Ginger Commodore

Ginger Commodore is a singer, songwriter and actress who has enjoyed an illustrious career in the Twin Cities area. She is an original member of the Grammy Award-winning musical group the Sounds of Blackness, several Gospel groups including the JD Steele Singers and the Moore by Four vocal jazz ensemble. She has shared the stage with such notables as Doc Severenson, Patrice Rushen, Kenny Loggins and Rachelle Ferrell. Ginger’s theatrical credits include productions with the Minnesota Opera Company, the Mixed Blood Theatre, the Children’s Theatre Company, Hey City Theatre and the Penumbra Theatre Company. Her career has led her to travel the world performing in Italy, England, Finland, Portugal, and Japan.

Workshop Description

“All That’s Jazz” is a workshop that introduces students to the genre of jazz and will help them better understand the style of the music they will hear at the Ordway performance of In The Spirit of Being, scored for mixed chorus, children’s chorus, a jazz quintet and a female vocalist. The piece was written by Hannibal Lokumbe who is an esteemed jazz musician, composer and teacher.

Students will learn how jazz plays an important role in: the music of In The Spirit of Being by Hannibal Lokumbe; African American history; and African American musical traditions. Students will also gain a fundamental understanding of: jazz; musical terms; musical elements of jazz; how, where and from whom jazz originated; and why jazz is America’s music.

We will listen to examples of some of Mr. Lokumbe’s favorite jazz composers and musicians as well as discuss the elements of jazz (improvisation, rhythm and feel, sounds and instruments associated with jazz music, harmony, form). Activities will include creating and practicing melodies, creating a Jazz Talk Show, and creating moods with music that will leave the class with a live performance and/or a recorded product.

As part of the workshop, Ginger will perform a jazz standard with an accompanist so students can “hear” jazz and see it as a living, viable, contemporary art form.

To Prepare Students

  • Students should study the “Profile: Hannibal Lokumbe: Touching Lives Through Music and Education” on p. 66
  • Students should familiarize themselves with the musical terms found on pp. 44-45