The Music and Life of Bob Marley, a class created by Matt Jenson

THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF BOB MARLEY
Welcome to the home page of Matt Jenson's "Music and Life of Bob Marley" performance studies class. Below is a brief description of the course and many links (scroll down) that will give you complete information on this truly UNIQUE and inspiring offering.

Print out PDF newsletter: Page 1, Page 1

HAPPENINGS:

FINALLY, Matt's website will be MASSIVELY re-worked. Launch of new site will be roughly July 20.

Matt will be teaching at JAZZ CAMP WEST in LaHonda, Ca (Half Moon bay, about an hour south of San Fran), June 20-27, 2009. This is truly a one-of-a kind musical / spiritual / educational experience! Teaching, learning, sharing, jamming, laughing, dancing amongst the redwood trees. Matt's honored to be part of the faculty for a second time. I'll be teaching the Marley class and my Latin piano lab.

** The Berklee College of Music Bob Marley Ensemble directed by Matt Jenson makes regular appearances at clubs and festivals regionally, nationally and internationally!
Please see the PERFORMANCES link for performance dates.
The group has performed at: The Montreal International Reggae Festival, The Vermont Reggae Festival, The Charlemont Reggae Festival, Bill's Bar, The Outerland Club (Martha's Vineyard), The Beachcomber (Cape Cod), The Stone Church (Newmarket, NH), The Berklee Performance Center, Roxbury Community College.

INFORMATIONAL VIDEO part 1 and 2

MARLEY CLASS MYSPACE PAGE!

** Check these two fantastic piece on the Marley class appearing on BOBMARLEY.COM! You must join Bobmarley.com to watch the video's (it's easy!).

Ther Berklee Bob Marley Ensemble performing at the 2009 Charlemont Reggae Festival, August 8:

**Information on Matt's talk in Ghana, Africa for the Rita Marley Foundation. AND information about the the Rita Marley Foundation joining with Berklee to provide scholarships to Ghanian musicians!

COURSE DESCRIPTION and OBJECTIVE
The class consists of 15-18 singers and instrumentalists. The instructor, in a lecture format, takes the students on a biographical tour of Marley's fascinating life, and then rigorously coaches the ensemble as they prepare for a final concert.

To many, the story of Bob Marley's life is one of a true modern day sage who remained committed to his vision of raising consciousness through music. His music is so powerful and expansive that it transcends the very idiom from which it came because it has the ability to communicate regardless of language, race, religion or nationalistic boundaries. In fact, Marley's album Exodus was selected by Time Magazine as being the best album of the twentieth century! The recordings and performances of Bob Marley and his band represent near perfection in terms of groove music and spirit-ful production. Rhythmic layering, one of the legacies of the African musical diaspora, is presented in such gritty precision that its study is imperative and a great joy to experience.

Aided by the viewing of rare video footage and audio examples, students learn about the evolution of Marley's career, and the socio-political circumstances from which his music and ideas arose. Students also learn the discipline of playing reggae music in a large ensemble where the emphasis is on working together as they layer specific rhythmic and melodic parts. The instructor has written meticulous arrangements taken directly from Marley recordings and include many additional horn parts, some subtle reharmonizations and some new introductions and endings.

Ultimately, students take from this class a deeper understanding of Marley's life, of how to play reggae music, a greater understanding of the inner workings of great pop song writing, and a notion to think seriously, through Marley's example, about what it is they are saying with their own musical talents.