http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/478480396

An analysis of the major aspects of Woody Shaw's improvisatory approach

"Woody Shaw is a major figure in the jazz trumpet lineage who is commonly referred to as the "last great innovator" on the instrument. From the 1960s to the late 1980s Shaw developed a unique style of trumpet playing crafted from trumpet influences as well as saxophonists and pianists, often utilizing musical lines and devices inherent to saxophone players to create a new virtuosic language for the trumpet. This work explores the origin of Shaw's innovative improvisatory style and defines the main components of this style. For this study, recordings were chosen and solos were transcribed that clearly represented Shaw's mature style at its peak. The objective of this work is to define the components of Shaw's approach to improvising and to reveal certain pedagogical aspects of his conception. The findings show that he focused specifically on seven technical and harmonic aspects in his approach: (1) repeated notes and alternate fingerings, (2) rhythmic phrasing atypical of conventional rhythmic patterns, (3) harmonic vocabulary, (4) a pentatonic approach to diatonic progressions, (5) temporary imposition of bimodality, (6) the use of chromatic cells, (7) long range voice leading."--Leaf iv.

Open All Close All