Developing a Jazz Language

More Books By Jerry Bergonzi

Developing a Jazz Language, is the sixth volume of Jerry Bergonzi's series, Inside Improvisation.

Learning a language requires listening on many levels to the meanings, the sounds, the intentions, and the inflections or nuances of the language.

The first chapters of this volume on learning the language of jazz focus on the prerequisites of chord scales, approach notes to chord tones and target notes, scale motives and sequences, and lines.

Part two qualifies improvisational techniques into three areas; melodic, harmonic and sonic (rhythmic devices are the focus of Vol. IV, Melodic Rhythms) and it is designed as a menu of soloing devices from which you can select your personal course of study. Over 100 specific devices are discussed and conceptualized so as to give the improviser more depth of expression and a greater well from which to draw ideas.

Among the numerous topics presented are:

guide tones

voice leading

chord substitutions

three tonic system for composition

tritonics

hexatonics

tonal expansions

whole tone playing

augmented symmetric scales

double diminished scales

limited range and large range playing

shapes

blues melodies accents

comping as a soloing device

common tones

articulations

laying back

The CD contains twelve standard chord progressions, each played in two different tempos. Renato Chicco - piano Dave Santoro - bass Adam Nussbaum - drums