[Dixielandjazz] Classical Improvisation

[Steve barbone]

Great thoughts, Charlie & Ric.

I just want to add that extensive use of improv was not limited to European
Classical Music. It also existed and still exists today in Persian (Iranian)
music as well as Indian Music. John Coltrane and others were very interested
in studying with Ravi Shankar for both scale knowledge and the manner in
which Shankar improvised.

Jazz improv? Came on the scene quite late in the history of music.

Funny though, jazz seems to be progressing along the historical line of
Classical. First lots of improv, then less, and now on the cutting edge, at
those little nook and cranny jazz clubs in NYC, you find 100% reliance on
written jazz and no room to improvise at all.

One does need to be a MASTER of the axe and sight read like a demon to get
anywhere near it. 

Cheers,
Steve Barbone