Pianist Dr. Billy Taylor (pictured) recently finished work on his film History of Jazz and has plans to show portions of the movie on the Web. The film covers everything from jazz’s roots in slave songs to its present-day innovations, with clips from well-known compositions, film and original recordings throughout the film. Taylor also included selections from his jazz trio to demonstrate the music’s basic techniques, terminology and styles.
Beginning this month, chapters from this production will be broadcast over the Internet on Taylor’s Web site, www.billytaylorjazz.com, in both Windows Media and Real Media video formats. The first selection to be offered is “Bebop,” which includes an extensive explanation of how bebop radically altered the concept of rhythm in jazz through the use of altered chords and double time, as well as bebop improvisation.
The complete schedule for the Webcast of Taylor’s film is as follows:
September — “Bebop” October — “The Roots of Jazz” November — “The Blues” December — “Great Soloists” January — “Improvisation” February — “Soul Jazz” March — “Swing and Ragtime” April — “Technology” May — “Expanding the Scales and Harmonies of Modern Jazz” June — “The Influence of World Music”
