THURSDAY, JULY 24, 10 a.m. PT/11 a.m. MT/12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET 
 
Smooth and Contemporary Jazz was a hit back in the 90s and early 2000s! This course explores the evolution of jazz from the 1980s to the present, examining how contemporary artists have redefined the genre through experimentation, cross-genre fusion, and global collaboration. The presentation will analyze works by key figures such as Esperanza Spalding, Bob James, David Sanborn, Pat Metheny, Chris Botti, among others, to trace developments in musical style and cultural expression. We will look at how contemporary jazz keeps its roots alive while mixing in fresh sounds from rock, soul, electronic, and world music. Through musical examples, interviews and discussion, we will get a feel for how today’s jazz scene is evolving in exciting ways.  Presentation will run 1.5 hours--class will be recorded for replay on-demand.