The Michigan Journal: 'Cox Quartet jazzes up final music lecture'

[Duke Ellington: Four Symphonic Works; American Composers Orchestra; Maurice Peress, conductor; Nimbus Records NI2511 (2008)]

The Michigan Journal

The Student Newspaper Of The University Of Michigan-Dearborn

Cox Quartet jazzes up final music lecture

Veronica Grandison

Issue date: 11/25/08 Section: News
“Although, the fourth installment of pianist Kenn Cox's music lecture series was called 'Jazz: African American Classical Music', Cox made it very clear that jazz was not a word that he used to describe the musical genre. 'No jazz musician tagged this music jazz,' Cox said in a fiery tone. 'They called it “hot blues,” not jazz.'" “Cox, who is the Visiting King-Chavez-Parks Professor for 2008 will be teaching a course in African-American music history on Wednesdays from 6:10 to 9 p.m. beginning in January.” [Full Post]

Comment by William J. Zick at TheMichiganJournal.com:

I believe that if we are to appreciate the full scope of African American music, we must consider the classical works of African American jazz geniuses such as Scott Joplin (1868-1917), Duke Ellington (1899-1974) and James P. Johnson (1894-1955). Joplin wrote three operas, including "Treemonisha", which is enjoying a revival. All three composers are profiled at AfriClassical.com along with other composers of classical music. In addition, the "Afro-American Symphony" of William Grant Still (1895-1978) is infused with elements of jazz and the blues. William Levi Dawson (1899-1990) is best known for his arrangements of African American spirituals, but he also composed his hauntingly moving "Negro Folk Symphony", which makes use of three spirituals.

African American Music
Scott Joplin
Duke Ellington
James P. Johnson
William Grant Still
William Levi Dawson