood.

Ella Fitzgerald

The first talk will take Ella Fitzgerald as its subject and should be available to book from mid-2015 onwards. Within six months a second will be available. The aim is to achieve 12 different artists/subjects to choose from. For example: Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Clifford Brown, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Fats Waller: the ‘Professors of the Piano’ and the ‘Chitlin’ Circuit’, John Coltrane. This list is purely speculative on my part and is open to change.

The talk can be as long as required; but should be 50-60 minutes at its shortest and 2 hours (with an interval) at its longest. It tells the life of an artist and how they started; made it big; how it affected their personal lives; what shaped their music and thinking, and why they are regarded today as true Giants of Jazz

  • It’s audio: Listening to tracks by the artist; normally within a chronological order of the life of the artist’s, as they developed musically and personally throughout their careers.
  • It’s visual: Via a digital projector, images and video clips (where available) help see the artists perform and give visual backing to music pieces.
  • It’s interactive: Allowing time for the audience to ask questions in an informal Q&A, some even offer a quiz at the end with prizes

I will also be creating two different talks, based on fact and the myths and misconceptions of Jazz.

ODJB

How Jazz came into being and its evolution

A pocket history of the circumstances and influences that created the syncopated sound that became known as Jazz and how it developed into a major art form.

From why New Orleans was the only place this music could have been created, it origins, its development and the circumstances under which it grew and influenced all music to come after it.

So you think you don’t like Jazz?

Warning Jazz

Based on the first ever radio programme in the series, this attempts to identify why people say; I don’t like jazz! It’s an interactive discussion to identify what we like and why. To show that jazz is much more prevalent in every day life, and such a broad based music that it has influenced all popular music since 1910. The talk covers preconceptions and misinformation about Jazz as a music art form. Posing the question; what makes certain music more popular to listen to?

By a simple process of asking people to listen to pieces of music and ask: ‘Do you like this: Why don’t you like that’: Helping them to understand what Jazz is and what Jazz has become today. It also acts as an introduction to anyone who doesn’t know, or feels they don’t understand what Jazz is? As a test, play this track and ask yourself: “Do I like this piece of music?”

If the answer is “Strangely, yes I do” then this talk is for you, your friends and colleagues who would be interested in knowing more; and to clearly identify what ‘Jazz is’ in all its forms, from the Traditional to Avant Garde....and all points in between.

For further information contact Ian Storror on: storror.albertjazz@talk21.com