Sean Peterson

Sean Peterson is a Lecturer in the University of Oregon’s School of Music and Dance, where he teaches Jazz Studies, Musicology, and directs the Hip Hop Ensemble. A double bassist, composer, and scholar, he blends performance and research across jazz, hip hop, and popular music.

Education:

• PhD in Musicology, University of Oregon (2018)
• MMus in Jazz Studies, University of Oregon

Research Interests:

Peterson’s scholarship interrogates the intersections of jazz and hip hop, focusing on how live instrumentation interacts with contemporary music technology. His dissertation analyzes the Soulquarians collective’s resistance to mainstream rap trends of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ongoing projects explore rhetorical analyses of jazz performance, hip hop in musical theatre, and the historical dialogue between jazz and hip hop.

Selected Article:

His 2018 dissertation, “Something Real,” serves as a foundational text in hip-hop musicology, situating the Soulquarians’ output as a counter-narrative to dominant commercial rap. The work draws on ethnographic methods, musical analysis, and cultural critique to trace themes of resistance and authenticity.

Performance & Creative Work:

Outside academia, Peterson is an active performer in the Pacific Northwest, leading his own ensemble (“Sean Peterson’s Ess-tet”) and collaborating with groups ranging from the Emerald City Jazz Kings to Oregon Bach Collegium. His 2015 album Let It Show showcases his skills as composer, arranger, and producer across jazz and popular idioms.

Teaching & Ensemble Leadership:

He currently offers courses on The Beatles, Jazz History, Blues History, Rock History, and Hip Hop History. In 2018 he founded and continues to coach the University of Oregon Hip Hop Ensemble, a for-credit band that composes, arranges, and performs original hip hop repertoire.