[Dixielandjazz] IMPROVISATION

[Stephen G Barbone]

Worth noting that the two most influential improvisors in jazz, at its  
very beginning, were Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. At the time of  
their earliest improvisational genius, neither could read music very  
well, if at all. However, both were masters of their instruments.  
"Musicianeers" as Bechet often put it.

Perhaps there is no substitute for EARS? Bechet had that rare gift of  
being able to play anything he heard, from operatic arias to chants.I  
asked him about the chord changes to a tune in 1955 and instead of  
naming them, he blew the arpeggios on his horn, for me to follow.

Thelonious Monk was another muso, who though well trained, always  
rehearsed his bands without the music. He wanted the sidemen to learn  
the tunes by ear. He would only pass the music out if time was  
limited, or if after a day or two, the sidemen were still having  
trouble with it and they were rehearsing for an important concert.

Club dates were a different matter. You can hear, on some of his live  
recordings at the Five Spot in NYC, John Coltrane of Johnny Griffin,  
neither of whom played with him regularly, learning the tunes on the  
bandstand. Same for Steve Lacy at the Jazz Gallery who I heard live  
with Monk when he was first learning Monk's repertoire. It was OJT.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband