WHAT MAKES JAZZ, JAZZ? Jazz Tactics #14

If you perform a transcribed solo so accurately that a listener could be convinced that you are actually improvising, what is the value of that? Can a reproduction be considered art, or merely forgery? Was Clark Terry correct when he said that innovation is rooted in imitation? While this video doesn’t seek to definitively answer the age-old question posed in the title, it does offer food for thought on the matter, amidst a sequence of videos on solo transcription. ABOUT THIS SERIES This is the 14th video in the Jazz Tactics series, exploring elements of playing jazz music, especially improvisation, based on my book of the same name and a university course that I’ve taught for over thirty years. The sequential videos in this series will provide a solid foundation of understanding of the principles and practices of jazz improvisation, on both and aural and intellectual levels. Below are some suggestions to get you started: Do You Speak Jazz? What Makes Jazz Jaz