Building Blocks of Jazz

Phil Dunlap explores the relationship between jazz and classical music.

We follow the journey of a rhythm called Clavé from West Africa to its influence in Latin American Music, ragtime and bebop.

Phil Dunlap takes us on a journey from New Orleans to New York as he explores the sounds and styles of Big Band Jazz.

In this episode of BBOJ, Phil Dunlap demonstrates how the use of music software for computers, tablets and smart phones can help us enhance our study of music.

Phil Dunlap demonstrates the process and importance of building a strong technical foundation, which is essential for musicians as they develop technique.

Guest vocalist Debbie Lennon shows us how we can add personality and depth to song lyrics by using devices like tone, color, vibrato, and text painting.

The rhythmic concept of beat placement, creates an interesting dynamic in jazz music. Sometimes it’s not what you play but how you play it, as Phil Dunlap and his guest, Paul DeMarinis, Director of Jazz Studies at Webster University demonstrate.

In this lesson on improvisation, jazz pianist Peter Martin demonstrates how what we may perceive as "wrong" notes can be used in such a way that they sound "right." Martin demonstrates using a major 3rd on the blues scale and a flatted 5th on the dominant scale, all within the context of a simple blues in F.

Host Phil Dunlap introduces viewers to various styles of jazz piano, and discusses how they developed over time. Phil demonstrates Ragtime, Stride, Boogie Woogie and modern day influences.

Buidling Blocks of Jazz takes a field trip to Saxquest, where Phil Dunlap and owner Mark Overton discuss the history of the saxophone and take a look at some unique, vintage instruments.

Phil Dunlap and his guest Kevin Gianino look at the technique and instrumentation of jazz drums. This upbeat lesson includes the basics of a drum set, as well as the rhythms of swing and bossa nova.

Phil Dunlap and his guest Dave Dickey examine the evolution of the trombone style, from New Orleans to BeBop.

Music is based on harmony, and harmony is based on chords and scales; so for jazz pianists it is fundamental to understand how chords work. In this edition of Building Blocks of Jazz, host Phil Dunlap breaks down chords for us and explains how chords and scales are related.

Phil Dunlap and SIU-E Professor of Music Rick Haydon continue their discussion of the famous jazz guitarist Freddy Green, and the percussive sound of the rhythm guitar.

Viewers may be surprised to find out that the guitar can be used as a percussive instrument. Phil Dunlap and his guest, Rick Haydon, Professor of Music at SIU-E discuss this concept as well as the relationship of rhythm guitar to Big Band Music. Watch as Haydon demonstrates some of Freddy Green's most famous guitar licks.

Viewers may be surprised to find out that the guitar can be used as a percussive instrument. Phil Dunlap and his guest, Rick Haydon, Professor of Music at SIU-E discuss this concept as well as the relationship of rhythm guitar to Big Band Music. Watch as Haydon demonstrates some of Freddy Green's most famous guitar licks.

Phil Dunlap and his guest Nick Jost discuss the basics of the bass. They’ll demonstrate the acoustic and the electric bass, and clue you in as to who was the pioneer of pizzicato.

Phil Dunlap and his guest Nick Jost discuss the basics of the bass. They’ll demonstrate the acoustic and the electric bass, and clue you in as to who was the pioneer of pizzicato.

Phil Dunlap and Matt Henry continue their exploration of Latin Jazz and Percussion and delve further into the unusual rhythms of Latin music.

What do a bowl of ice cream and jazz have in common? Find out by watching this edition of Building Blocks of Jazz. This original lesson given by Phil Dunlap, Director of Education for Jazz St. Louis, illustrates how melody, rhythm and harmony all combine to add "flavor" to music. Listen closely, you may recognize a childhood favorite during this demonstration.

What do a bowl of ice cream and jazz have in common? Find out by watching this edition of Building Blocks of Jazz. This original lesson given by Phil Dunlap, Director of Education for Jazz St. Louis, illustrates how melody, rhythm and harmony all combine to add "flavor" to music. Listen closely, you may recognize a childhood favorite during this demonstration.

Did you know there was form in Jazz? On this episode, Phil Dunlap demonstrates how form helps organize music and enhance improvisation.

Did you know there was form in Jazz? On this episode, Phil Dunlap demonstrates how form helps organize music and enhance improvisation.

Find out what improvisation is, and how it makes jazz unique.

Much of the saxophone music we hear in jazz is played on the tenor sax, yet there are a wide array of saxophones. In this installment of Building Blocks of Jazz Phil Dunlap and his guest Andy Ament discuss the history and variety of this classic instrument and how it works.

Find out what improvisation is, and how it makes jazz unique.

On this Building Blocks of Jazz, Phil Dunlap and his guest Adam Hucke from Southwestern Illinois College explore ways to change the sound and personality of a trumpet using mutes. The musical concept of timbre is discussed and Adam plays examples illustrating the differences in the sound using the straight, cup, Harmon, pixie and plunger mutes - followed by a short jam session with Phil.

On this Building Blocks of Jazz, Phil Dunlap and his guest Adam Hucke from Southwestern Illinois College explore ways to change the sound and personality of a trumpet using mutes. The musical concept of timbre is discussed and Adam plays examples illustrating the differences in the sound using the straight, cup, Harmon, pixie and plunger mutes - followed by a short jam session with Phil.

Rhythm II is a continuation of the previous lesson about rhythm. Phil Dunlap on piano, and his guests Jahmal Nichols on bass, and Marty Morrison on drums, demonstrate how rhythm helps musicians come together to create a band.

Rhythm II is a continuation of the previous lesson about rhythm. Phil Dunlap on piano, and his guests Jahmal Nichols on bass, and Marty Morrison on drums, demonstrate how rhythm helps musicians come together to create a band.

Matt Henry, Director of Percussion Studies at UMSL joins Phil Dunlap to discuss Latin Jazz which was developed as salsa, or dance music. Phil and Matt explain and demonstrate two of the most important instruments in Latin Jazz, the clave’ and the conga.

Matt Henry, Director of Percussion Studies at UMSL joins Phil Dunlap to discuss Latin Jazz which was developed as salsa, or dance music. Phil and Matt explain and demonstrate two of the most important instruments in Latin Jazz, the clave’ and the conga.

Fellow musicians Jahmal Nichols and Marty Morrison join Phil Dunlap to demonstrate how a rhythm section is created with multiple instruments including piano, bass and drums. Learn why the piano is a percussion instrument although it has strings and what pizzicato means. Also see how cymbals, the bass drum and the snare drum are used to create rhythm.

Fellow musicians Jahmal Nichols and Marty Morrison join Phil Dunlap to demonstrate how a rhythm section is created with multiple instruments including piano, bass and drums. Learn why the piano is a percussion instrument although it has strings and what pizzicato means. Also see how cymbals, the bass drum and the snare drum are used to create rhythm.

What makes swing groove different from Latin groove? Find out on this installment of Building Blocks of Jazz. Phil Dunlap, Director of Education for Jazz St. Louis explains how pulse and subdivision equal groove.

What makes swing groove different from Latin groove? Find out on this installment of Building Blocks of Jazz. Phil Dunlap, Director of Education for Jazz St. Louis explains how pulse and subdivision equal groove.