Composition/Recording Projects
Publication Date
Spring 4-25-2025
Abstract
Modern commercial songs have become increasingly difficult to categorize within a singular genre. This trend, as well as my own mixed musical background, inspired me to investigate the ways in which the seemingly disparate styles of pop and jazz can be synthesized. My research focuses primarily on how this synthesis is achieved in the musical works of Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum, two of the most successful crossover artists of the early 21st century. Drawing on musical elements from each of Jones's and Cullum's catalogs, I wrote and recorded five original songs. My analysis of these songs will help to demystify jazz-inspired compositional techniques for aspiring songwriters without a formal background in jazz.
Major Mentor
Dr. Tony Moreira, D.M.A.
Second Mentor
Dr. Virginia Lamothe, Ph.D.
Third Mentor
Dr. Jeremy Lane, Ph.D.
Department
Music, School of
College
Music and Performing Arts, College of
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Music (MM)
Degree Level
Master's
Degree Grantor
Belmont University
Lead Sheet for "Would It Kill You?"
2. Gray Saturday - FINAL CHART.pdf (57 kB)
Lead Sheet for "Gray Saturday"
3. You And I Alone FINAL CHART.pdf (53 kB)
Lead Sheet for "You and I Alone"
4. Wait For Us - FINAL CHART.pdf (61 kB)
Lead Sheet for "Wait For Us"
5. Front Door - FINAL CHART.pdf (99 kB)
Lead Sheet for "Front Door"
01 Would It Kill You.mp3 (7127 kB)
Recording of "Would It Kill You?"
02 Gray Saturday.mp3 (6452 kB)
Recording of "Gray Saturday"
03 You And I Alone.mp3 (4317 kB)
Recording of "You and I Alone"
04 Wait For Us.mp3 (4716 kB)
Recording of "Wait For Us"
05 Front Door.mp3 (8188 kB)
Recording of "Front Door"
06 Love Dance.mp3 (4250 kB)
Recording of "Love Dance" (Lins et al.)
Recommended Citation
Paciga, John, "Opposites Attract: The Melding of Jazz Harmony and Pop Songwriting Sensibilities in the Music of Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum" (2025). Composition/Recording Projects. 23.
https://repository.belmont.edu/music_comp/23
