Mechanisms as development devices in contemporary jazz piano: generating original improvised vocabulary through analysis of the music of Aaron Parks and Brad Mehldau

Abstract

‘Once you’ve created your own sound and you have a good sense of the history of the music then you think of where the music hasn’t gone and where it can go – and that’s innovation.’ With this quote, Walter Bishop Jr. sets out the path for the musician seeking to develop an original voice. But how should the artist-level improviser proceed to further their originality and enhance an already developed voice?

This practice-led research highlights development of my improvisational vocabulary within the context of contemporary jazz piano. A detailed review of recent practice in jazz piano improvisation focused on the music of Brad Mehldau and Aaron Parks led to the creation of a new workflow for artist-level jazz musicians to develop their own improvisational language. Based on the work of Martin Norgaard and Emile Jacques-Dalcroze, this workflow suggests an innovative method of breaking down a transcription into improvisatory mechanisms. This is combined with a new pedagogical approach, whose outcome can be development of jazz improvisational vocabulary that reflects a performer’s musical personality.

I firstly demonstrate the success of this workflow when applied to the music of Brad Mehldau and Aaron Parks. By abstracting and recompiling their improvisational methods and idiosyncrasies through the prism of my existing musical vocabulary, I then demonstrate how I enhanced and expanded my own voice as a creative musician, exhibiting clear engagement with the processes that guide their improvisations.

This written thesis supports the audio component of this research, which documents several years of analysis, practise and performance within contemporary jazz piano. Several hours of concerts and studio albums are included in this portfolio to demonstrate the development of my improvisational style, elucidated by annotated transcriptions and interviews.

Date of Award	Sept 2021
Original language	English
Supervisor	Linley Hamilton (Supervisor), Frank Lyons (Supervisor) & Adam Melvin (Supervisor)