Jazz Improvisation

Overview

A description of the workshops you participated in and how you contributed.

I participated in the horn section as a Trombonist. I played solos or lower note in a chord to create harmony.

What did you learn?

How are the musical elements and features described or referred to in each of the jazz styles experienced?

12-Bar Blues are swung, with an additional 7th note on every chord in the chord progression. II-V-I has a satisfying perfect cadence, making every 4-bar phrase feel complete. Modal Jazz uses modes to accompany the chords and move through the chord progression horizontally instead of vertically.

What are the musical elements and features of each of the jazz styles experienced?

12-Bar Blues: swing, blues scale, [] ⁷ chords, focuses on mostly the Tonic (I), Subdominant (IV) and Dominant (V) chords.

II-V-I: Chord II to Chord V to Chord I establishes a strong sense of the tonal center. It is used very commonly in Jazz but also a variety of other genres.

Modal Jazz: no strict chord progression (chords last for very long durations e.g. 8 bars, as a response to the modulation-heavy Bebop), no functional harmony.

What role does improvisation play in the jazz styles experienced?

Modal Jazz was the most allowing for improvisation as it has few modulations. II-V-I and 12-Bar Blues also contains improvisation, although II-V-I improvisations have shorter duration.

What is an improvisation framework?

Head arrangement, choruses, even number bars (usually in 4, 8, 12, or 32 bars), AABA

How do jazz musicians use frameworks when improvising?

Call and response; Modal switches indicated with long loud note; Indicate when the change or introduce musical ideas.

What are the stylistic features and constraints of the improvisation frameworks experienced?

The notes used in improvisation are mostly within the chords used. The rhythm and swing (if any) is followed somewhat strictly.

How are approaches to improvisation similar or different across the jazz styles experienced?

The tempo and note duration can vary across different jazz styles, such as modal jazz having relatively long note durations compared to 12-bar blues.

In what ways do style, freedom, and constraint interact during jazz improvisation?

The soloist is free to use any notes as long as it fits the harmony, rythm and style of the piece.

What are the requirements for successful jazz improvisation?

Don't start or end phrase with 4th or 6th note of scale. Tell a story with an arc. Make sure to include pauses with appropriate phrasing. Purposefully create tension.