Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Reimagined for the Jazz Idiom

In the early history of jazz, many of the songs that were popularized by jazz musicians became known as jazz standards, and these songs remain a central component of the jazz repertoire today. Many of these jazz standards were adapted from early Broadway musicals and revues. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! is widely considered to be the most significant musical in the history of Broadway theater. Its innovative blending of song, dance, and a cohesive dramatic story has profoundly influenced the structure of Broadway musicals to this day. However, none of the songs from this show have risen to the status of a jazz standard, and many appear to have not been adapted to the jazz idiom at all. In my Barrett Honors creative project, I have reimagined and arranged nine songs from the original Rodgers and Hammerstein production. I then led a jazz quintet through two months of rehearsals, culminating in a performance of the work for my senior jazz performance recital. A link to the performance at the ASU School of Music Recital Hall is included here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeOs4muj12M