[Dixielandjazz] Identifying a "good" solo

[Rick Campbell]

To your question, Ken.

A jazz solo's value depends a deal great on the listener: his musical  
sophistication, his mood, his cultural musical expectations (a desire  
to hear some melody, a desire to have the solo follow the chord  
structure and resolve back to the tonic, for example). An untrained  
listener will hear a solo differently than an advanced musician.

I have found this to be true when discussing my favorite soloists even  
with other musicians. We respond differently to the same performance.  
We hear different things. We are excited by different things. We  
dislike certain mannerisms.

Some listeners might prefer solos by George Lewis, some might prefer  
Alan Vache. Both fine clarinet soloists, but completely different.  
Apples and oranges.

As to the "journeyman" soloist, there are many thousands of ways to  
create jazz solos, all of them acceptable to some degree. In this  
regard, there is no proficiency exam, no certification in the real  
world. We just play what is in our hearts at the time, and if we have  
some skill, if it is appropriate to the song and the audience, we get  
some applause-- and maybe get hired back.

Of course, the better jazz academies, such as Berklee and North Texas,  
do teach their students the "correct way" to solo, and they are very  
good at it.

In OKOM, Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet and Kid Ory just made it up  
as they went along. Their only degree was on-the-job training, but  
they were inventive and had great ears.

Degustibus non disputantum....

Rick Campbell
Leader, Milneburg Jazz Band
Portland, Oregon USA
(503) 234-9440
ricksax at comcast.net