An Alternative Temporal Approach to Jazz Improvisation in the Music of Andrew Hill
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An Alternative Temporal Approach to Jazz Improvisation in the Music of Andrew Hill
Tijdschrift voor Muziektheorie [Dutch Journal of Music Theory]
13
2008
eng
Many scholars have acknowledged that improvised jazz solos tend to grow in harmonic density and rhythmic complexity as they progress. Typically, improvisers reach a climax in which the
escalating tension of the solo finally reaches its apex then dissipates. While this narrative shape is certainly common practice among jazz musicians, I contend that it is not the only temporal model for how to present a solo through time. This article examines such alternative strategies
in modern jazz improvisation, focusing on the innovative pianist Andrew Hill. Through an analysis of his solo on the song ‘Refuge’ (from the 1964 album Point of Departure), I aver that Hill’s playing represents an organizational process much different from the standard temporal design characterized by linear progression. Hill’s improvisatory strategy is one of modular improvisation. This means that solos are not constructed linearly over their entirety, but instead use the individual chorus as the foundational unit for cyclical development.
escalating tension of the solo finally reaches its apex then dissipates. While this narrative shape is certainly common practice among jazz musicians, I contend that it is not the only temporal model for how to present a solo through time. This article examines such alternative strategies
in modern jazz improvisation, focusing on the innovative pianist Andrew Hill. Through an analysis of his solo on the song ‘Refuge’ (from the 1964 album Point of Departure), I aver that Hill’s playing represents an organizational process much different from the standard temporal design characterized by linear progression. Hill’s improvisatory strategy is one of modular improvisation. This means that solos are not constructed linearly over their entirety, but instead use the individual chorus as the foundational unit for cyclical development.
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