How Jazz Works: From Song to Improv

The Blue Hill Public Library’s new “Art Adventures” series kicks off the exploration of visual and performing arts on Thursday, February 28th at 7pm (Howard Room) with “How Jazz Works: From Song to Improv.” Jazz typically works by taking a particular song, such as “Autumn Leaves,” as a vehicle and uses the chord structure of the song as a basis for improvising new melodies. Jazz bassist, Don Carmichael, and jazz pianist Frank Fredenburgh will offer a lively program that show how jazz musicians alter the feeling of time and/or tempo of the initial song, substitute chords and transform the song into jazz that swings. They’ll also explain the role their instruments play in creating jazz and its special musical feeling. As Don Carmichael says, “the basic lesson is ‘it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.’ ”