Music History
Mark C. Gridley, Ph.D. is the recently retired professor at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio. He has held teaching positions at Case Western Reserve University (where he taught jazz history from 1971 to 1981), Florida Atlantic University, Cleveland State University, Mercyhurst College, and John Carroll University. During breaks from those positions he conducted field research in Africa, The Caribbean, South America, and all the jazz centers of the U.S. He is an active professional jazz saxophonist-flutist-bandleader in Cleveland. His quartet from Michigan State University tied for first place with the Michael Brecker-Randy Sandke Quintet from Indiana University at the 1968 Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, at which Gridley won the "Best Flutist" award. As staff musician at Cleveland's Front Row Theater in 1974 he was featured soloist with Sammy Davis, Jr. He also accompanied Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, The Jackson Five, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme there, after touring with Les Elgart, Lou Rawls, and Harry "Sweets" Edison.
I Got Rhythm
The Jazz Soul of George Gershwin
The music of George Gershwin achieved great popularity throughout the twentieth century. It was so popular with jazz musicians that some of their most memorable recordings were made with it. This lecture will highlight the jazz origins of Gershwin in the Broadway show of 1930 Girl Crazy, video of Ethel Merman singing it, instrumental jazz video of it played by Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge and Charlie Parker, followed by analysis of the chord progression and contrafacts by Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Rollins. Students will experience the satisfaction of not only the marvelous melodies of America’s greatest tune smith but also the swing and creativity of America’s top jazz masters. Narrated audio-visual tutorial methods will present and discuss the music, its origins, its structure, and the stature of the musicians who made it.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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Course # W1W2 — One Time Event
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Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
Dates: | Wednesday, January 25 2023 |
Time: | 2:30 - 4 PM |
Fee: | $30 / member; $35 / non-member |
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