Class Announcements

We got it! Final Exam right here! Click Here! This is due on the 13th. Have fun!
Death of Rythym & Blues, by Nelson _______(?) is a great book suggested by Davey D. Anyone catch the last name? E-mail me at NicoMo@aol.com.
The final will be essays: you will get to choose three questions from a group of 9 or so questions and respond to them. The questions will probably be taken directly from the study questions in the back of the chapters in our textbook. Larry says, "Don't worry about it."
Worried about your grade? Here's the word from our man, Larry Douglas. Total points you can get for the class? 200. 180 points is still an "A." Those points come from 4 sources: Mid-Term (50 points), Critique (50 points), Attendance (30 points), & Final (70 points.) You'll lose your attendance points if you miss 3 or more class sessions. The critiques seem to be pretty good. Nobody's gotten less than 40 points for their critique. Thanks, Larry!
Earl, our speaker from last week, the gentleman who was the leader of the Black Musicians Union, and spoke of the truly good ol' days in West Oakland and SF, has a regular gig in Jack London Square at Scott's Seafood on Sundays around 11 a.m.
Larry says (or was it Carlos?), check out "Afrocentric Innovations Some Call Jazz" by Dr. Carlton Hester. This book follows jazz from its roots in the African continent to the US of A.
Larry says check out allmusic.com for some fascinating history on Jazz, the real story
Don't forget, what made folks like Charlie Parker crazy, is that Early Jazz was stolen by white musicians and their inferior music was called Dixieland Jazz. It was Dixieland Jazz musicians, however, not the originators, who commercially benefitted from this new art form. The Black musicians playing Early Jazz were barely scraping by. And don't forget that LaRocca, the white Dixieland originator, not only denied the origins of the music he earned big bucks for, but he also said that the music was too complex to have been developed by African Americans. Charlie Parker et. al's natural human reponse? Crazy Rage. And you did not hear that from Larry Douglas.
Great article written by a Ms. Sullivan makes a lot of great connections between African culture and popular music, from drumming to Juba to Hip Hop. Download it by clicking here.
Find any of your own good links while looking up info for the midterm? Forward them to me (nicomo@aol.com) and I'll put them in the LINKS page.
The Written Critique is REALLY due on Monday, April 8. Don't be late or they'll cut your grade in HALF. For a copy of the guidelines for writing it see Written Critique Guidelines.
MID TERM will be handed out on April 8. It is a take home test and is due the following Monday, 15th. Along with your taxes. Hey, this is a full-service announcement page.
Hey, if you haven't gotten your text book yet, And The Beat Goes On, I saw one more copy at the Oakland Public Library downtown on 14th Street today. (4/1/02)
Carlos says, see the movie IMITATION OF LIFE. Mahalia Jackson is in it, the great gospel singer, plus it's a very important movie.
No class March 25. Paper reviewing the music you go to see is due the following week, April 1. It should be a good 1 page paper. Don't make it too long.
Carlos Zialcita & his Band at Dotha's Juke Joint, Friday, March 15. Shows at 8 and 10 p.m. Cover charge is $12. Dotha's Juke Joint is at 126 Broadway in Oakland. For more info & reservations call 510.663.7668.
Johnny Otis Radio Show, every Saturday from 9 a.m. - 12 noon on KPFA, 94.1 FM.
No class 2/18 & 2/25. Class resumes 3/4.

* This web page is a creation of one of the students taking Mr. Otis's course, and does not necessarily represent the views or policies of Vista College, its administration, or the professors or students in this course. I expect visitors to this page to conduct themselves in a manner acceptable to community standards, using good etiquette and respecting each other. I also welcome critical dialogue and dissent. You may participate in our discussion, or e-mail me directly at NicoMo@aol.com, but I do appreciate your participation within these guidelines. Thank you!