Module 2

Pinocchio

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Mitch Paone (Dia.tv) recommends Miles Davis
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Pinocchio (2023 Remaster)
Miles Davis Nefertiti ℗ Originally Released 1968 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Trumpet, Associated Performer: Miles Davis Drums: Tony Williams
Lyricist, Tenor Saxophone, Composer: Wayne Shorter
Piano: Herbie Hancock
Bass: Ronald Carter
Producer: Teo Macero

Reflections from Mitch:

To be able to play jazz well, you must master proper technique on your specific instrument, build an extremely deep understanding of music theory and keep up with the pulse of what is happening in the wide range of music genres. Jazz to me isn’t really a genre but more or less the ability to improvise and communicate tastefully through music. A great jazz group is essentially having a conversation with each other using their instruments with the goal of telling an emotional story to the listener. I think what Wayne Shorter has been doing with his current band is the ultimate example of this.

To me, graphic design is no different than jazz, but it’s visual rather than musical. A great graphic designer has to master their technique before they can begin to improvise. Just like a jazz composer, a designer thoughtfully blends typographic, photographic or illustration “genres” to communicate a conceptual message and hopefully have it resonate emotionally. In music performance, the ensemble takes a group of people using various instruments working together to create one beautiful piece. At our studio, we operate like a music ensemble does, creating the best work possible through an almost utopian democratic collaborative process. If we could reproduce what Wayne has achieved with his current band but through design, that would be pretty awesome!

Questions to the students: