Rapp on Jazz Podcast
1) 'The Sound and the Fury'
Though set in the American South and often associated with stream-of-consciousness narrative, William Faulkner’s "The Sound and the Fury" also resonates with jazz's rhythms and improvisational spirit....Show More
2) 'The Great Gatsby'
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby" is as much a story of jazz as it is of love and ambition. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the novel captures an era when jazz was the soundtrack of a generation—l...Show More
3) The role of basslines in jazz
In jazz, the bassline is the heartbeat of the music. The bassist provides the harmonic foundation, outlining the chord changes while keeping the rhythm moving. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rap...Show More
4) Blue notes
One of the defining sounds of jazz is the blue note—a pitch slightly lowered from the standard scale. These notes give jazz its characteristic tension, color, and emotional depth. Visit southcarolin...Show More
5) The structure of jazz standards
When we talk about jazz standards, we’re really talking about a shared songbook—a common language that musicians use to connect. Most standards follow a structure borrowed from popular songs of the 19...Show More
6) Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion emerged in the late 1960s and ’70s as musicians began blending jazz improvisation with the rhythms, textures, and energy of rock, funk, and world music. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.or...Show More
7) Resilience and innovation
From the Great Depression through World War II and into the postwar era, jazz has been a story of resilience and innovation. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.
8) The rise of global jazz
By the 1950s and ’60s, jazz had become a global art form. American musicians toured widely, sometimes as part of U.S. State Department “jazz ambassador” programs. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/...Show More
9) Modal jazz
In the late 1950s, a new approach to improvisation began to take shape—modal jazz. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.
10) Jazz after World War II
After World War II, jazz entered a bold new chapter. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.