linking improvisation to cultural context: bringing a jazz

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1 Linking Improvisation to Cultural Context: Bringing a Jazz Drumming Aesthetic to the Music of Diverse Cultures Frank Gibson University of Otago An exegesis, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts. This submission comprises a folio of creative work including three compact discs.

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LinkingImprovisationtoCulturalContext:BringingaJazzDrummingAesthetictotheMusicofDiverseCultures

FrankGibson

UniversityofOtago

Anexegesis,submittedinpartialfulfilmentoftherequirementsofthedegreeof

DoctorofMusicalArts.Thissubmissioncomprisesafolioofcreativeworkincluding

threecompactdiscs.

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Iherebydeclarethatthissubmissionismyownworkandhasnotbeensubmittedfora

degreeordiplomainanyuniversity.Tothebestofmyknowledgeandbelief,it

containsnomaterialpreviouslypublishedorwrittenbyanotherpersonexceptwhere

duereferencehasbeenmadeintheexegesisitself.

FrankGibson

June2019

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments...........................................................................................................5

Abstract...........................................................................................................................6

Prelude............................................................................................................................7

Chapter1:Introduction.................................................................................................111.1Introduction.....................................................................................................................111.2ResearchDesignandScope..............................................................................................12

1.2.1ConceptualFramework...................................................................................................141.3Methodology....................................................................................................................16

1.3.1PerformanceLedResearch..............................................................................................171.3.2DiscourseinMusic...........................................................................................................171.3.3ScopeandLimitations......................................................................................................191.3.4ElementsofPraxis............................................................................................................20

1.4StructureoftheExegesis..................................................................................................23

Chapter2:Foundations..................................................................................................252.1Introduction:WhyJazz?...................................................................................................252.2Jazz..................................................................................................................................262.3InterculturalCollaborationinJazz....................................................................................272.4JazzDrummingAesthetics................................................................................................282.5Improvisation...................................................................................................................30

2.5.1JazzImprovisation............................................................................................................312.6AestheticsandImprovisationintheCollaborativeMusicalCultures.................................32

2.6.1IndianClassicalMusic.......................................................................................................322.6.2ChineseClassicalMusic....................................................................................................332.6.3WesternClassicalMusic...................................................................................................34

2.7Conclusion........................................................................................................................35

Chapter3:FourinOne...................................................................................................363.1Introduction.....................................................................................................................363.2ExplorationoftheCreativeProcess..................................................................................383.3Conclusion........................................................................................................................41

Chapter4:FreedomThroughDiscipline.........................................................................434.1Introduction.....................................................................................................................434.2ExplorationoftheCreativeProcess..................................................................................45

4.2.1‘FourPartSuiteforTablaandDrumset’...........................................................................464.2.2‘FreedomthroughDiscipline’and‘ConversationswithChinmaya’.................................474.2.3‘FirstMeeting,FirstTake’.................................................................................................48

4.3Conclusion........................................................................................................................48

Chapter5:TheFiveElements.........................................................................................505.1Introduction.....................................................................................................................505.2ExplorationoftheCreativeProcess..................................................................................52

5.2.1‘SpringtimeonTianMountain’........................................................................................545.2.2‘ExitThrutheEntrance’....................................................................................................545.2.3‘Intensity/Fire’..................................................................................................................555.2.4‘MarcoPolo’sReturn’.......................................................................................................555.2.5‘Empathy/Compassion’....................................................................................................56

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5.2.6‘HappyHouse’..................................................................................................................565.3Conclusion........................................................................................................................57

Chapter6:Open-Ended..................................................................................................596.1Introduction.....................................................................................................................596.2ExplorationoftheCreativeProcess..................................................................................60

6.2.1‘StolenMoments’.............................................................................................................616.2.2‘SoWhat’..........................................................................................................................626.2.3‘InWalkedBud’................................................................................................................626.2.4‘Naima’.............................................................................................................................636.2.5‘ANightinTunisia’...........................................................................................................636.2.6‘Skylife’.............................................................................................................................646.2.7‘ATributetoMaxRoach’:MaramaHallImprovisation(FrankGibson)...........................646.2.8‘StraightNoChaser’.........................................................................................................65

6.3Conclusion........................................................................................................................66

Chapter7:Conclusion....................................................................................................67

Bibliography..................................................................................................................72

Discography...................................................................................................................78

APPENDIX1:MusicianBiographies................................................................................81FourInOneMusicians’Biographies..........................................................................................81TheFiveElementsMusicians’Biographies................................................................................83Open-EndedMusicians’Biographies.........................................................................................84

APPENDIX2:DiscographyofAlbumsConsultedasBackgroundResearch.......................86

APPENDIX3:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter3........................................................93SelectedstillsfromthevideoaccompanyingtheFourInOneRecordingSessions...................93SelectedleadsheetsandnotesfromFourInOne.....................................................................93

APPENDIX4:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter4........................................................95SelectedstillsfromthevideoaccompanyingtheFreedomThroughDisciplinerecordingsessions.....................................................................................................................................95SelectednotesandsketchesmadeforFourPartSuite.............................................................95

APPENDIX5:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter5........................................................98SelectedphotographsfromTheFiveElementsrecordingsessions..........................................98SelectedsketchesfromTheFiveElementsrecordingsessions.................................................99

APPENDIX6:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter6......................................................107SelectedphotosfromtheOpen-EndedConcertatMaramaHall............................................107‘StraightNoChaser’chartarrangedbyBruceLynch...............................................................108

RecordingsandPerformances......................................................................................117CD1:TheFrankGibsonQuartetPlaysMonk:FourinOne.......................................................117CD2:TheFrankGibsonIndianEnsemblePresents:Freedom..................................................118CD3:FrankGibson’sChineseEnsemblePresents:TheFiveElements.....................................118LivePerformance:FrankGibsonandCollaboratingArtists,TheBlackStringQuartetandBruceLynchPresent:Open-Ended..........................................................................................119

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Acknowledgments

Thankyoutomyexceedinglyskilledmusicalcollaborators.Whatajoyanda

privilegetoplaywiththosewhoarededicatedandexcelattheircraft.Their

musicianshipandimprovisationsprovideafirmfoundation,forgingaconnection

thatinspiresbeyondwords.

MyappreciationtoOtagoUniversity,especiallyRobBurnsandHenryJohnsonfor

theirsupportandencouragementtopushtheboundariesand‘gobeyond’.

Asalways,thankyoumydearRosieforyourlovingsupport.

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AbstractThisexegesisexploreshowdifferingmusicallanguagescanbeusedincollaboration

tocreatenewstylisticinterpretations,whilstretainingdistinctmusic-culturalvoices.

ThroughthisresearchIwilladvancethefieldofperformance-ledresearchwithan

originalcontributiontoknowledgeandperformance,anddemonstrate,throughthe

accompanyingrecordings,thejazzdrummingaestheticinrelationtothe

performance,improvisationandthemusicofthreeverydifferentmusicalcultures:

Indianclassical,Chineseclassical,andWesternartmusic(specificallychamber

music).Iexaminenotionsoftradition,authenticityandhybriditythrough

collaborationwithmusiciansfromtheabove-mentionedmusicalcultures.The

compositionsandperformancescontainedwithinthisresearchdelveinto

improvisationalapproacheswithinandbetweenmusicalcultures,andhowthey

relate/reacttothefocusonimprovisationandindividualisticcomposition

techniquesfoundinjazz.Mycollaboratorsretainedtraditionalinstrumentaltunings,

harmoniesandaestheticapproaches,whilecollaboratingwithjazzdrums(kit).This

ensuredthatthevoicesofthenon-jazzmusiciansweregivenequalimportanceas

thejazzvoices.Inparticular,thisresearchexploresopportunitiesofcross-cultural

andinterculturalmusicalexpression,andtheuniquemusicalstoriesthatmayarise

fromembracinganopenmusicaldiscourse.

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Prelude

SincemyfirstperformanceintheAucklandTownHallplayingadrumduetwithmy

father,andplayingwithmyteenageband,theJuvenoliansatage10(Bourke,2013;

Dix,2014),Ihavelivedandbreathedmusic.Ibeganplayingprofessionallyatthe

ageof18andhaveplayedprofessionallyeversince.Ihaveenjoyedavastcareer,

whichhastakenmearoundtheworld.AsadrummerIhaveanunparalleledlocal

andinternationalperformanceprofile,whichhasshownmyabilitytoplayarange

ofmusicalgenres.Icontinuetobesoughtafterbothhereandoverseas.Withover

60yearsofplayingmusicsinceIfirststeppedontothestageattheAucklandTown

Hallasan8-year-old,IhavemadeacontributiontoNewZealandmusic,for

exampleIformedthefirstNewZealandjazz-rockband(DrTree),thefirstNew

Zealandjazz-funkband(SpaceCase),andalsoinstigatingandplayingonmany

seminalNewZealandjazzrecordings.

Ihaveplayedatconcerts,clubs,andfestivalsinNewZealandandaroundtheworld,

playingpop,rock,country,R&B,jazzfunk,jazzrockandallstylesofjazzmusic:

early,swing,bebop,hardbop,modernandfree.Ihaveplayedacrossmusicalgenres

withawidevarietyofartistsincludingLeoSayer,DustySpringfield,DioneWarwick,

DianaKrall,RickWakeman,MiltJackson,RonnieScott,SonnyStitt,andCharlieByrd.

Ihaveplayedonover200albums,onover250radioprogrammes(BBC-UK,Europe,

USA,ABC-Australia,NewZealand),andIhaveenjoyedbeingthefirstcalldrummer

forsessionsinNZandintheUKwhenresidentthere,playingoncountlessTVshows

andspecials.InNZIhavewonRockRecordoftheYear,wonJazzRecordoftheYear

3times,playedon10otheraward-winningalbums,andin1983wasinductedinto

theAvedisZildjianHallofFame.IhavebecomepartofNewZealandmusichistory,

asdidmyfatherwhohadthefirstNewZealandrockband,FrankGibson’s‘Rock‘n’

Rollers’(Bourke,2013).Asummaryofafewhighlightsbelowgivesanideaofthe

breadthofmycontributiontomusic,butinacareerthatspansover60years,these

highlightsarejustadropintheocean:

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• IformedandledthefirstNewZealandJazzRockband,DrTree,withthe

debutalbumDrTree(1976)winningNewZealandMusicAwardsforBest

NewArtistoftheYearandRecordingArtist/GroupoftheYearin1976.

• IplayedpercussionanddrumsonthesoundtracktothefirstNewZealand

colourfeaturefilm,ToLoveaMaori,recordedintheloungeofpioneerNew

Zealandfilmmaker,RudallHayward(whilewatchingthefilm)(1972).

• In1980,IformedNewZealand’sfirstjazz-funkbandSpaceCase(3albums

recorded1981,1983,1985andre-releasedin2008).

• IplayedforaRoyalCommandVarietyperformanceandplayedtheOpening

oftheNewZealandCommonwealthGames(Auckland1990)alongwithChris

ThompsonandSirHowardMorrison.

• Someofmydrumtracks,especially‘DrTree’(NZ)and‘Paz’(recordedinthe

UK)tracksarereveredbymanyinternationalDJs,suchasDJShepandDJ

Vadim(seeDiscographyfordetails).

• Duringthe1980s,whenvisitingartistscametoNewZealand,Iwasfirstcall

NewZealanddrummerfortheirgroups.Icontinuedthisprestigiousbacking

positionwhenIwaslecturingfulltimeinAustraliaatEdithCowanUniversity

(Dix,2014).Ialsorecordedwithmanyoftheseartistsonmyaward-winning

(NZMusicAwardforJazzRecordoftheYear,1982)albumParallel37(1980-

81),rereleased(2008)withpreviouslyunreleasedtracks,includingthelast

recordedtracksofrenownedguitaristEmilyRemlerbeforeheruntimely

death.IalsoplayedonDonBurrow’salbumTheTasmanConnection(1976),

anAustralianandNewZealandmusicalcollaboration.

• RogerMarbeck(OdeRecords)hasbeenre-releasingaseriesofseminalNZ

jazzrecordings.TheonecommondenominatorisIplayonallofthem.

• IhaveplayedonfiveofAlanBroadbent’salbumsinLosAngelesandthreein

NewZealand.BroadbentisaNewZealandjazzpianist,arrangerand

composerbestknownforhisworkwithWoodyHerman,ChetBaker,Charlie

Hadenetal.HehaswontwoGrammysforarrangementshedidforNatalie

Cole(‘WhenIFallInLove’duetwithNat‘King’Cole’,1999)andShirleyHorn

(‘LonelyTown’withCharlieHadenQuartetWest,2000).

• IhavetaughtmanyofNewZealand’srenowneddrummersinmyprivate

teachingpracticeandatUniversitylevel,includingMichaelFranklinBrowne

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(Pluto),PaulRoper(TheMintChicks),PaulRussell(ofSupergroove,Bic

Runga,Eight,CheFuandcurrentlyStomp),AidanBartlett(MidnightYouth),

RickyBall(HelloSailor),LukeCasey(ofEyeTVandTheRelaxomaticProject),

andBenVanderWal(MadeleinePeyroux,RufusReidandErnieWatts),to

namejustafew.

• In1979,IplayedonBritain'sfirstdigitally-recorded,direct-to-discsingle

recordatAbbeyRoadStudioswiththeMorrissey-Mullenband

(commissionedbyEMI,seeDiscographyfordetails).Iplayedregularlyand

recordedwiththisbandwhowereoneofthefirstUKjazzfunkbands.

• IplayedonLonnieDonegan’s(1978)albumPuttinontheStyle,alongwith

EltonJohnandBrianMay.Lonniewasknownasthe“KingofSkiffle”.The

GuinnessBookofBritishHitSingles&Albums(Roberts,2006)statesthat

DoneganwasoneofBritain'smostsuccessfulandinfluentialrecording

artistsbeforeTheBeatles.

• IplayedonthreeofthefirstfourtracksoftheWalkerBrothers’(1978),

AlbumNiteFlightrecentlydiscussedinthedocumentaryScottWalker:30

CenturyMan(2006)byBrianEnoandDavidBowie,amongothers,asbeinga

seminalrecordinginfluenceofavantgarderock.Thisalbumhasacult

following.

• IrecordedandplayedconcertswithRickWakeman(fromYes)intheUKand

Europein1979.

• IcompletedBBCtelevisionshowsandworldtourswithLeoSayer,Dusty

Springfield,andDavidEssex,amongothers(1977-1980).

Beingimmersedinmusicandthemusicworldfromayoungage,hasledmeinmany

musicaldirections.AllthatIhavelearnedfrommusicandtheaccomplishmentsI

havemadeinmusichasledmetoundertakethismusical,improvisationaland

interculturalexploration.Myinterestinthecreativepossibilitiesofcross-cultural

collaborationandpursuingthisresearcharepartofanongoingcreativeand

collaborativeexplorationthatbeganintheearly1970swiththejazz-rockfusionof

DrTreeandthelaterjazz-funkfusionofSpaceCase.Theseexplorationshave

continuedtodevelopthroughthecourseofmycareerasIhavecomeintoclose

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musicalcontactwitharangeofdiverseindividualsandmusiciansinNewZealand

andacrosstheworld.

Mymusicaljourneyhasencompassedmusicalcollaborationsbasedonthediverse

musicalandculturalbackgroundsofmycollaborators.Coretothedevelopmentin

thesecollaborationsisanegotiatedsharedmusicallanguagethatnotonlyrespects

thatdiversity,butthatalsousesthatdiversitytobroadenandenrichthemusic,my

musicalunderstandings,performanceandperceptions.Thecreativepossibilitiesof

negotiatedcollaborationanddevelopingasharedlanguagewhilstretainingdistinct

anddiversevoicesinconjunctionwithindependenceandindividualityopensnew

musicalpossibilitiesandwaysofmakingmusictogether.Thesenewpossibilities

buildontheindividualandcollectivevoicescomingtogetherasanindividualised

unificationthatpromotesself-determinationandprovidesandunleashesacreative

challengeandprocess.

Musicispartofmybeingandmylifeblood,andasamusician,andinparticulara

jazzmusician,Ihavenewstoriestotell–togobeyondwhatweknow,toexceedmy

reachbyseeingthroughtheeyesofthosewhobringadifferentwayofseeingand

playing,andtocreatenewstories.

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Chapter1:Introduction

1.1 Introduction Thisexegesisinvestigateshowjazz-basedimprovisationmightenablenew

collaborationsbetweenartistsofculturallydiverseexamplesofmusic.These

collaborationswillbeexpressedbylinkingjazz-basedimprovisationtoeachcultural

contextinbothrecordingsandperformance.Thisperformance-basedresearch

exploresthepossibilityofabroader,freerapproachthatdoesnotusuallyoccur

withinthestricturesofjazz,Westernartmusic,orChineseorIndianclassicalmusic

traditions(themusicsexploredinthestudy).Thecentralthesisinthisresearch

seekstoexaminehowdifferingmusicallanguagescanbeusedincollaborationto

createnewstylisticinterpretations,whilstretainingdistinctmusic-culturalvoices.

Theconceptof‘discourseinmusic’(seeLeeuwen,2012,p.320)providesabasefor

thesecollaborationsandIelucidatethisconceptthroughtherecordingsand

performancepresentedinthisresearch.Acentralconsiderationforthese

collaborationsistheretentionofeachdistinctcultural(musical)voice,using(inthe

caseoftheChineseandIndiancollaborations)traditionaltuningsandinstruments

sothattheintegrityofthemusicalvoiceisheardwithinthediscourse,ratherthan

leadingtoafusionofstyles.ThroughthisresearchIwilladvancethefieldof

performance-ledresearchwithanoriginalcontributiontoknowledgeand

performance,anddemonstrate,throughtheaccompanyingrecordings,thejazz

drummingaestheticinrelationtotheperformance,improvisationandthemusicof

threeverydifferentmusicalcultures:Indianclassical,Chineseclassical,andWestern

artmusic(specificallychambermusic).FromtheintrinsicframeworkofAmerican

jazztothemusicoftheabovementionedcultures,thecompositionsand

performancesontheaccompanyingCDswill:

• Contrastanddemonstratetheinter-connectionsbetweenIndianclassical

music’scollective-ideacreationandjazzmusic’simprovisational

individualisticcomposition.

• ExploretheharmonicinterplayrelatedtotheChinesephilosophicalideaof

thefiveelements,whileretainingthetraditionaltuningsoftheChinese

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instrumentssothattheirtraditionalvoiceisheardwithintheimprovisational

dialogue.

• Exploretheimprovisationalelements,inter-connections,andintersections

ofjazzrootsandtraditionalEuropeanharmony.

Musiccontinuestoevolvedifferentlyindiversecultures,impactedbyawiderange

ofgeographicalandsocialaspects.Thus,asanever-evolvingartform,therewill

alwaysbeareasoffurtherexplorationpossible.InthisresearchIaimtoexplorehow

musicfromdifferentpartsoftheworldcanblendwiththerhythms,texturesand

melodiccontentofjazzdrumming.

Improvisationasatopicofresearchacrossmusicologyhasbeenexaminedprimarily

fromthepointofviewoftheoryandanalysis(seeforexample,Agawu2008;

Berliner,1994),orintermsofspecificperformancepractices(forexample,

Mehegan,1964;Monson,1996).Incomparisontotheseapproaches,therehasbeen

arelativescarcityofresearchonimprovisationinrelationtoitsculturalcontext

(Bailey,1992;Monson,1996;NettlandRussell,1998),despitetherelationshipand

positioningofimprovisationinrelationtothemusicalprocessesinherentin

differentcultures(Becker,2000).AswillbeexploredfurtherinChapter2,the

examinationofimprovisationpracticesbetweencultures,orusingtwodifferent

musicalgenres/improvisationalsystemsinstudiesofimprovisationisrare.Todate,

relativelylittleofdepthhasbeenstudiedandpublishedonimprovisationinan

interculturalcontext(FíschlínandHeble,2004,p.21).Myresearchhereundertakes

tofillsomeofthatgapbyinvestigatingtheinterplaypossiblewhenmusiciansof

differentmusicalculturescompose,improviseandcreatemusictogether.

1.2 Research Design and Scope Thisprojectaimstoexplorethepossiblediscoursebetweenjazzdrummingandthe

musicofotherculturesandgenresthroughtheconnectionsthatoccurinthecourse

ofimprovisation.Iproposeanamalgamationofimprovisationaljazzdrummingwith

themusicandtraditionalinstrumentationandtuningsfromdifferentmusical

culturesthatpreservesthedistinctvoicesbroughttoimprovisationand

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performance,butalsocreatesanewmusicalwholeandframeworkforthe

discourseinmusic.Thisprojectculminatesinapracticalandcreativeoutcomeof

thecomposition,andthreerecordingsandoneperformanceusingimprovisational

languagewith,ingeneralterms:

1. AmericanBebop-basedJazz

2. Indian(Hindustani)ClassicalMusic

3. ChineseClassicalMusic

4. StringQuartetandBassintheWesternArtMusictradition

(Adiscussionofthesegenresandwhytheywerechosencanbefoundinchapter2)

Thisprojectalsoexploresimprovisationallanguageandhowthiscanbeutilisedin

thedevelopmentofnewmusicalmaterial.Imaintainthatintheexperienceand

processofimprovisingnewmusicalrelationshipsandprocessesarecreatedthat

shapethemusic.Therefore,Ipositthatthisprojectisnotafusionofjazzandworld

musicbutanexplorationofimprovisationandthejoiningofdistinctaesthetic

genres.

Thisexegesisprovidesarecordandanalysisofthecreativeprocessprovidingan

explorationoftheideasandinfluences,whichinform,interactwith,andinspirethe

process,performanceandmusicalbackground.Itisacriticalandreflectivereviewof

theculturalandjazzimprovisationmatrixthatprovidesaframeworkforthemusical

workandattemptstoarticulatetheinter-connectionsandunderlyingtheoretical

andperformanceunderpinningsinjazzdrummingimprovisationandclassicalmusic

fromthreedisparatemusicalcultures.

Thediscussionsthatoccurredwiththeperformersduringthecourseofrehearsaland

recording,andthemusicalperformancesthemselvesarecentraltotheresearch

undertakenforthisexegesis.Theybringtotheforeanawarenessandelucidationofthe

historicalandcurrentculturalandpersonalbackgroundofeachoftheperformers.The

awarenessarisingfromthediscoursewasengenderedinthemusicalform,structureand

functionformingtheconceptualcontextofeachofthecompositionsandimprovisations.

Thus,arangeofmaterialandapproacheswereusedtocontributetoandinformthis

exegesis,including,audiorecordingsofdiscussions,audiodiary/journalrecordings,

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videorecordingsofthecreativeprocess,CDrecordingsinclusiveoflinernotes,

literatureandmusicdiscographyreview.

1.2.1ConceptualFramework

Theresearchdesignofthisprojectisbasedonfourdistinctideas:

1. NewZealandasamulticulturalsociety,whichisreflectedintheperformance

practicesundertakeninthisresearch.

2. Thenotionoftraditionasitrelatestothegenrescollaboratedoninthis

research.

3. Interculturalmusicalcollaborations.

4. Hybridityinmusicalperformance.

Eachofthesewillbediscussedinturnbelow.

Inourdynamicsociety,culturaldiversityisarealityandcanbeanenriching

experienceofferingexplorationopportunitiesbeyondtraditionalWesternmusical

practices.SociologistandphenomenologistAlfredSchutz(1977)recognisesthat

individualsarelimitedbytheculturalpastandbackgroundbothconsciouslyand

unconsciously;hetermsthisthecollectivememoryandthelimitofhistoricity.

Schutz(1977)explainsthatmusiciansarelimitedwhentheyapproachapiece,even

anunknownpiece,byusingahistoricallypredeterminedapproachbasedontheir

previousmusicalexperiences.However,ratherthanlimitingthemusicalexperience,

thisprojectviewsculturalbackgroundandcapitalascreatingamusicalrelationship

thatenrichesthepieceandtheprocess,openingupareaspreviouslyunexplored,

andcreatingsomethingnovelinthepresentoutofthepastexperiences.

ThroughoutNewZealand’shistorytherehavebeenawidevarietyofdifferent

culturesinfluencingaspectsofNewZealandsociety(seeforexample,Belich,2001;

King,2004;Sinclair,1991).Theincreasingglobalisationofsocietyduringthe

twentiethcentury,andthegrowthinimmigrantpopulationsinNewZealand,has

ledtosocietyentertainingtheconceptofNewZealandasamulti-culturalsociety

(Patman&Rudd,2005).Inthetwenty-firstcentury,thisburgeoningmulti-

culturalismofNewZealandsocietyhasopenedupnewavenuesforcollaborations

andconversationsamongartists.

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Thesemulti-culturalinfluenceshavenaturallyextendedtoNewZealandersmusic-

makingandperformance,ascanbeheard,forexample,onMurrayMcNabb’salbum

AstralSurfers(2009).JazzinNewZealandhaslonghadmultipleculturaland

aestheticinfluences(Bourke,2010;Ward,2010,2012;Meehan,2017),andNew

Zealandjazzmusicianshavebeenfascinatedwithhowothertheseotheraesthetic

influencescancombinewithjazz.InmyownworkIhavebeenintriguedbyawide

varietyofmusicalculturesandhowtheycancombinewithjazz.Thisresearchisa

furtherexplorationofthreeculturalandaestheticinfluences(IndianandChinese

classicaltraditionsandWesternartmusic)andhowtheycancombineandconverse

withjazzinthecourseofperformance.

Traditionsarecentraltothehumancondition,and,asHobsbawmandRangerhave

noted,humanscontinuallycreatetraditions(Hobsbawm&Ranger,1992).

Traditions,andthecreationoftraditions,arealsocentraltoallmusicalcultures,for

exampletheriseofthetraditionofthescoreasasetdocument,excluding

improvisationinWesternpianofantasias.Sometraditionsarecenturiesold,suchas

someofthoseintheChineseandIndianmusicsfeaturedinthisresearch,andsome

farmorerecent,suchasjazzimprovisation(Hobsbawm&Ranger,1992).Further,

somemusicaltraditions,suchasthoseinvolvedinwesternartmusic,have

reinventedtraditionsasfoundinthe‘historically-informedperformancepractices’

(orHIPP),byusinghistoricaldocumentsandinstrumentstorecreateparticular

stylesandperformancepractices(Butt,2002).Thenotionoftradition,andplaying

withmusicaltraditionsformsthesecondpointofmyconceptualframework.

Throughthelive-recordedperformances,mycollaboratorsandIconsiderideasof

tradition,andhowthosechangeorremainthesamethroughthemusicaldiscourse.

Bringingtogethertheideasofmulti-culturalismandtraditionistheconceptof

interculturalcollaboration.Interculturalcollaborativeresearchcanbedefinedas

bothcultureshavingequallyvalidinputonresearch,withanemphasisonrespecting

eachcultureandwhatitcanbringtothecollaboration(Black,2015;Burnard,

Mackinlay,&Powell,2016).Interculturalcollaborationcantakemanyforms.

Centringtheseideasonjazz,interculturalformscanrangefromjazzmusiciansfrom

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differentcultures(see,forexampleLomanno,2012;Wilson,2015),tojazzmusicians

collaboratingwithmusiciansfromdifferingculturesanddifferingmusicaltraditions,

suchasthoseseenintherecordingsoftheMahavishnuOrchestra,John

MayerandOregon,Hiroshima,theMaxRoachDoubleQuartet,andBillEvanswith

theSymphonyOrchestra(seeDiscographyfordetails).Withinthisresearch,

interculturalcollaborationstaketheformofajazzmusiciancollaboratingwith

musiciansfromdifferentmusicalculturesandaesthetics.Usingjazzasthebase

aestheticandform,Iexplorethepossibilitiesofdiscoursewithothermusical

aestheticsthatdoesnotprioritisethejazzaestheticovertheothermusical

aestheticsandrespectsthetraditionsofmycollaborators.Whilethereisthe

possibilitythatusingjazzastheprimacygivesitanunequalweightinthese

collaborationsthefactthatIamadrummermeansthatmyjazzaestheticisnot

imposingtonalharmonyormelodyonmycollaboratorswhoareplayingtonal

instrumentsfromothertraditions.BydoingthisIaimtocreateahybridmusicthat

isbothjazzandnotjazz.

Hybridityinmusicis,asGoldschmittsuggests,“aconceptfordescribingmusical

mixturesthatareexplicitlyenmeshedinidentitypolitics”(2014).Jazzis,ofcourse,a

well-knownexampleofsuchhybridisation(Porter,2004),andasnotedabovejazz

musiciansandcomposerscollaboratewithmanymusicalcultures,thusencouraging

furtherhybridisation.Despitethenegativeconnotationsmanyhybridityprojects

havehadregardingthenotionsofauthenticity,powerimbalances,andculturalself-

determination(BornandHesmondhalgh,2000;Frith,2000;Goldschmitt,2014),

morerecentlyithasbeenrealisedthattherearepotentialbenefitsofhybridisation

ifapproachedrespectfullybythepartiesinvolved(Goldschmitt,2014).Such

hybridisationisacentralproductofthisresearchandproducedthroughthe

respectfulinterculturalcollaborationsbetweenmusicians’traditionsinamulti-

culturalsociety.

1.3 Methodology Mymethodologicalapproachforthisexegesisiscentredonperformance-led(also

commonlyknownaspractice-based/led,creative,orartistic)research.Iusethe

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creativeprocessofrecordingsandperformancetoexplorethediscourseinmusic

betweenmyjazzdrummingandthecomposition,performanceandimprovisationof

musicalaestheticsderivedinothercultures.

Thecompositionsandperformancesinthisresearchprovideanexplorationofthe

improvisationalelements,inter-connections,andintersectionsofjazzroots.Jazz

itself,isamusicofintersectionsfromAfricaandEurope(Shipton,2001),andhereI

combinethoseintersectionswithelements(instrumentation,form,and

philosophies)fromtheIndian,ChineseandWesternartmusictraditions.Traditional

instrumentsandtunings(inparticularthoseofthecollaborationswithIndianand

Chinesemusicians)areusedtoensuretheintegrityoftheculturalvoice.

1.3.1PerformanceLedResearch

Performanceorpractice-ledresearcharisesfromqualitativemethodologies,andhas

manypossibleformsdependentontheartformsandtypesofresearchinvolved

(SmithandDean,2009).Practice-ledresearchcanbroadlybedefinedasresearch

where“themainfocusoftheresearchistoadvanceknowledgeaboutpractice,or

toadvanceknowledgewithinpractice”(Candy,2006,p.3).Thelatterpoint,

“advancingknowledgewithinpractice”,isthechiefconcernofmymethodological

approach.

Performance-ledresearchisthemostusefulmethodologicalapproachforthis

projectasitallowstheresearcherflexibilityintermsofworkingcollaborativelyto

createadiscoursebetweentheleadresearcherandotherparticipants(Smith&

Dean,2009;Kershaw,2009).Thiscollaborativepraxisisessentialtothejazz

aestheticthatIuseasthebaseofmyresearch,andtothemusiciansIcollaborate

withandtheirmusicalaestheticsandcultures.

1.3.2DiscourseinMusic

Theideaofdiscourseinmusicarisesfromthefieldofcriticaldiscourseanalysisand

semiotics(Leeuwen,2012).Ithasmanyiterationsandapplicationsrangingfrom

musiciantomusiciancommunication(onbothalinguisticandmusicallevel),to

audience-performerorartist-institutioninteractions,towaysofanalysing

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compositions(Agawu,2008;Aleshnskaya,2013).Theconceptofthediscoursein

musicisausefulmethodologicalapproachforthisprojectpreciselybecauseof

thesebroadapplications.Withinthisprojectdiscourseinmusicfocuseson

communications:bothlinguistic(throughinformaldiscussionsbetween

collaboratorsinthecourseofrehearsalandrecording),andmusical(through

improvisation).Equallyimportantarethetypesofcommunicationsand

technologicalinterfacesoccurringonthelinguisticandmusicallevels.Musical

discourseinparticularcanbefurtherdifferentiatedwithrespecttocommunication

technologiesintermsoftwo-way/one-waycommunication,andmediated/non-

mediatedcommunication.Thisgivesusfourpossibilities:two-waynon-mediated

(face-to-facecommunication),two-waymediated(telephone,email,video

conferencing),one-waynon-mediated(lecture),andone-waymediated(print,

radio,television,Internet,film).Ifastudiosessionischaracterizedbytwo-waynon-

mediatedcommunication,thentheresultofstudiorecording(acompletedmusical

product,forinstance,atrackonaCD)isusuallyone-waymediated(Aleshnskaya,

2013,p.429).

Themeaningsofthecommunication-ofthediscourse-are,asAgawuposits,

contingentas“theyemergeatthesiteofperformance”(2008,p.4)andare

dependentonthewaysthatwe(asmusicians,composers,audience,critics,et

cetera),engagewiththem.Furthertheyarefrequentlyboundtogetherasaseriesof

eventsthatresultinafinalproduct(bethatacomposition,performance,or

recording)(Agawu2008).

Buildingontheaforementionedanalogyoftheexegesisasanarrativeunfolding,I

applieddiscourseinmusicwithmymusicalcollaboratorsinthefollowingways

duringtheproject:

• Themusicalperformancesasastand-alonerepresentationofthediscourse,

asthecompletestory;

• Settingthescene,preparation,thechoiceofthemusiciansandsequenceof

themusicalprocessaspartofthestory;

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• Thenarrativeofthemusicperformanceanddiscourseexplored:musician-

to-musician,genre-to-genre,socio-culturaltradition-to-socio-cultural

tradition.

• Musicalconversationsanddialogueinthemomentofimprovisationand

performance:playertoplayer;and

• Shiftingtoahigherlevelofcriticaldiscourseinordertocommentonthe

performanceandrespondingtotheimplicationsofthisresearchproject.

1.3.3ScopeandLimitations

Thisprojectcentresonthemusicalconversationsinthemomentofimprovisation

andperformance:playertoplayer,andplayertoaudience.Henceinthisproject,

makingmusictogetheropensuppossibilitiesintrinsictothemusicalconversation

byprovidingtheopportunityforfurtherexplorationinthemoment.Itisaboutthe

interactioninthecourseofmakingmusicencapsulatingthefeeling:thediscoursein

musicratherthanthediscourseonmusic(Leeuwen,2012).Withinthisdiscourse,

theanswerstothefollowingexplorativequestionsaresought:

• Whatpersonalandcollectivevoices,storiesandbackgroundsarebeing

broughttothediscourse?

• Whataretherelationshipsandconnectionsapparentinimprovisation?

• Isthisamusicalconversationwherenoonevoicedominatesbutthe

distinctiveculturalandmusicalvoicesareheard(notfusionorworld

music)?

Anumberofjazzmusicians,forexampleTheloniusMonk(Kelley,2009,)have

highlightedthedifficultiesininterviewing,analysingandwritingaboutjazz.Ithas

beensuggestedthatjazzcanbeseenasstorytelling(narrative)andaconversation

encapsulatingafeeling.Itisapttherefore,thattheframeworkandfurther

explorationofpotentialconnectionsbetweenimprovisationandculturalcontext

withthemusicianstaketheformatofamusicalconversation.Thefocusonnarrative

andconversationalsogivesthemusicianstheopportunitytotelltheirstoryand

detailtheirrelationshipwiththerootsofthemusicwithintheirpersonalcultural

contextthroughmakingmusictogether.

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Itisalsoimportanttoacknowledgetheconundrumoftheperformerbeingplacedin

theroleofthelistenerandoftheresearcher,inordertocriticallycommentonthe

performances,discourseandresearch.Thispositioningbyitsverynature

compromisesandchangesthemusicaldiscourseandthe‘discourseinmusic’that

thisprojectseekstoexplore.

Thisresearchexplorestheactofimprovisationasakeycomponentinthediscourse

inmusic,however,itdoesnotseektofocusoncompositionalissuesorexaminethe

performancepracticeofjazz.Ratherthisexegesisfocusesonthediscourseand

communicationthatoccursinthemusic-makingprocess.Becauseofthescopeof

thisresearchanditsfocusondiscourseIhavealsoexcludedanin-depththeoretical

analysisofthedefinitionandevolutionofjazz,improvisationandjazz-fusionfrom

theresearch.

1.3.4ElementsofPraxis

Intheperformancesandproductionoftherecordings,arangeofapproacheswere

used,whicharediscussedbelow:

• Rhythmicandharmonicapproaches

• Useoftechnology

• Improvisationalapproaches

Rhythmicapproaches

Thedrumsetastheaccompanist,thesoloistandtheequalvoiceinsimultaneous

groupimprovisation,willincludethefollowingrhythmicapproaches:standardtime,

rubatotime,impliedtime,polymetrictime,doubletimeandstoptime.Subdividing

intohighermultiplesfacilitatessuperimposingadifferenttempoand/ortime

signaturewithoutdisturbingtheoriginalpulse,forexample,quarternotetriplets.

Thismethodpresentsahorizontalapproachtophrasingwhichenablesafreerand

lesspredictableapproach.Thisistheabilitytoplaythroughthebarlinesand

sectionsofacomposition,whereasaverticalapproachprecipitatesanonthebeat

methodofphrasingandthedelineationofsectionsofacomposition.Thisapproach

isusefulforthisresearchasitpresentsmoreopportunitiesformycollaboratorsto

expressdifferentideasfromtheirmusicalculturesthatwouldnotworkwith

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traditionaljazzforms.Accelerandoandrallentandowereparticularlyusefuldevices

toaidthisprocess.Unusualnotegroupingsandtheuseof,forexample,fivequarter

notesinabarof4/4,orfourquarternotesinabarof3/4cancreatetheillusionof

‘stretching’thebars.

Useoftechnology

Recordingtechnologyisusedbothtorecordthelivemusic,butalsotoincludepre-

recordedrhythmicpatterns(ostinato)toproduceloopsforimprovisation,andto

insert/create,forexample,polyrhythms.OverdubbingwithProTools(digitalaudio

workstation)providestheopportunitytoalterthetempowithoutchangingthekey

andtuninginstrumentsasrequired.ThroughtheuseofProToolsandpre-recorded

randomdrum,cymbalandvariouspercussioninstruments,arhythmic/tonal

compositioncanbecreatedforimprovisation.Theseapproacheswillalsobeutilised

withthewindinstruments,stringedinstruments,keyboards,voice,andpercussion

instrumentsofthevariousethnicities.Nosamplingofsoundsordrummachines

wereusedasthiswouldbeinconsistentwiththeapproachandaimsinherentinthis

research.

ImprovisationalApproaches

1. StandardformswillbeusedfortheTheloniusMonkcompositionsdiscussed

inChapter3,forexample,‘Rhythm-a-ning’isthestandard32barAABAform

(AABAreferstothemelodyandharmonicprogression,usuallydividedinto8

barsubsections).Monkwroteanoriginalmelodyline,buttheharmonyis

basedonGeorgeGershwin’s“IGotRhythm”chordchanges.

2. Modalforms,forexample,‘SoWhat’composedbyMilesDaviswillbeused

(Chapter7).ThisisanAABA32-barform,butusingonemodepersectionas

theharmony:

A.D.Dorian

A.D.Dorian

B.Eb.Dorian

A.D.Dorian

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3. OneChordApproach:Soloingononechordismonochordal,whichsuggests

modalism,notexceptingtheLatin‘Montuna/o’,ortheAsectionofDave

Brubeck’s‘TakeFive’(amongothers).

4. Non-HarmonicBasedImprovisationalApproaches:Freeimprovisationorthe

useoftone-rows,forexample,OrnetteColeman’sHarmolodics,orArnold

Schoenberg'stwelve-tonesystem.

5. ScalarApproaches:Therearemanyscalarbasedapproachesto

improvisationinmanyculturesincludingthosearisingfromMiddleEastern

musicalpracticessuchastheso-calledPersian(gamordastgāh)andJewish

(ahavarabbah,freygish,orinArabicdastgāh-ehomāyoun)scales.So-called

SpanishscalesfoundinflamencoandotherSpanishbasedgenresalsoevolve

fromtheseandotherMiddleEasternscales(duetotheNorthAfricanand

MiddleEasterninfluencesonSpanishculture).Theso-calledHungarian

minororHungariangypsyscalealsofoundinflamencoandEastern

Europeangenres,incontrastsoundsFarEastern(Asian)incharacterandis

identicaltotheCarnatic(Indian)ragamSimhendramadhyamam.

6. Non-IdiomaticApproaches:Bailey(1992)assertsidiomaticapproaches

expressanidiom,suchasFlamencoorbaroque,withtheidentityand

motivationderivedfromthatidiom.Thenon-idiomaticapproachesinthis

projectwillfocusontheideaofdiscourse,theconversationbetweenthe

musicians,andwillbefoundinfreeimprovisation.Whilethiscanbehighly

stylised,itwillnotusuallybetiedtorepresentinganidiomaticidentitysuch

asjazzorclassicalmusic(Bullock,2010,pp.141-144).

7. Meta-MusicalApproach:Prevost(1995)suggeststhatthemusicianmustbe

changedbytheimprovisation.Noidiomissecureinthespaceofsuch

engagementbecauseanidiomisasetofpre-recordedresponses.Each

meta-musicianstrivestocreatetheirownevolvingidiom,whichhasaninner

capacitytotransformitself.Tothisendthepreparationoftheserecordings

willrequirethatthemusiciansfromdiverseculturesareassembledto

improvisewiththeirmusicalindividualityvaluedandbroughttobear.

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1.4 Structure of the Exegesis Thisresearchdoesnotseektopresentathesistoaccompanytheperformances,but

ratheranexegesisthatleadstheaudiencetounderstandingtheperformances.Kroll

(2004)explainsanexegesisasareflectivejournalmakingexplicityourinner

dialoguelikewritingadiaryand‘talkingtoyourself’.Thus,itisimportantthatmy

authenticvoiceisheardinboththeperformancesandthewrittenexegesis,ifthe

exegesisistobeatruereflectionofmyinnerdialogue.Subsequently,thiswill

requireareflexiveandconversationalprose,someinformalityoflanguage,

colloquialismsandadeparturefromacademiclanguageandconventionsinorderto

capturemyinnerdialoguesothattheaudiencetotheseperformancesandexegesis

istrulyabletohearmyvoice.Kroll(2004)highlightsthedistinctionbetweenthe

approachtowritingathesisandtheprocessinvolvedinwritinganexegesis.Kroll

suggestsanexegesisapproachbearsasimilaritytotheforewordofabookthat

explainsandputsintocontextthebackgroundtothebook,andfactorsthat

subsequentlyshapetheplotofthebook.Thisemphasisesthataperformance-based

exegesisrequiresadifferentstructureandprocesstoathesis.Hence,inthis

exegesisthefocusisonthereaderasanaudienceto(before,duringandafter)the

creativeactofperforming(Kroll,2004).Therefore,inthisexegesisKroll’sbook

analogyprovidesausefulstartingpointwiththeoverallchaptersstructuredto

providetheforeword,introduction,performance-basedresearch(plot)and

conclusion.

Chapter1discussedtheresearchdesign,conceptualframework,andmethodology

(includingperformance-basedresearch,discourseinmusic,scopeandlimitations,

andelementsofpraxis).Chapter2introducesanddiscussesthetheoreticaland

culturalfoundationsofjazzandimprovisation,andtheimpactofcultural

background(andthetensionsbetweenjazzandcollaboratingwithothermusical

aesthetics)asastartingpointforthisproject.Chapter3discussestheperformance-

basedresearchforegroundingAmericanJazzastheoriginatorandthejazzrootsof

theresearch.Chapter4discussesandexploresIndianclassicalmusicandjazz

throughtheperformancesontheCD‘FreedomThroughDiscipline’.Chapter5

continuestheinterculturalcollaborativeperformanceswithChineseclassicalmusic

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andjazzontheCD‘TheFiveElements’.Chapter6discussesthefinalcollaboration,a

recitalwithastringquartettitled‘Open-Ended’.Chapter7providestheconclusion

tothisexegesis.

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Chapter2:Foundations

2.1 Introduction: Why Jazz? Havingafatherwhowasajazzdrummer,Ihavebeensteepedandimmersedinjazz

musicandtraditionsfrombirth.Jazzmusicanddrummingispartofmyverybeing,

ofwhoIam.MybackgroundasajazzmusicianfromNewZealand,andallthat

impliesprovidestheculturalstartingpointforthisproject.

InNewZealand,therehasbeenanevolutionofjazzmusicinachangingsocietaland

culturalplatform(Bourke,2010;Ward,2012;Meehan,2017).Ihavebeenplaying

jazzinNewZealandforover60yearsandIhavewitnessed,andbeenanactive

participant,ofNewZealand’sjazzevolution;asjazzevolvedtoreflectchanging

societalandculturaldemands,andpushedtheboundsofcreativityand

improvisation.AsIgrewupIsawhowjazzreflectedsociety,andhowsocietyis

reflectedinjazz.Fromthewar-timebigbands,tobe-bop,tojazzrockIhavebeen

partofthisevolution,andinsomeinstancesbeenattheforefrontofthischange

withmybandssuchasDrTreeandSpaceCase.InNewZealandthecultural

landscapecontinuestoshiftandchangebringingnewforcestobearonthejazz

formandprovidingtheopportunitytocontinuetoreflectonandengagethose

forcesinanever-evolvingjazzform.

Inthischapter,Iexplorethemusicalfoundationsofthisprojectandthebackground

ofcollaborationsbetweenjazzmusiciansandmusiciansindifferentmusical

cultures.Insections2.2and2.3Idiscusstheinherentmulti-culturaloriginsand

natureofjazz.Insection2.4Ispecificallyexaminejazzdrummingaesthetics,asthey

arecentraltomypraxis.In2.5Ilookatimprovisationmorebroadly,andhow

differentapproachestoimprovisationmayhelporhinderdiscourseinmusic.Finally,

insection2.6,Iexaminethemusicalaestheticsandimprovisationalapproaches

inherentinmymusicalcollaborators’backgrounds.

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2.2 Jazz Insomewaysjazzhasalwaysbeenaglobalmusicratherthanastrictly‘American’

one(Shipton,2001).Themusical-culturalinfluencessurroundingNewOrleansatthe

dawnofthetwentiethcenturymeantthattheinfluencesonincipientjazzinthe

1910sweremanyandvaried.CatholicandProtestant,variousAfricanmusical

cultures,Spanish,French,German,Italian(directlyfromEurope,viagenerational

immigration,andthroughtheCreolisedculturesofcolouraswellasintegrationinto

slavecultures),andSpanishandFrenchcolonialculturesintheregion.Allthese

cultures,andtheirmusic,cametogetherinNewOrleansandcombinedtocreate

themusicwenowcalljazz(Ake,2002;Taylor,2000).

Jazzquicklyspreadaroundtheglobethroughthemediaofrecordsandradio

broadcasts,andthroughthevaudevillecircuits.Bythemid-1920s,jazzwasaglobal

musicwithlocalisediterationsandinfluences,andeverevolvingstyles(seefor

example,Bisset,1987;Jones,2001;Jordan,2010;Ward,2012).Theseearly

amalgamsofotherculturalinfluencesonjazzcametofruitionlongbeforethe

marketedfusionsofLatin-jazz(bossanova),forexample,StanGetz,CharlieByrd

andAstrudGilbertoDestfinado(1962);andjazz-rock,forexample,MilesDavis’Ina

SilentWay(1969),TonyWilliamsLifetimeEmergency(1969),andJohnMcLaughlin’s

MahavishnuOrchestraInnerMountingFlame(1971).ThirdStreammusicwasa

phrasecoinedbyAmericancomposerGuntherSchuller(1991)todescribeamixof

jazzandclassicalmusic.Theglobalimpactofjazzmeansthatjazzandjazz

improvisationhasbecomefamiliartomusiciansfromwildlydifferingcultures,and

theconceptofjazz-basedimprovisationisonethatcancrossmanybarriers(Bailey,

1992;Berliner,1994;NettlandRussel,1998).

Thehistoryofjazzhasbeenwellexploredbymanyscholarsacrossthetwentieth

andtwenty-firstcenturies.Itisnotthepurposeofthischaptertorehashwhathas

beenwrittenaboutinnumeroustext-booksandhistories,essays,andarticles,but

rathertoexplorethoseaspectsofjazzthatarecentraltothisresearch:intercultural

collaborations,jazzdrumming,improvisation(particularlyrelatingjazzimprovisation

toimprovisationalpracticesinothermusicalcultures),andtheimpactofdiffering

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musicalculturesandaestheticsonthisproject.Thisprojectaimsatabroad,free

approach,notafusionofculturesandgenres,butratheraimedatretainingthe

distinctivemusico-culturalvoices.Italsoaimstodevelopanewmulticultural

musicalconversation‘inthemoment’anddevelopingaspectsthathavenot

formerlyexistedinworldmusicandculture.

2.3 Intercultural Collaboration in Jazz Collaborationsacrossmusicalcultureshavebeenafeatureofjazzsincethe1920s

(Shipton,2001).Theso-called‘SpanishTinge’,thatFerdinand‘JellyRoll’Morton

describedasbeingvitaltojazz(Lomax,1973),wasthebasisofmanyoftheearly

interculturalcollaborationsinjazz.JazzmusicianshaveusedHispanicinfluencesin

manyways:fromcreatingjazzversionsofpopularLatinosongs(suchasLouis

Armstrongwith‘PeanutVendor’1931),tousingLatindanceformsasthebasisof

compositions(forexampleDukeEllingtonandthejazz-rhumba‘Maori’,also1931).

Duringthe1940s,therewasaninfluxofPuertoRicansandCubans(andother

Hispaniccultures)toNewYorkCityandthejazzscenethere,withbandsledby

Machito,PerezPrado,EddiePalmieri,andmanyothers.TheseCuban,Mexican,and

PuertoRicanmusiciansmergedswingandincipientbebopstylesintotheirbig

bands,andlocaljazzmusicians,suchasJohnBirks‘Dizzy’Gillespiebeganworking

withLatinomusicians(suchaspercussionistsChanoPozoandSabuMartinez)to

createthesub-genreofbebopknownasCubop(CubanbebopaftertheGillespie

composition‘Cubano-Be,Cubano-Bop’,1949)(Shipton,2001;Giddens&Deveaux,

2009).

Theabovenotedinterculturalinfluencesbeganatraditionofcombiningjazzwith

musicalaestheticsfromothercultures.Throughoutthetwentiethcenturyjazz

musicianshaveinteracteddirectlyandindirectlywithmusicalaestheticsofother

cultures.BestknownoftheseinterculturalcollaborationsaremusicianssuchasStan

GetzcollaboratingwithBrazilianmusicianswithbossanovaandLatin-jazzfusions,

andJohnMcLaughlin’sgroupsMahavishnuOrchestraandShakticollaboratingwith

Indianmusicians(Shipton,2001).

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Norisitonlywithmusicalaestheticsfromothercultureswithwhichjazz

collaborates.JazzhasalsobeencombinedwithmanyotherAmericanandEuropean

musicalaestheticsandgenres.Examplesofsuchcollaborationsarejazzrockinthe

1960sand1970s,forexampleMilesDavis’albums,InaSilentWay(1969)and

BitchesBrew(1970)ChickCorea’sgroupReturntoForever,LarryCoryell’sEleventh

House,andmorerecentlyjazzandhip-hopcollaborations.Thecollaborations

betweenjazzandhiphophavebeenoneofthelongeronesbeginninginthe1980s

withDJssamplingjazzrecordsandMilesDaviscollaboratingwithhiphopproducer

EasyMoBeeforhisfinal(andposthumousalbum)Doo-Bop(1992).Inthetwenty

firstcenturythejazzhip-hopcollaborationhasbeenrevived,withhiphopartists

suchasKendrickLamarcollaboratingwithjazzsaxophonistKamasiWashington

(Giddens&Deveaux,2009).

Westernclassical(art)musicwasonethefirstothermusicalaestheticsthatjazz

musicians(andclassicalcomposers)begantocollaboratewith.Fromasearlyasthe

1920s,withtheideaof‘jazzing’theclassicsthroughtocollaborationsbetweenjazz

andclassicalcomposers(suchasStravinskywithArtieShaw),therehasbeenawide

varietyofappropriationbetweenthetwogenres(Shipton,2001).These

collaborationseventuallyresultedinwhatGuntherSchullercalledthe‘ThirdStream’

movement,whichfusedclassicalformswithjazzimprovisationandrhythm(Schuller

1991).

2.4 Jazz Drumming Aesthetics Aestheticvalueistransactionalandunderpinnedbywhattheexpressivecontent

meanstotheaudience.Itissubjectiveintermsofanindividual’sexperienceofthe

emotionandperceivedbeautyofthemusicalpiece.Justasaworkofartmaybe

deemedtohaveaestheticbeautyandconveyemotion,sotoodoesamusical

performancewhichisinfluencedbytheabilityofthemusiciantobringthose

aestheticstobearonthepieceandaudience’sappreciationofthatpiece.

Scruton(1999)suggeststhatmusicalaestheticscanbedefinedasencapsulationof

thefeelingsandexpressionbroughttobearinaperformance.Scrutonhighlights

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thatthisexpressionmusthaveafoundationofmusicalunderstanding,anditis

contextualandinfluencedbytheself-identityofthemusicianinrelationtothe

content.Smith(2013)inIDrum,ThereforeIAmhighlightsthatdrummersshould

notbeconsideredasaparticulargrouporcommunityofpractice,butasindividuals

whoarevariedandviewtheirdrummingaspartoftheirself-identity.Thissuggests

thatdrummingisnotjustsomethingthatanindividualdoes,butpartofwhothey

areasanindividual;apartoftheiridentityandinfluencedbythecontextinwhich

theyfindthemselves.

Jazzaestheticsisconcernedwiththeinterrelatednessandinterplayofrhythm,

harmonyandmelody.Composers,musiciansandimprovisershavedevelopeda

multitudeofharmonic,melodicandrhythmiccombinationstocomprisejazz

aesthetics.Thisisfurtherdelineatedwhenconsideringjazzdrummingaesthetics.

The‘swing’ofmelodies,thebackbeat,syncopatedrhythmsandphrasing,pulse

emphasison2and4andtheresultingswingandgroovearetheelementsthatmake

upjazzdrummingaesthetics.Likeotheraspectsofmusic,jazzdrummingaesthetics

areinfluencedbysocietal,culturalandmusicalcontext,andevolution(Smith,2013).

Theswingandgrooveofjazzdrummingaestheticsarethefoundationofthejazz

band,andhavebeenbuiltonbyjazzgreatssuchasCharlieParkerandDizzy

Gillespie.Inthe1940’sbeingabletoswingwasnolongerjustthedomainofthe

drummer,allmusicianswereexpectedtobeabletoswinginordertobepartofthe

musicalconversation,andthus,theconversationchanged.

Smith(2013)suggeststhatdrummersbringtheirwholeself-identitytobearontheir

music,infusingtheirwholeintermsoffeelingbroughttothemusic,hencetheyare

influencedbythebeautyofamusicalpiece,butalsoimpactonthepiecewiththe

groove,swing,beautyandexpressiontheybringtoit.Forexample,Smithsuggests

thatthedrummer’sgrooveisanintangiblecharacteristicthatinfluencesthe

drummer’sexpression,executionandimprovisation,andisindirectresponseto

theirself-identityasadrummer.Thiscontextualidentitywithinthedrummer’s

identityisresponsiblefortheaestheticsthatarebroughttobearonthe

performance.Inthisresearch,myself-identityasajazzdrummerhasafirm

foundationofjazzandjazzdrummingunderstandingsthatmakesitpossibletobring

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tobearajazzdrummingaesthetic,‘theswingandgroove’todiversecontexts,the

pieceandaudience.

2.5 Improvisation Asnotedinsection1.3insubsection1.3.4ElementsofPraxis,improvisationisakey

componentinthisresearch,asitisthevehiclethroughwhichthemusiciansspeakto

eachother.Theartofimprovisationisfrequentlydescribedinmusicdictionariesas

beingextemporaneouscompositionorthecreationofmusicinthecourseof

performance(Berliner,1994),butasBailey(1992),Monson(1996),NettlandRussell

(1998),Hodson(2007)andmanyotherscholarspointout,improvisationinall

musicalgenresisconsiderablymorecomplicatedthanthesedefinitionsarticulate.

Althoughimprovisationhasbecomeprimarilylinkedtojazzinthetwentiethand

twenty-firstcenturies,Horsley(2001)arguesthatallmusicwasatonetime

improvised.TracingtheoriginandhistoryofimprovisationfromtheMiddleAges

throughtothemodernera,HorsleyhighlightsexamplesfrombothWesternand

Asianmusicalhistories.However,wheretheidealinWesternartmusichasbecome

oneofperfectlyreplicatedperformance,inmanyAsianmusicalculturesNettl(2001)

statesthattheidealistoatleastsoundimprovisedifnottobeimprovised.

InNettlandRussell’sIntheCourseofPerformance:StudiesintheWorldofMusical

Improvisation(1998),theauthorsprovideahistoryofimprovisationresearchthat

summarisesmethodologicalandmusicologicalimprovisatoryapproaches.It

highlightsthelackofconsensusandthemultitudeofcontradictorydefinitionsin

relationtoimprovisation.NettlandRussell’sviewofimprovisationconceptualises

compositionandimprovisationasendpointsonacontinuum,butnotesthatthey

arenolongerantagonistictoeachother.

Whiletheissueofimprovisationascompositioninjazziscontentious(see,Berliner,

1994),thisdoctoralprojectalignswithBensen’sview:“Thattheprocessbywhich

workcomesintoexistenceisbestdescribedasimprovisatoryatitsverycore,not

merelytheactofcomposingbutalsotheactsofperformingandlistening”(Bensen,

2009,p.2).However,compositionandimprovisationaredistinguishableusing

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Nettl’scontinuuminrelationtotime,withcompositionbeingabstractedintime,

andimprovisationbeinginthepresenttime.ThissupportsGorow’ssuggestionthat

musicalimprovisationisthecreativeactivityof“inthemoment”immediatemusical

compositioncombiningperformance,communication,instrumentaltechniqueand

spontaneousresponsetotheothermusicians(Lothwesen,2009,pp.32-35).

Giventhecontentiousnessofimprovisationasaconceptanditscontradictory

definitions,itispertinenttothisresearchtobuildonTheGroveDictionaryofMusic

andMusiciansdefinitionofimprovisation(shownbelow)asabasisforfurther

exploration:

Thecreationofamusicalwork,orthefinalformofamusicalwork,asit

isbeingperformed.Itmayinvolvethework’simmediatecompositionby

its performers, or the elaboration or adjustment of an existing

framework,oranythinginbetween.Tosomeextenteveryperformance

involveselementsofimprovisation,althoughitsdegreevariesaccording

toperiodandplace,andtosomeextentevery improvisationrestsona

seriesofconventionsorimplicitrules(Nettl,2001/2014).

2.5.1JazzImprovisation

Jazzimprovisationprovidesmybasefortheperformancesinthisresearch.There

aremanystylesandapproachestojazzimprovisationrangingfromobbligatostyle

decorationsofthemelodythroughtocompletelyfreeimprovisation,wherethe

improviseristotallyunfetteredbyformorsequentialharmony.InmyownworkI

takemycuesfrombe-bop,hardbop,contemporaryjazz,andconceptssuchasfree

jazzunderpinnedbyaclearunderstandingofthehistoryofjazzdrummingfrom

Warren‘Baby’DoddstoPaulMotian.

Hodson(2007)succinctlydescribesjazzimprovisationasmostoftenbeingamusical

textureofseveralindividuallines.Thisisausefulinterpretationasitmovesbeyond

theemphasisonthesolomelodicline,especiallyfromtheperspectiveofthe

drummerwhoismostfrequentlyimprovisinglinesinsupport,notonlyofthe

composition,butthefront-lineperformers’interpretations.Itisalsomoreusefulto

thinkofjazzimprovisationasbeingtexturalfromananalyticalpointofviewasit

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movesbeyondtheusualanalyticalemphasisonmelodic(asusedbyhorns,piano

andguitar)lineandharmony.Jazzimprovisationasatextureisausefultoolfor

conceptualisingtheapproachesthatmycollaboratorsandItookinthisresearchof

mixingjazzwithothermusicalaestheticsandimprovisationalcultures.

2.6 Aesthetics and Improvisation in the Collaborative

Musical Cultures Ashasbeenemphasisedinthischapter,thecentraltopicofthisprojectisthe

interculturalcollaborationsbetweenjazzandothermusicalaestheticsandcultures.

Thehistoryofjazzcollaborationswithothermusicalaestheticswasoutlinedabove,

butlittleasyethasbeenstatedregardingtheimprovisationalapproachesthatI

workedwith.Tothatendthefollowingsectionsprovidesbriefbackgroundstothe

typesofimprovisationalculturesfromwhichmycollaboratorscome.

Therearenumerousapproachestoimprovisationthatvaryfromgenretogenre,

andalsoculturetoculture.Withinthisproject,aswellasperforminginastraight-

aheadjazzcontext,IgatheredcollaboratorsfromtheIndian,ChineseandWestern

classicaltraditions.IchosethesemusicalculturesbecauseinNewZealand,

traditionally,therewasanemphasisonWesternclassicalmusic.However,New

Zealandisalsoamulti-culturalsocietywithaburgeoningChineseandIndian

population.Thisofferstheopportunitytoexploretheinterculturalcontextofmusic

traditionsinNewZealandusinganimprovisationalapproachtocelebratethat

diversity,ourcommonalities,inter-connectionsandintersections.An

improvisationalapproachofferstheopportunitytohonourandbuildonthose

traditionsyetprovidetheopportunitytobefreeofthem,tocreatenewmeaning

andnewmusicalconversations.Itisanopportunitytoseethereflectionofthat

multi-culturalisminpractice,andinthemoment.

2.6.1IndianClassicalMusic

Indianclassicalmusichastwoparallelbutdistinct(bothaurallyandstylistically)

‘classical’traditions:HindustaniinthenorthandKarnatak(orCarnatic)inthesouth

(Widdess,2015;Katz,2015).MuchlikeWesternclassicalmusic(andothergenres

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suchasjazz),bothIndianclassicaltraditionsareperformed“forthedelectationof

anattentiveaudience”(Widdess,2015,p.139).However,theimprovisational

approachesforbothtraditionsrelyontheconceptofcollectiveimprovisation-

composingthepieceinthemomentofperformancebasedonthesystemofragas

(Katz,2015).Muchlikethejazztheoryofmodalscales(andmodaljazz),theragaisa

tonalsequencethatdefinesthebaseofIndianmusic.Unlikemodalscaleshowever,

therearemanymoreraga,withvaryingnumbersoftones,whichareoften

characterisedbyspecificphrasesormotifsthatarecreatedfromthosetones(Bor,

1999).

Whiletherearemultitudinousvariationsontheraga,therearesixthatare

consideredfundamental:Bhariv,Malkauns,Hindol,Dipak,MeghandShree(Singh,

1979).TraditionalIndianmusicismonophonic,withanemphasisonpurityof

melody,andwiththefoundationofaseven-notescalerepresentedbythesounds

‘SaReGaMaPaDhaNi’.Differentcombinationsofnotesaswellassharps,flatsand

microtonesarethenorm,eachofwhichcontributetocreateamelodicpermutation

basedonmelody(Bharatan,2013).

2.6.2ChineseClassicalMusic

Chinesemusicaltraditionshaveanexceedinglylonghistory,withadefinitivehistory

datingback4000years,andevidenceofmusicmakingintheregionasfarbackas

theNeolithicperiod(Jie,2011).UnlikeIndianclassicaltraditions,orevenjazz,

Chinese‘classical’traditionscontainmanymorefixedelementsthanimprovised

ones.ThetraditionalmodesofperformanceareclosertomodernWesternclassical

musicinthattheideaistorecreateaparticularidealthroughperformancerather

thantoreinterpretthatidealortocreatesomethingnew(Witzleben,1997).

ThepredominantmusicalaestheticstraditionallyfoundinChinesemusicarebased

inConfucianismandDaoism.Theyarecomplementary,ratherthancompetitive,

withthemusicalaestheticsbasedinConfuciusaddressingissuesofhumanlifeand

politics,andDaoaestheticsinvestigatingtheindividualandnature.Bothaesthetics

focusonthenotionsofharmonyandbalance:yinandyangfromConfucius,andthe

balanceofnaturalelementsfromDao(Woskin,1997).Thisconceptofmusic

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representingthesoundofnatureintegratedwithyinandyanghascontinuedto

influenceChinesemusicwithinstrumentsrelatedtothefiveelements,andwithin

pitchandpentatonicscalesymbolisingheavenandearth,focussingonbringing

harmonytotheelements(Randel,2003).Thefiveelementsencompassfire,earth,

water,metalandwood.AccordingtotheChinesetheoryoftheFiveElements,

Chinesemusicaltonesareconnectedtotheinnermanandamyriadofouterworld

concepts(Chen,2002;Randel,2003).

Mycollaboratorsapproachedthisprojectthroughthebreadthanddepthoftheir

classicaltraining,seekingtounderstandtheframeworkandrequirements,andgain

abalancebetweenself-cultivationwhileperformingforanaudience,whileadhering

toatraditionalframeworkandexpressingcreativityviafreeimprovisation.This

balanceandfocusonharmonyallowedfortheflowofimprovisationtorangeacross

acontinuumfrominterpretative,free,structured,creativeandpersonalwhilst

conveyingthatsenseofharmonyandbalance.

2.6.3WesternClassicalMusic

Thefinalcollaborationthattookplacewithinthisresearchinvolvedastringquartet

intheWesternclassicalmusictradition.Improvisationalsohasalonghistoryin

Westernartmusictraditions,andalthoughitallbutdisappearedincommon

practiceduringthetwentiethcentury,inrecentyearstherehasbeenaresurgence

inusingimprovisationintheso-calledClassicaltradition(Wegman,2014;Griffiths,

2001).

Thepracticeofimprovisationinaclassicalsettinginitiallyemphasisescreatingan

obbligatoaroundthecomposedmelody,orusingthecomposedmelodyasa

startingpoint,ratherthanimprovisingentirelyofftheharmonicstructure.

Traditionally,improvisationinclassicalmusicismostlyseenincadenzas,preludes,

interludes,impromptus,andfantasias(nottobeconfusedwiththepre-composed

examplesbythesamename,whicharewritteninthestyleofanimprovisation).For

themostpartthesetypesofimprovisationsaresoloratherthanaccompanied

harmonicallyorrhythmically,sotheperformercan(iftheysowish)playwithout

regardtoaharmonicstructure.Infact,thepre-composedversionsofthesegenres

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arenotedfortheirlackofclearstructure,consistency,andharmonicorrhythmic

consequence.Theyarealsousuallyofshorterdurationthanmostjazzsolos(Rasch,

2011).Themainemphasisofclassicalimprovisation,therefore,istosound

indistinguishablefromapre-composedpiece,butatthesametimetobe

supposedlyunstructuredtogivetheideaof‘offthecuff’performance.

Mycollaboratorsforthisperformance(seeChapter7)usedtheirtrainingand

interpretationofclassicalmusicofthescore’sinclusionofcadenza-typesoloingto

approachjazzimprovisation.Theirfocusemphasisedcommonalityofstructure

whilstbringingoutwhatthecomposerhadinmind.

2.7 Conclusion Inthischapter,IexaminedthemusicalfoundationsoftheresearchIhaveundertaken

andthebackgroundofcollaborationsbetweenjazzmusiciansandmusiciansindifferent

musicalcultures.Idelvedintotheinherentinterculturalcollaborationswithinjazzasa

genre,andthosethatartisthaveundertakenthroughoutthetwentiethandtwenty-first

century.Iexaminedjazzdrummingaesthetics,andhowmypersonalapproachmight

workwiththecollaborationsdiscussedinthefollowingchapters,andhowdifferent

approachestoimprovisationmayhelporhinderdiscourseinmusic.Finally,Iexamined

themusicalaestheticsandimprovisationalapproachesinherentinmymusical

collaborators’backgroundsandhowaspectsoftheseapproachesmightbeappliedin

collaborationwithmyjazzaesthetic.

InChapter3,IbeginthediscussionofthecollaborationsIundertookforthisresearch,by

exploringthebasegenreforthisresearch:Americanbop-basedjazz.

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Chapter3:FourinOne 3.1 Introduction

Myresearchbeginswiththeoriginatinggenreforthisresearch:Americanjazz(see

Appendix3forsupplementaryresearchmaterialassociatedwiththischapter).The

compositionsandperformancesontheaccompanyingCDFourInOnedemonstrate

jazzmusic’simprovisationalindividualisticcomposition,whileexploringthe

improvisationalelements,inter-connections,andintersectionsofjazzroots,African

basedmusicandEuropeanharmonyfromtheWesternartmusictradition.IntheCD

recordingthereisanexplorationofimprovisationallanguageandhowthiscanbe

utilisedinthedevelopmentofnewmusicalmaterial.Itbecomesapparentinthe

experienceandprocessofimprovising,thatnewmusicalrelationshipsand

processesarecreatedthatshapethemusic.

TheinvestigationofthemusicofcomposerandpianistTheloniousMonk(1917-

1982)waschosenforseveralreasons.Firstly,Monkwasaninnovatorwho

contributedtothegrowthofbe-bopmusicinthe1940s,HardBopinthe1950sand

subsequentlycontemporaryjazzmusic.Monkcomposedninety-onetunesbetween

1941and1967.However,themajorityofthesetuneswerewrittenbetween1941

and1960,whichwasanextremelycreativeperiodforhim.Monk’smusicisstill

playedbyjazzmusiciansacrosstheworld.AmericanbassistPatrick(knownas

Putter)SmithisrecognisedasanauthorityonMonk’smusichavingplayedwiththe

TheloniousMonkQuartet.Itisaptthatthisproject’sfirstperformancesoncompact

discshouldprovideanintrinsicframework,beginwiththeworksofaseminaljazz

improviserandcomposer,andincludeamemberofthathistoricquartet.

Thereisatensionandcontradictorynaturewhenusingimprovisationandjazzasan

intrinsicframeworkandfoundation.Thetensionexistsbetweenjazzimprovisation

ascompletelyfreewithoutreferenceto,andexcludingallhistory,background,

structureandconventionsofjazzimprovisationbasedonthetradition,structure

anddiscipline.Intrinsicisatermthatinfersessentiality,sotosaythisperformance

providestheessentialframeworkbelongingtojazzbringstotheforethatthis

performanceseekstoshowtheaudiencewhatisessentialtothisframeworkinthis

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researchwhilstacknowledgingthatthereisatensionandacontinuumaround

wherejazzimprovisationispositioned.

Thisperformanceseekstoshowthattheintrinsicframeworkofjazzrequires

attentiontodiscipline,conventionsandtradition,andafullunderstandingofwhere

theperformanceandimprovisationsareplacedalongtheimprovisational

epistemologicalcontinuum.Themusiciansforthisperformancewerechosen

carefullytoshowcasetheintrinsicframeworkofjazz,aframeworkthatinthis

researchsuggeststhatifyouaretohavetheabilitytoimprovisefreelyyoumust

havecommandofthejazzlanguageandconventions,technicalknowledgeandthe

abilitytoexecutethatexpertise.Additionally,youneedanunderstandingofthe

historyandtraditionsofjazzinrelationtothejazzstructure,form,conventions,

repertoireandyourinstrumentinthatcontextbothindividuallyandcollectively.

Thereisanunspokenrequirementthatinordertobeapartofthewhole,tocome

togetherasfourinone,thatthemusiciansunderstandthedisciplineandbe

disciplinedinexecutingthatunderstanding.Thissubsequentlyenhancesmusical

collaborationandnegotiationbasedoncommonlanguageandunderstandings.

Usingtheintrinsicframeworkofjazzasstorytellingandaconversationthat

encapsulatesafeeling,itisappropriatethattheframeworkandfurtherexploration

ofpossibleconnectionpointsbetweenimprovisationandculturalcontextwiththe

Americanmusicianstakestheformatofamusicalconversation.Thisprovidesan

opportunityforthemusicianstotelltheirstory,andtheirrelationshiptotheroots

ofthemusicwithintheirpersonalculturalcontextthroughmakingmusictogether.

Thisisaboutconversationsinthemomentandinthemusic:moment-to-moment,

player-to-player,andplayer-to-audience.Hence,inthisAmericanjazzCDrecording

project,themusicandoralconversationswererecordedinthemomentaspartof

makingmusictogether,andprovidingtheopportunityforfurtherexploration.Itis

abouttheinteractioninthecourseofmakingmusicencapsulatingthefeeling:the

discourseinmusicratherthanthediscourseonmusic.

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3.2 Exploration of the Creative Process TheAmericanmusicians(seeAppendix1fortheirbiographies)Ichosetojoinmefor

thisprojectinitiallywereLarryKoonse(guitar),ChuckManning(tenorsaxophone),

andPatrick(Putter)Smith(bass).However,onceinLosAngelesIfoundthatLarry

hadbeengiventhewrongdateforthesecondsession;hisdiarywasfullandwe

wereunabletochangethestudiobooking.Itwastimeforimprovisingofadifferent

nature.PuttersuggestedpianistTheoSaundersasanalternateforthesecond

session.AsIlistenedtoTheo’splayingononeofPutter’sCDs,Iknewimmediately

hewouldfitthemusicperfectlyasIcouldhearthejazzmusichistoricaland

sympatheticunderstandingsthathebroughttoMonk’scompositions.

Themusicianswerechosenbecauseoftheirjazzbackgroundsandabilitytoprovide

thefoundationforthesubsequentperformances.Allofthemusicianshave

extensivejazzbackgroundsandwhatcouldbetermed‘jazzpedigree’.PutterSmith

hasplayedwithmanyofthejazzgreats,includingtheTheloniousMonkQuartet,Art

BlakeyandtheJazzMessengersandtheDukeEllingtonOrchestra.LarryKoonsehas

recordedandortouredwithMelTorme,BobBrookmeyer,CleoLaine,NatalieCole,

BobMintzer,PeterErskine,thePercyFaithOrchestra,BillyChild’sSextetandmore.

TheoSaundershasperformedandrecordedwiththebandsofFreddieHubbard,

CarlaBley,SonnyFortune,BobBrookmeyerandsoon.ChuckManninghas

performedand/orrecordedwiththeLosAngelesQuartet,AlphonseMouzon,and

theBobbyBradfordMo’tet,amongothers.

PutterSmithwastheAssociateDirectorfortheCDwithmeas,havingbeeninThe

MonkQuartet,hehadvaluableinsightstobringtothecollaboration.Wehadone

four-hourrehearsal,andthemusicianshipnotwithstanding,someintensivesight-

readingbytheLosAngelesmusicianswasinvolved(Ihadmemorisedallthetunes).

WepreparedelevenofMonk’scompositionsforthesessionswiththetwoquartets

nowinvolved.Wedecidedwhichtuneswereappropriateforeachensembleby

consideringthestrengths,musicianshipandrelationshipsofeachmusician,and

whichcombinationwouldyieldthebestopportunitytoshowcasejazzasthe

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‘originator’,tohighlightthejazzimprovisationalrootsandsetthefoundationfor

thisresearch.

ThefirstsessiononMarch8,2015withtenorsaxophone(Manning),guitar

(Koonse),bass(Smith),anddrums(Gibson)wasextremelysuccessfulwitheveryone

andeverythingcomingtogethertorecordfivetunesintwoandahalfhours.Atthe

beginning,thereweresomeminortechnicalproblemswithanamplifierthatused

upsomeofourtime.Allofthetuneswerefirstorsecondtakeswithpredominately

firsttakescapturingthemoment.Therewasnopriorarrangementofthetunesso

togetherwecameupwith‘head’arrangementsjustpriortotherecordingofeach

composition.Theheadarrangementstookcareofthefinerdetails:thetempo,who

statesthemelody,theorderofsoloists,two-feelorfour-feel,exchanges,andsoon.

LarryKoonsewroteawonderfularrangementforourfirsttune‘CrissCross’,telling

me“it’syourrecord,sowhynotplayaneight-barintroductionandmakethisyour

openingtrack.”Thetenorsaxophoneandtheguitarstatethemelodywithbassand

drumsplayingawalkingfourfeeling.

Thefirstsoloisbytheguitaranddrumssimultaneouslyimprovisingforachorus

withthebasstacet(silent).Oncethebassenters,theguitarplaysasoloforanother

chorusfollowedbythetenorsaxophonefortwomorechoruses.Theheadout

containsasurpriseendingthatwasorchestratedbyLarry.Afterthesolos,weplayed

theAABA32barformonce,andaddedasix-andone-halfbardrumsolofollowed

bythepenultimatephraseofthecomposition.

Ourentirerepertoireoverthetwodateswaspreparedinthisway.Thisnegotiation

andcollaborationbasedoncommonunderstandingsandlanguageprovidedthe

frameworktoimprovise.Thearrangementswerefreshandrequiredcomplete

concentration,whichadheredtoMonk’sdictumthatthefirsttwotakesarewhere

thefeelingandconcentrationare,andafterthatthingstendtofallaway.Itisabout

capturingthemoment.

LarryandIhadnotplayedtogetherformanyyears,andthiswasthefirsttimethat

pianistTheoSaundersandIhadplayedtogether.Whatmakesitpossibleforusto

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soundrelaxedandtogetheroveraveryshorttimeisourawarenessofthejazz

languageandthefeelingweallbringtothemusic.Thatfeelingistheheartandsoul

ofimprovisedjazzmusic.

ThesecondsessiononMarch10,2015withthetenorsaxophone(Manning),piano

(Saunders),bass(Smith),anddrums(Gibson)ensembleincludedthewonderful

arrangementsofPutter’son‘Evidence’and‘Epistrophy’.‘Evidence’provedtobethe

mostdifficulttuneforme,eventhoughIhadmemorisedit.Putter’sideawasto

featurethedrumsastheonlysoloist.‘Evidence’followsthestandardAABA32bar

songform.However,thefirstchorusiseveryoneplayingthemelodyinunisonat

tempowithnounderlyingpulse.Thedrumsbeginsoloingonthesecondchorus

whilethebassplaysthemelody.Thesolocontinuesintothethirdchoruswiththe

pianostatingthemelody.Onthefourthchorus,tenorsaxophoneandpianoplaythe

melody,andthedrumsolocontinues.Thefifthchorusisthesameasthefirst

chorus.TheonlysuggestionPuttermadewastotryandplaythreecompletely

differentdrumsolos.

Werecordedthefourtuneswehadpreparedplustheunaccompanieddrumsolo

(‘InWalkedBud’)butcameupshortontime.Theosuggested‘UglyBeauty’,theonly

jazzwaltzthatMonkwrote.Chuck’sinterpretationofthemelodyisaesthetically

pleasingbringinganaffectsuggestiveofbeautytothetune.

Theconversationsthroughouttherecordingshighlightedsharedunderstandings

andjazzlanguage.Whenlisteningtotheseconversations,itwasevidentthatwe

spokethesamelanguage,andtoanoutsider,withoutthesameshared

understandings,theverbalconversationswouldhavesoundedlikeaforeign

language.Theseconversationswithinthemusicoftenhappeninamomentand

requirerelationshipsbuiltonempatheticunderstandingsandafirmgroundingin

thehistoryofthemusic.Thissharedunderstandingbuildstrustandacommon

language,bothimplicitandexplicit,creatingamusicalrelationshipthatenriches,

openingupareaspreviouslyunexplored,andcreatingsomethingnovelinthe

present.ThemusicianshipandimprovisationsofChuck,Larry,TheoandPutterare

whatmadethisprojectsoinspiringandwonderfultobeapartof.Thismusicis

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relaxed,andnobodysoundsliketheyhadanythingtoprove;theempathetic

statementsfromallmakeforamusicaloneness.

Thediscourseinmusicwasveryevidentinthemusicalconversationwhereactive

listeningwastremendouslyimportant,becausewhenyouarenotsurewherethe

conversationmaygoyouneedtofocusonwhatishappeningnow,notthinking

aboutyourreply.Fromthevariousmusicians’backgrounds,therewasashared

understandingofthepersonalandcollectivevoice:eachhavingaparttoplay.There

wasanempatheticunderstandingthatwewillalllisten,play,andbringthepartsto

thewholeregardlessofwhatpathwaywetook.Whileimprovisingispersonaland

individualisticinnature,itwasacollectiveconversationandthediscourseisevident

inthemusic.Thisisamusicalconversationwherenoonevoicedominated,buteach

hadtheopportunitytoshineasanindividualandasacollective.

WithinthestorytoldontheCDperformances,thedrumimprovisationswereplaced

firmlywithinthejazzcontextandframeworkastextualbutadheringtotheform;

includinganemphasisonthesolomelodicline,butalsomovingbeyondthisto

encompassjazzdrummingaestheticsthatshowedmyidentity,swingandgroove.

Theexpression,improvisation,andexecutionwasindirectresponsetomymusical

collaborators,themusic,andimprovisations,butalsoareflectionofmyidentityasa

drummerandwhatIbringtobearontheperformance.

3.3 Conclusion FourinOneshowedthebaseaestheticandformasfoundationtothisresearch.The

CDperformancesbringtotheforethatplayingjazzisabouthumanconnection,as

wellasmusicalandculturalhistory.Playingtogetherforgesrelationshipsandshows

thebestofourhumanity,ourcollaboration,andthesharedstoryanddialogue.Jazz

improvisationrequiresasharedunderstandingofthehistory,lineageandtraditions

ofjazz,andisacollaborativeventureanddialoguethatrequirestremendous

discipline,concentrationandpayingattentiontoamultitudeofsubconsciousand

consciousfactors.ItwasevidentineachpiecethatweweretherepresentasFourin

Oneinthatmomentintime.

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Beginningthisperformance-basedresearchfromafoundationandframeworkof

Americanjazzwithestablishedunderstandingsandrelationshipsprovidedthe

opportunitytosetoffonthisexplorationfromasolidstartpoint,wherethe

negotiationofmeaninganddiscourseenabledashareddialogueandcollaborative

explorationofimprovisationandallthatjazzmusiciansindividuallyandcollectively

bringtothis.

Thefollowingchapterbeginstheinterculturalexplorationswithacollaboration

betweenmyselfandIndianclassicalmusicians.

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Chapter4:FreedomThroughDiscipline4.1 Introduction

Theinterculturalcollaborationsinthisstudybeginwiththecontrastandinter-

connectionsbetweenIndianclassicalmusic’shistoricalcollectiveideacreation,and

jazzmusic’simprovisationalindividualisticcomposition(seeAppendix4for

supplementaryresearchmaterialtothischapter).Thiswasexploredthrough

recordedperformanceswithFrankGibson(drumset),BasantMadhur(tabla),

ChinmayaDunster(sarod)andLesterSilver(sitar)(seeAppendix1formusician

biographies).

AsnotedinChapter2,Indianclassicalmusichashadafar-reachinginfluenceonjazz,

beginninginthe1950s.RaviShankar’scollaborationwithAmericanaltosaxophonist

andflautist,BudShankforthealbumImprovisations(1962)highlightlinksbetween

jazzconceptsandthehistoricalcollectiveconceptsofIndianclassicalmusic,solo

expression,compositionandimprovisation.Shankarfeltthatjazzmusicianshadan

inherentunderstandingofclassicalIndianrhythms.

Thereisalsoasharedunderstandingregardingtheneedtoperfecttechniqueand

skill,forexamplethenotionofpracticingrudimentsandpracticingragasasa

foundationtoimproviseaswellasanunderstandingofthedifferentmodelsof

improvisation.KindofBlue(1959)byMilesDavisdevelopedthisconnectionfurther

usingmodalscalesratherthanchordchangesasthebasisforimprovisation.This

enabledbandmemberJohnColtranetofurtherexploreandbuildonarangeof

methodsofimprovisationincorporatingworldmusics.Thisincludednotonlythe

additionof,butalsotheembeddingofIndianmusicinthemusicalstructure;for

examplein‘Naima’wheretheimprovisationisdevelopedfromthetonicand

dominantdroneasinIndianmusic.

Therearealreadyrecordingsandperformancesthatdocumentthemusical

collaborationbetweenjazzmusicandclassicalIndianmusic(seeAppendix2for

recordingsconsultedinthisresearch).However,theunderstandingofthe

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uniquenessofeachculture’sapproachtoperformance,andthehistoricalcontext

thatimpactsonthatperformancehasbeenleftlargelyunexploredmusically.Ina

similarwaytojazzimprovisation,Indianclassicalmusicallowsforperformance

‘personalisation’;however,ragasareviewedashistorical,withanemphasison

universalcreationofideas,whereasjazzimprovisationisindividualistic,personal

composition.

ManynotablejazzmusicianshavesinceincorporatedelementsofIndianmusicinto

jazz,suchasMilesDavisandYusefLateef.Othersinclude:

• JohnMayer,whousedinterlockedadditiveanddivisiverhythmicconceptsin

Indianmusicandjazz.

• DonEllis,whousedconstructedpieceswithadditiverhythmicprinciples.

• JohnMcLaughlin,whousedsolotradingsimilartosawal-jawabinIndian

performancewithadvancedplannedrhythmicstructures(inhisband

Shakti).

BassistandcomposerBillLaswellmaintainsthatonecan“assassinatethepromiseof

fusion”(MartinandWaters,2011,p.324).Whilethisprojectisnotafusionof

musicalgenres,itisimportanttoexplorefusionasitcontributestotheevolutionof

thismulticulturalcollaboration.Thebeginningsofwhatbecameknownasfusion

musicwereunpremeditatedjazz/rockgroups,suchasCream,TonyWilliam’s

LifetimeBand,KingCrimson,SoftMachine,Blood,SweatandTears,MikeNock’s

FourthWay,andJimiHendrixExperience.Rockmusiciansbeganusinghornsections,

playinginstrumentalsolos,andusingavarietyofrhythmicapproaches,sometimesa

jazzshuffle,anddiversetimesignatures(see,forexampleWeatherReport,Return

toForever,andMahavishnuOrchestra).Jazzmusicianshadbeguntouseelectric

guitars,suchasinTonyWilliams’LifetimeBand,MahavishnuOrchestra,andCream.

Thesegroupsranthegamutwithrockandjazzrhythms,freeimprovisation,varying

timesignaturesandharmonies,usinghighlevelsofvolumeanddistortion.Thus,

these1960sand1970sgroupswereregardedbytheiraudiencesasnew,fresh,and

energetic.Itcould,therefore,bearguedthatduringthesecondhalfofthe1970s

jazz-rockgota‘shortbackandsides’andbecamemoremainstreamasitseemingly

appearedtodispensewithdistortion,impliedtime,rawenergyfuelled

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improvisationsandperhapsbecamepredictable.Themusicappearedtobecome

increasinglysales-orientated,pre-meditated,formulaicanddispassionate.

4.2 Exploration of the Creative Process ThemusicianschosenforthisCDwerechosenbecausetheyareaccomplished

performersinIndianclassicalmusicbasedinNewZealand.BasantMadhurisatabla

playerinthefieldofIndianclassicalmusicandhasperformedwithsomeofthe

stalwartsofIndianclassicalmusic,suchasGrammywinnerPt.VishwaMohanBhatt.

LesterSilverisamusicianinthefieldofIndianartandclassicalmusicwithan

interestinRagaSangeet.ChinmayaDunsterhasspentmanyyearsstudyingIndian

classicalmusiconthesarodinLondonandIndiaandhasfoundedandperformed

withtheEast-Westfusionband.BothnorthandsouthIndianclassicalmusic

traditionswereincorporatedasthemusicians’classicaltrainingandtheirrespective

musicalinstrumentswerefromeacharea.

ThisCDperformancehighlightsthenotionoftheinfinitepossibilitiesthatresult

frombeingabletoimprovisewithmusiciansfromarangeofbackgroundsand

acrossarangeofgenres.Thismusicalcollaborationhereisdesignedtonotbefinite

withtheintenttocreateaspecificoutcome(composition),butratheranopen-

endedprocess.Asimprovisers,weseektocreateinthemomentthroughexpressing

ourfeelings,spirit,andpersonalities.Throughempatheticapproachesandreactions

toeachother,theensemblecreatesamusicaloneness,whilealsoseekingtobe

influencedbyeachother’smusicandthesoundsoftherespectiveinstruments.

Themusicaimstobringusasmusiciansofdiverseculturestogethertomake

multiculturalmusic.Themusicinthisprojectisnotfusion,Indo-jazz,Indo-rock,pure

Indianmusicorpurejazz.Themusiccapitalisesontheopportunitytobringajazz

drummingimprovisationalaesthetictoIndianmusic.

BasantMadhurisamastertablaplayer,andisoftencalledupontoaccompany

IndianmastermusiciansbothinNewZealandandfromoverseas.BasantandImet

previouslyin2009aquarterofanhourpriortoplayingaconcertwith

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keyboardist/composerMurrayMcNabb.LaterthatyearweplayedonMcNabb’s

albumAstralSurfers.Ourpreviousexperienceandhistoryplayingtogetherinstilled

confidencethatwewouldbeabletoeffectivelycollaboratemusicallywhilebringing

ourdistinctivevoices.Ialsobelieveoursharedpassionforvariedrhythmic

approachesandimprovisationprovideafirmfoundationforfurtherexploration.

Someofthemusicalideasforthe‘FourPartSuite’wereconceptualandwrittenas

wordsratherthannotationtoopentheoverallformofthesuitefordevelopment,

leavingmoreroomforpersonalinterpretationandimprovisation.Polyrhythmsand

figuresusedasapulseandbasisforimprovisationwerenotatedmusically(see

Appendix4).Theapproachtojazzimprovisationwithinthepieceswasstructuredto

incorporatearangeofrhythmicapproacheswiththeaesthetics,grooveandswing

differinginrelationtotime,metersandaccentstoberesponsivetothethematic

schema.

4.2.1‘FourPartSuiteforTablaandDrumset’

Themusicalcollaborativeprocessherecanbelikenedtotheanalogy,thestoryof

gettingtoknowsomeone,witharichconversationandthedevelopmentofa

relationship,wherethereisunderstandingandtrust,whichenablesandpromotes

furtherexploration.Mutualrespectenableseffectivecollaboration.Thestructureof

thecompositionisasfollows:

PartOne(Introduction):Basantbeginsalone,introducinghimselfwithtablaand

simultaneouslycreatinganintroductiontothesuite.

PartTwo(Establishingcommonalitiesandunderstandings):Wepre-recordedabass

lineonthetabla,abrushrhythmsimilartothereco-recofoundinBrazilianmusic

andafour-cymbaldescendinglineasbackgroundsandacarpetforBasant’ssecond

improvisation.Thepre-recordedpartscreateastrongbutflexiblehypnoticmood

reminiscentofIndianmeditativepractices.

PartThree(Whatwebring–listeningandresponding):Thisbeginswiththedrums

employingapolyrhythmicup-tempoapproach(♩=320bpm)usingthestandardjazz

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ridecymbalrhythmasanostinato.Thedrumsbuildtoacrescendoffthenpareback

tompforthetablasolo.AttheconclusionofBasant’simprovisation,thedrumsolo

temporemainsat320bpm.Thebeginningofthedrumsoloisexecutedonthetwo

tom-toms,snaredrum(snaresoff)andbassdrumtoensurecontinuityofsound,

therebycreatingthepossibilityofusingrhythmicconceptsfromthetablasolo.As

thissolobuilds,thesnaredrumandcymbalsareintroduced,providingastark

contrast,andendingwithafortissimorollonthesnaredrum.

PartFour(theconversationstrengthens–therelationshipdeepens):theinitialtabla

improvisationisusedagaintostrengthentheformABCA=1-2-3-4.

4.2.2‘FreedomthroughDiscipline’and‘ConversationswithChinmaya’Initially,theideasforthisrecordingwereunabletobeutilised.Thesarod,tabla,and

sitarallneededtobeinthesameroomforeyecontact,cuesandtoheareachother

acoustically.Thus,therewasaculturalexpectationfromtheIndianmusiciansthat

theywouldbeinthesameroomtogetherwithme,andthedrumkit,whenplaying.

Inthestudiosituation,however,thisperformancewasalsoaffectedbytheIndian

musicians’relativeinexperienceinthestudioandhamperedbythesizeofthe

studio.Leakageandvolumedifficultieswiththedrumsinthesameroomwould

havealsomademixingandeditingtoodifficult.Aswithanycollaboration,we

neededtoreflectonandreviewtheperformancegiventhedemandsofthecontext,

inordertoaddressbothculturalexpectationsandtechnicaldifficulties.Thecontext

ofthiscollaborationmeantthatthesarod,sitar,andtablahadtheirconversation

andtoldtheirstoryfirstknowingthatmypartintheconversationwouldbeadded

latertocompletethewholestory.TheIndianmusicianswereessentiallyproviding

thefirstpartoftheconversationbutwerecarefulinleavingspaceandprovidingthe

basisoftheconversationformetocomeinandbepartofthewholeconversation.

Therefore,thesnaredrumandpercussionwereoverdubbed.Thesameconceptwas

usedforthesarodanddrumsetduet,withtheseimprovisationsbecoming‘Freedom

throughDiscipline’and‘ConversationswithChinmaya.’

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4.2.3‘FirstMeeting,FirstTake’

Thesitaranddrumsetduet‘FirstMeeting,FirstTake,’wassuccessfullyrecordedlive

withtheonlypreconceivedideasbeingthetempo(♩=150bpm).AfterLester’s

improvisation,wewouldplayexchangesofnofixedlengths.Therewereminimal

parametersforthismusicalconversation,but,asinanyconversation,someimplicit

andexplicitexpectationsbecomeespeciallyrelevantwhenthereisonlyabrieftime

togettoknowoneanothermusically.Thetempoandexchangeideaswere

collaborativelydevelopedandagreedonbeforewecametogetheratourfirst

meeting,andhelpedtomaintainsomecohesionanddirectioninthisbriefmusical

meeting.Thedrumsetutilisedbrushesandmalletsforsympathetictexturesasany

staccatosoundssuchasrimshotsandthesnaredrumwouldnothaveresonated

withthesitarsound.

Theaforementioneddifficultieswith‘FreedomthroughDiscipline’and

‘ConversationswithChinmaya’negatedsomeofmyinitialideasonhowtoapproach

thesepiecesbutsubsequentlyopenedupotheravenuesforexploration.Therich

andvariedmelodicandrhythmicimprovisationsofBasant,Lester,andChinmayaset

upextremelyinterestingstructurestowelcomemyoverdubbedimprovisations.

4.3 Conclusion Themusicalrelationshipinthisrecordingwasenrichedbytheculturalbackground

andcapitalbroughttobearfromdiversegenresandtraditions,withthemusicians

responsiveto,andchangedasaresultof,thisrelationshipandinteraction.The

inherentmelodies,melodicpermutationsandscalesoftheragasprovideda

performancefoundationfortheIndianmusicians.Personalisationofthemusicwas

positionedeasilywithintheperformances,withtheIndianmusicians’creative

explorationontheragasandthejazzimprovisationaspersonalcomposition.This

openedupareastofurtherexplorecreatingsomethingnovelwhilstretaining

respectfordistinctculturaltraditionsandvoices.Theaestheticinfluencesfromthe

Indianclassicaltraditioncombinedwithjazzandhencethemusicianswere

influencedbythemusicalconversation.However,themusictranscendedmere

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influenceandnoonegenreortraditiondominatedbringingtogethermulti-

culturalismandtraditioninaninterculturalcollaboration.

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Chapter5:TheFiveElements5.1 Introduction

Theinterculturalcollaborationscontinuewitharecordingthatexploresthe

harmonicinterplayrelatedtothefiveelements,whileretainingthehistorical

tuningsoftheChineseinstrumentssothattheirtraditionalvoiceisheardwithinthe

improvisationaldialogue.ThemusiciansforthisrecordingwereWilliamYu(yang

qin),TanyaLi(erhu)andFrankGibson(drumsetandpercussion)(seeAppendix1for

musicianbiographies;seeAppendix5forsupplementaryresearchmaterialtothis

chapter).

AsnotedinChapter2,traditionalChinesemusiccanbetracedback7,000-8,000

yearsbasedonthediscoveryofaboneflutemadeintheNeolithicAge(JieJen,

2011,p.1).Chinahasoneofthelongestdocumentedmusichistorieswithcourt

documentsandliteraturerecordsonmusicfromancientChinathatdatebacktothe

secondmillenniumBC.Legendssuggestbamboopipesweretunedtobirdsounds

andatwelve-tonemusicalsystembasedonpipepitch(JieJen,2011).Thisconcept

ofmusicrepresentingthesoundofnatureandthefiveelementswashighlightedin

Chapter2,andformsatraditionalconceptualunderstandingthatinformsthe

collaboration.

ThelonghistoryofChinesemusichasbeenimpactedbyandhasimpactedona

rangeoffactors:social,political,educational,linguistic,geographicaland

philosophical,andthesehavebecomeanintrinsicpartofthemusicallandscape.

ThetheoreticalsystemologyofChinesemusichasbeenformedbysomeofthose

elements.Althoughinitiallyforthehigherechelonsofsociety,classicalmusic

eventuallycametothemainstreampopulationandwasrelatedthroughreligion,

folksongsandoperatotheireverydaylivesandfortheirentertainment(Brindley,

2013).

Inthesocialandpoliticalturmoilofthe1920sand30sinChina,ahybridofjazz

emergedinthemeltingpotofShanghai(Jones,2001).Atthattime,Shanghaiwas

thebiggestmoderncityinAsiawithpeoplefrommanycultures,including

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foreigners,colonialsandmilitarypersonnel.AmericanmusiciansincludedShanghai

intheircircuitsandChinesemusiciansbegantousetheinfluencesfromWestern

movies,Americanpopularandjazzmusic,fusingthesewithtraditionalfolkmusicby

usingtraditionalinstruments.Americanjazzmusiciansalsogotcontractstoplayin

theShanghaiclubsandbands;forexample,BuckClayton(whoplayedforCount

Basie)playedfirstlyhigh-classcabaretjazz,thenwhatwasderogatorilycalled

“YellowMusic”:ahybridofChineseMusicandAmericanJazz,whichwasbanned

after1949.LiJinhui,aChinesecomposerinShanghai,wasknownforcreatingthe

degenerate“YellowMusic”.LiJinhuihadbeentaskedbythegovernmenttounify

thedifferentChinesedialects,andhedidthisthroughmusicusing,singing(opera),

Asianpentatonicmelodiesfromlocalfolksongs,andswingharmoniesandrhythms

fromAmericanJazz(Jones,2001).However,thishybridwasshort-livedwiththe

ChineseNationalistandinsurgentCommunistPartyviewingthismusicasfrivolous,

decadent,exploitiveandcommercial,andthemusic,whichfollowedwasmuch

moreaboutservingapoliticalfunctionwiththeCulturalRevolution(Jones,2001).

Amidthepolitical,economicandsocialchangesinChinaoverthepastcentury,not

onlywereWesternpopularandjazzmusicbanned,butalsotraditionalChinese

minoritygroupmusic.However,sincethe1980s,therehasbeenarevivalinChinain

safeguardingsometraditionalChinesecultures.AcrossChina,thereisgreatdiversity

intraditionalmusicinrelationtogeographicallocalitywithatleast56officially

recognisedminoritygroups.Eachgrouphasspecificmusicaltraditionsandcultural

influences.Itisthereforeimportanttobecognizantoftherangeanddiversityof

regionalandculturalinfluencesintraditionalChinesemusicandnottoviewthe

musicashomogenous.Thisdiversityhighlightsthesimilaritiesanddifferencesin

worldmusicandprovidesaninterplayandbackdropthatbringsanindefinable

qualityofrichness,depthandbreadth.

Jazzimprovisationprovidestheopportunitytomergecompositionandperformance

tocreatesomethingnew‘inthemoment.’ImprovisationisalsonotnewtoChinese

traditionalmusic;ithashistoricalrootsgoingfarfurtherbackthanjazz

improvisation.ThereareChineselegendsandfablesfrombeforetheSongDynasty

(960–1279)aboutmusiciansandartistsengagedinthepursuitofindividualisingand

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improvising.Chineseimprovisationwasviewedasatradition,withdistinctions

drawnbetweenfree,personalandcreativeimprovisation.JieJen(2011)describes

oneoftheearliestChineselegendsaboutBoya,aguqin(apluckedsevenstring

instrument)musiciancreativelyimprovisingandcomposinginrelationtothe

majestyandinspirationofthe‘highmountainsandflowingstreams’,highlighting

creativeandfreeimprovisation,butalsotheinnerandouterworlds,andhuman

connectionwithnatureandtheelements.

5.2 Exploration of the Creative Process Inthetwenty-firstcentury,jazzishavingalimitedresurgenceinChinabothin

BeijingandShanghaiwithjazzclubsandschoolssuchastheJZclubandschool,and

BlueNoteBeijing,butthisisbasedonAmericanjazz,withChineseandAmerican

musiciansplayingAmericanjazz.TherearealsoAmericanChinesemusicianswho

havebeguntotestthepossibilitiesofjazz-fusionbyusingChinesetraditional

instrumentsonstandardjazztunes;however,thisrecordingseekstogobeyondthis

approach.Thisrecordingisnotaboutfusionortheinfluenceofjazzmusicon

Chinesetraditionalmusic,orviceversa,buttheunfoldingofanewrelationshipand

voice.Ratherthanlimitingthemusicalexperience,thisprojectviewscultural

backgroundandcapitalascreatingamusicalrelationshipthatenrichesthepiece

andtheprocess,openingupareaspreviouslyunexplored,creatingpossibilitiesand

somethingnovelinthepresentoutofpastexperiences.

Thisrecordingseeksdifferentwaysofimprovisingandthinkingaboutthemusicin

ordertoexploretheharmonicinterplayrelatedtothefiveelements,whileretaining

thehistoricaltuningsoftheChineseinstrumentssothattheirtraditionalvoiceis

heardwithintheimprovisationaldialogue.Theopportunitytobringuniqueand

diverseculturalandmusicalbackgroundstobearontheprocessandproductisthe

opportunitytocreatenewpossibilities,andanovelanduniqueproduct.

Theinitialideasforthisinterculturalcollaborationweretofeatureavarietyof

Chinesemusiciansandtheirrespectiveinstruments.However,afterbeingunableto

findaChinesepercussionist,andsubsequentconversationsandrehearsalswith

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ghuzheng(Chinesezither)anddizi(Chineseflute)musicianspromisedlittle,the

decisionwasmadetostaywiththeyangqin,erhu,drumsandpercussionforthe

entirealbum.

Thereisacomplexitytoimprovisationthatmakesitdifficulttoexpresstheprocess

inthewrittenword;thus,theresultingproductmusthaveitsownvoice.The‘Five

Elements’voiceisdistinctiveanduniquebecauseofthecalibreandexpertiseofthe

Chinesemusicians,WilliamYuandTanyaLihavelivedinNewZealandforthelast

thirteenyearsandbringavastdegreeofmusicalexperienceandexpertisein

relationtothetraditionofChinesemusicandinstruments.Insomeinstances,the

variousinstrumentsareoverdubbed.Ratherthandetractingfromtheintercultural

collaboration,spontaneityandimprovisation,itwasfoundthattheabilityto

overdubenhancedtheimprovisationthroughbeingabletoberesponsivetothe

nuancesandinterplayofthemusicaldiscoursewiththesetting,visionandemotion

ofthepiecesmademorevisibleandaudible.

Inordertomaintaintheintegrityoftheinterculturalcollaboration,Chinese

traditionalinstrumentsandtuningswereused.Williamplaystheyangqin(Chinese

hammereddulcimer)ontherecordings.Theyangqinisfromthezitherfamilyandis

astringedinstrument.Twolightweightbeatersareusedtostriketheinstrument’s

stringswithdifferentbeatersdrawingdifferenttonesfromtheinstruments.Thisis

similartotheuseofdrumsticksorpercussionmalletsondrumsandother

percussion,althoughtheyangqinisastringedinstrument.

TherearearangeoftheoriesonhowtheyangqincameaboutinChinawith

suggestionsitwasdevelopedthere,orthatitwasbasedonaTurkishinstrument

andbroughttoChinaviatheSilkRoadfromPersiaand/oritwasbroughttoSouth

ChinabyEuropeanseamerchants(Gifford,2001).Tanyaplaystheerhu,whichisa

two-stringedbowedzitherbelievedtohaveoriginatedfromMongoliamorethana

thousandyearsago(Stock,1993).Thesoundisproducedbythevibrationoftheskin

onthesoundboxthroughbowing.

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ThemusicianschosenforthisCDperformanceareNewZealandbasedmusicians

whohavebeentrainedinChineseclassicalmusicfromanearlyage.BothTanyaLi

(Erhu)andWilliamYu(Yangqin)havemanyyearsofmusicalexperienceinChinese

Orchestras.Unbeknowntoallofus,wehadpreviouslyplayedononetrackofthe

lateMurrayMcNabb’salbumAstralSurfers(2008)withtheerhuandyangqintracks

overdubbedafterthecompletionofthealbum.Thepriorconnectionfacilitatedthe

beginningofourcollaboration,andeightyearsafterthefirstrecording,wewere

abletoconnect;althoughwehadnevermet,aninstantrapportwasestablishedon

ourfirstrecordingsessionatBruceLynch’sBoatshedstudio,withthissession

yielding‘MarcoPolo’sReturn’.

5.2.1‘SpringtimeonTianMountain’

ThistrackisatraditionalChinesefolksongfromtheXinjiangregionplayedbyTanya

(sopranoerhu)andWilliam(yangqin)withanoverdubbeddrumpart.TheXinjiang

regionisanorthwesternprovince,whichwasoncethegatewaytotheSilkRoad,

borderingMongolia,Russia,Afghanistan,Pakistan,India,andKazakhstan;themusic

evokesthefeelingofajourneyandastory,andbuildsonthemanytraditional

storiesandjourneysfromthepastalongthisSilkRoad.Hence,therearemany

musicalinfluencesofthetravellersfromavastarrayofbackgrounds,suchas

Persian,TurkishandRussianthatcanbeheardinthemusicfromtheXinjiang

region.Alongwiththeseinfluences,thelinkwithnature,theelementsandthe

majestyofthemountains,thecascadingwater,alongwiththebeautyand

beginningsofspringtimecanalsobeheardasthemusicsoars,findsaweandpeace,

thenwalkswithus.

5.2.2‘ExitThrutheEntrance’

ThisisabeautifulmelodywrittenbythelateNewZealandcomposerandmusician

MurrayMcNabbin2013.Thispiecewaspreviouslyrecordedasarubatotimeduet

(pianoanddrums,McNabbandmyselfrespectively)forhisposthumouslyreleased

2014album,EveryDayisaBeautifulDay.Subsequently,thepiecewasrearranged

andplayedbyTanya,Williamandmyself.Adecisionwasmadethatthemelodywas

onethatcouldstandalone.Sotohighlightthis,itwasplayedthreetimeswithno

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improvisation.Italsotellsastoryandisatributetothecomposerwhobroughtus

together.

Tanya’sinterpretationofthemelodyhighlightsthetangiblemusicalrepresentation

ofthedualityoftheyingandyangbalance,inthisinstance‘thehardversusthesoft’

and‘maleversusfemale’(malecomposer/femaleperformer;allmaleinitial

performance/femaleperformertakingtheleadinthisrecording)withthispiece

illustratingadelicategentlenessandgivingahauntingbeautytothepiece

reminiscentofnaturalelements.Thetempo(♩=60bpm)isestablishedwitha

Chinesecymbal,belltreeandwindchimes.Animprovisedcongadrumpartwas

overdubbedtogivethepiecerhythmicvariety.Itwasveryimportantforthe

drumset,whichcanbequitehardtextually,toemploysofterpercussivetexturesso

thatthemoodofthepiececouldspeakclearlyandrepresentthisnaturalelemental

balance.

5.2.3‘Intensity/Fire’

Thispieceforyangqinanddrumsetwascompletelyimprovisedinrealtime.The

mainideawastoplaytexturesandrhythmsassociatedwithourinterpretationof

thewords,intensityandfire,inessencetoembodytheelementswithfireasthe

igniter.Williamontheyangqinbeginsalone,playingatahighintensity,butleaving

spaceatthesametimetoenabletheinteractionbetweentheyangqinanddrum

set,andtofanandbuildthefire.Atthe2’20’’mark,Williampullsbackbriefly,and

thedrumsgraduallybuildtoacrescendoastheflameispassedon.Theoverall

feelingofthepieceisspacious,asfiresneedtobreatheandatthesametimethere

isintensityastheflamepassesfromoneplayertotheother,andtheferocityofthe

firebuilds.

5.2.4‘MarcoPolo’sReturn’

Ofallthecompositionsonthisrecording,‘MarcoPolo’sReturn’isthemost

arranged,andtherhythmpartsfortheentireensemblesectionswerepre-recorded.

Theintroductionistheyangqinimprovisingbutatthesametimesuggestingthe

melody.Asimplefunkpattern,anoverlaidChinesecymbalandabasslineplayed

betweentwotom-tomsmakeuptherhythmsectionbed,overwhichthemelody

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andsubsequentsolosareplayed.Yangqinanderhuplaythemelody;after16bars,

theyangqinbeginsplayingthemelodybetweentheerhu’ssolophrases.Next,the

yangqinplaysarepeateddoubletimephrasewhichleadsintoapercussion

interludeconsistingoflongtonesonavarietyofcymbals(AmericanandChinese).

ThefinalfivecrashesendatffonaChinesegongconcludingtheinterlude,

abstractlyandmetaphoricallysymbolisingthefiveelements:wood,fire,earth,

metalandwater,encompassingthephenomenaofnature.

Thefast3/4rhythmexecutedonthethreesmallChinesecymbalswithapoly-

rhythmicfigureplayedonaChinesecymbal,belltreeandchimesleadsintopartone

ofthethree-partdrumsolo.Thethree-partdrumsoloaimstobuildoverpartsone

andtwowhicharelinkedbytheaforementioned3/4rhythmplayedontom-toms,

inconjunctionwithbuildinginaveryorganicmannertoaclimaxwithfulldrumset,

suggestingtheforcesofnature.Themelodyisstatedagainafterpart3ofthedrum

solowiththedoubletimeyangqinfigureandmiscellaneouspercussion.Thecoda

consistsofashortrubatotimeyangqinsolo.

5.2.5‘Empathy/Compassion’

Thispiecebeginswithanorchestratedpercussionintroductionutilisingcymbals,

woodblock,Chinesechocoloandasix-noteAfricanxylophone.Tanya’s

improvisationisbasedonbeautifullyconstructedlongnotephraseswiththedrums

employingsympathetictextures,malletsonthreetom-tomsandcymbals.The

overdubbedwoodblockandAfricanxylophonehelptoreinforcethisloose

improvisedformandhighlighttheelementofwood.Thiswasanimmediate

collaborationandconversationachievedinonetake.Atthe3’25”mark,percussion

isreintroducedbrieflyasintheintroduction,withapauseandadramaticdynamic

changetoaclimax,whichismaintaineduntiltheendofthepiece.

5.2.6‘HappyHouse’

This24-barOrnetteColemancompositionbeginswitharubatotimedrumsolo

utilisingbrushesandoccasionallyreferringtotherhythmicphrasesofthe

composition.Drumsthensetupastraight-aheadhardbopgroovefortheyangqin

toenterandplaythemelodytwicethroughwithembellishments.Williamthen

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improvisesinaveryfreerhythmicmannershowingwithconsiderablefacilityhis

mastermusicianship.Theyangqinthenplaysthemelodyoncethroughleadinginto

anotherdrumsolowhichbeginswiththeopeningphraseofthemelody.Thissolo

graduallybuildsinintensityandvelocity,andthenparesbacktopforthefinalyang

qinphrase.TherewasanawarenessthatplacingWilliaminahardbopsituation

wouldnotbeideal,ashewasuncomfortablewiththeidiom;however,wecame

togetherincollaboration,abletoassimilateandadapt,soalltheelementswere

integrated.Wehaddevelopedsharedunderstandingsandtrustineachother’s

musicianshiptocreateapleasingperformance.

5.3 Conclusion Theperformancesinvolvedallofusplayingsimplemelodies,andwhileeachofus

embellishedonthemelody,distinctivevoicesmaystillbeharvestedfromthe

collectivesound.Harmony,bothmetaphoricalandmusical,wasbroughttothe

piecesthroughtheuseofourrespectiveinstrumentsandapproachtorepresentand

symbolisetheelementsencompassingfire,earth,water,metalandwood.

Inthisinterculturalcollaboration,ithasagainbeenhighlightedthatitisaboutthe

discourseinmusicratherthanthediscourseonmusic.Duringtherecording

process,itwasevidentfromthediscoursewithTanyaandWilliamthatnuances

andaestheticsintraditionalChinesemusiccannotbeputinscores.Thesenuances

andaestheticswereindividualisedaccordingtotheirfeelingandskillbasedontheir

personalinterpretation,understandingofandrespectfortradition-bothfroma

jazzdrummingperspectiveandaChineseclassicalmusician’sperspective,yetstill

bringingintheirowncharacterandpersonalexperience.Thedistinctivepersonal

andcollectivevoicesofJazzandChinesemusicaltraditionsandlanguagewere

evidentinthemusicandimprovisationswitheachindividual(inclusiveofthejazz

drummingaesthetic)bringingadistinctivevoicethatwasabletobeidentifiedas

derivingfromtherespectivelineages.Throughthisrecordingwediscoveredthat

knowingwheninthemusicalconversationtoemployrestraintandfreedom

underpinnedbyempathy,respect,humilitywasessentialtoanopennessand

celebrationtodiversewaysofapproachingpieces.

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Whilewedidnotshareacommonmusicallanguage,wetookaleapoffaith,andthe

aestheticsofthemusicenrichedthemusicalconversation.Tanyaaskedtoredo

piecesthatweretechnicallyimmaculatetogettherightemotion.Implicitinthisisa

focusonconveyingtherightemotionandfeeling.This‘rightemotion’and‘feeling’

isanimportantpartoftheimprovisationalapproachforeachpieceforbothmyself

asthejazzdrummerandfortheChinesemusicians.Justastheswing,groove,

techniques,backgroundandaestheticscontributetomyimprovisations,itwasseen

asparamounttoTanyaandWilliamthatthechoiceoftechniquetobringoutthe

balanceofthepiece,thedistinctelementsortheircombination,andtheharmony

combinetocreatetherightemotionandfeeling.Thistooiswhatthebestjazz

musiciansaspireto,andthis‘rightemotion’iswhatwecreatedinTheFive

Elements.

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Chapter6:Open-Ended6.1 Introduction Thefinalcollaborationinthisinterculturalexplorationisarecital:FrankGibsonand

collaboratingartists,TheBlackQuartetandBruceLynch,whichoccurredon28July

2017atMaramaHall,OtagoUniversity(seeAppendix1formusicianbiographies,

andappendix6forsupplementarymaterialtothischapter).Thisrecitalexplores

thepossiblerhythmical,melodic,harmonicandtexturalimprovisational

intersectionpointsbetweenjazzdrummingimprovisationwhileplayingwitha

Westernartmusicstringquartetandelectricbass.

Oneofthedefiningelementsofjazzisimprovisation.Whiledistinctivetojazz,

improvisationisalsoevidentinclassicalmusic;forexample,J.S.Bachimprovised

fuguesintheBaroqueera,whichwerethenfurtherelaboratedoninperformances.

However,itisnowuncommonforclassicalmusicianstoimprovisewithmost

classicalmusicpre-composedforperformances.Schuller(1991)suggeststhat

classicalmusicperformancescanberepetitivelydulledandlackinginspontaneity,

althoughacknowledgingspontaneitydoesoccurinclassicalmusic.Somejazz,too,is

through-composedandarranged;however,thedifferenceisthatimprovisationisa

crucial,valuedskillforjazzmusicians,butnotacrucialskillforclassicalmusicians.

Manyclassicalmusicpiecesaredeemedtohaveacorrectwaytobeplayed,and

integritytothehistorymaymeanthatthepiecesareplayedinamannerveryclose

totheoriginalcomposition.Theexpertiseofthemusicianinclassicalmusicmaybe

judgedbyhowcloselytheyadheretotheoriginalintegrity(knownasürtext)ofthe

originalcomposition,whereasmanyjazzmusiciansseekto‘gobeyond’inunique

expressionsofindividualityandself-expression.

Intheearlierperformancesofjazzandclassicalmusic,thereweredistinctgenre

differencesinstyle,articulation,interpretation,phrasingandtone.However,more

recently,worldmusicandfusionhavesoughttocrossoverandfusegenres.

Beginningfromthe1920sandthestartoffusingelementsofjazzandclassicalinthe

jazzagetocreatesymphonicjazz,tothelate1950swith‘ThirdStream’jazz,there

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havebeenclassicalelementsinjazzandjazzelementsinclassical(Austin,1996).

Composers,suchasStravinsky,whose‘TheEbonyConcerto’waswrittenforthe

WoodyHermanband,andGershwinexperimentedwithjazzinfluences,andmay

havehelpedlaythegroundworkforfusionandThirdStream.

ClassicalEuropeanstringquartetsusuallycompriseacello,violaandtwoviolins.A

numberofjazzmusicianshaverecordedjazztuneswithstringensemblesfusingjazz

andclassicalinstrumentation,suchasArtieShawandtheStringSwingEnsemblein

the1930s,CharlieParkerwithStrings(1949-52),CliffordBrownwithStrings(1953),

andlaterinthe1980sMaxRoach’sdoublequartetintherecordingBrightMoments

(1986).Also,anumberofStringQuartetshaveplayedjazzcompositions,suchas

TheTurtleIslandQuartetontheiralbumSkylife(1990)andtheKronosQuartetwith

MonkSuite:TheKronosQuartetPlaysMusicofTheloniousMonk(1984).MaxRoach

recorded‘Survivors’withaStringQuartetin1984andin1986recorded‘Bright

Moments’withaJazzQuartetandaStringQuartet.DuringthissameperiodThe

KronosQuartetwereexperimentingwithjazzbassistRonCarterinthe

aforementionedalbumMonkSuitebuttheydidnotfollowuponthecollaboration

withajazzdrummer.

Therehavebeenveryfewjazzdrummerswhohaveplayedasasolojazzartistwitha

stringquartet,asearchthathasrevealedonlyMaxRoach.Whilejazzrootslieinthe

combinationofelementsofEuropeanharmonyandform,andAfricanbasedmusic,

thisrecitalsoughttogobeyondrecreatingandsolelyusingclassicalinstrumentsto

playjazzand/ortofuseelementsofjazzandclassical;italsosoughttoretainthe

distinctvoicesofeach,andtoexploretheimprovisationalelements,intersections

andinter-connectionsofjazzroots:African-basedmusicandtraditionalEuropean

harmony.

6.2 Exploration of the Creative Process ThiswasaperformancewhereIknewthereweresomeareasbeyondmyscopeof

practice,andIneededtoaccessadditionalexpertiseespeciallyinarrangingclassical

musicandscores.BruceLynchisanelectricandacousticbassist,producerand

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arranger.IhavehadalongmusicalassociationwithBruce,whichhasincluded

sessionworkandplayingtogetherinfusionbands.Bruceisskilledandexperienced

incomposing,arrangingandorchestrating,hencewecollaboratedtogetherforthis

performance,eachbringingourstrengthsandexpertisetobeartoensurethatthe

classicalmusicianshadtherequiredframeworkandscorestoengageinthismusical

venture.

AsagroupandasindividualsTheBlackQuartetregularlyrecordandperformacross

variousmusicalgenreshavingpreviouslycollaboratedwithperformerssuchas

KanyeWest,Six60andLadyhawke.Theywerechosenforthisprojectbecauseof

theirclassicaltrainingandtheirdemonstratedversatilityandopennesstoother

genres.JosephHarrop(violinistandviolist)haspresentedinternationallyonmusic

performancepracticeandsocialactionthroughmusic,andwasalsoabletobring

additionalunderstandingsthatenhancedthemusicalconversation,dialogueand

collaboration.

6.2.1‘StolenMoments’

‘StolenMoments’wasoriginallycomposedandarrangedbyAmericansaxophonist,

OliverNelson.Theworkisa16-barminorbluesphrasedinaneight-six-twopattern.

Itwasfirstrecordedin1961onNelson’salbumBluesandtheAbstractTruth.Our

interpretation(arrangedbyBruceLynch)beginswiththestandardintroduction

followedbythemelodyrepeated.Thedynamicsemployedduringbars9-16provide

tensionandrelease,addinganothersidetothecharacterofthepiece.Theviolin

beginstheimprovisationplayingtwochoruses.Inthesecondchorus,viola,violin

andcellojoininandimprovise,collectivelyleavinglotsofspace.A24-barinterlude

followswiththedrumsinteractinginaspiritedmanner.Thebasssolosfortwo

chorusesandstringsplayabackgroundoverthesecondchorus.The24-bar

interludeisrepeated,followedbyenergeticinterplayofdrumsandtheensemble.

Wereturntothemelodywiththerepeat,andtheviolinplaysanimaginative

cadenzatoendthepiece.Thecharacterofthepiececomesthroughtheformand

theimprovisationwithreleaseandspaceprovidingthetensionandacalltointeract

andrespond.

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6.2.2‘SoWhat’

WrittenbyMilesDavisin1959forthealbumKindofBlue,‘SoWhat’isarguablyhis

mostfamousandinfluentialcomposition,andisoneofthefirstrecordedexamples

ofmodaljazz.‘SoWhat’employsthestandardAABA32barformutilisingDDorian

modeintheAsections,andBflatDorianmodeintheBsection.Freedfrom

harmonicconstraints,theopportunityisprovidedforsoloiststocreatearelaxed

andmeditativefeelingwhilemaintainingthedeeppulseandforwardmotionso

necessaryto,andindicativeof,theunderlyingjazzfoundation.Rhythmically,the

melodyofthistuneisbuiltontraditionalAfricancall-and-responsetechniques,

suggestiveoftheworksongsofenslavedAfricansinthesouthernpartsofthe

UnitedStates.Ourinterpretationofthiscompositionbeginswitharubatobasssolo,

whichisrelaxedandspacious,immediatelyandaptlysettingupthemoodforthe

piece.Themelodyisastatedcallbythebassandresponsefromthestrings,and

leadstoLynch’s32-barshoutchorusmaintainingthecallandresponserhythms

whichsubsequentlyleadintothetwo-chorusviolasoloaccompaniedbystrings

playingresponsephrasesonthehead.Nextapedalpointensuesfor16bars,giving

atrulysuspendedfeeling,whichresolvesinto8barsofstylizedrhythmsection

followedbyanother8barsofpedalpoint.Duringthe32-barshoutchorus,tensions

areintermittentlyreleasedafter8barsofpedalpoint.Thedynamicschange

instantlytoforteforthe12/8section,whichsetsupthedrumsolo.Atthe

conclusionofthedrumsolothemelodyisstatedonceagain,leadingtothe

accentedeighthnotesbyalltothefiné.‘SoWhat’bringstothelisteneracalland

responsemelodybasedonamodalstructure,whichtrulyintegratesintoamutually

understoodmusicalconversation,thedifferentunderstandingsinherentinjazzand

classicalbackgrounds.

6.2.3‘InWalkedBud’

ThisworkisMonk'stributetohisfellowpianistandbebopinnovator,Earl‘Bud’

Powell.Firstrecordedin1947,itisbasedonthechordchangesofIrvingBerlin’s

‘BlueSkies’.ThisAABA32-barcompositionutilisesacall-and-responseconceptin

theBsection.Thisversionbeginswithdrumsplayingthemelody,orchestrated

betweentwotom-toms,asnaredrumandabassdrum.Thebassthenplaysthe

AABAmelody,improvisingovertheBsection.Thisisfollowedbyan8-bardrum

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solo.Thestringquartetthenplaythemelodyaccompaniedbythebassanddrums.

Thisisfollowedbyonechorusofreharmonisedmelody,whichleadstoan

improvisedchorusbythecelloaccompaniedbybass,drums,violinandviolafigures.

A16-bardrumsolofollows,leadingintotheonechorusviolasolo.Sixteenbarsof

reharmonisedmelodysuggestaquasi-marchfeeling,withthebridgeplayedas

written,andan8-bardrumsolooverthelastAsectionsetsupthemelodytofinish.

Withthereharmonisedmelodyandthequasi-marchfeelingemulatingthewalk,the

improvisation,callandresponselinkmetaphoricallywiththetune’snamesakeso

thatjazzandclassicalcametogetheraswecalledandwaitedforBudtowalkin.

6.2.4‘Naima’

Composedin1959,andfirstrecordedthatyearfortheGiantStepsalbum,‘Naima’is

ahauntingmelodyofJohnColtrane’s,craftedforhiswifeNaimaasatribute.This

beautifulballadhasbecomepartofthestandardjazzrepertoire.ItsAABAform

standsoutfromothersinthattheAsectionsare4barsandthebridge8bars,

therebyaddingup20barsinstandard4/4time.Ourarrangement,byAuckland

basedcomposer/arrangerBernieAllen,in3/4timeisrefreshingandopensupthe

melodyforthedrumstointeractjudiciously.Thestringquartetplayedthis

compositionskilfullyandenteredintothespiritofthepiecewithmuchemotion.

ThepedalpointonwhichthecompositionisbasedallowsAllen’simaginative

sections(particularly,lettersGandH)toinvolvethedrumsinactiveinterplay.The

onlyimprovisationisa16-barbasssolo.Allen’srearrangementcapturestheessence

ofthetune,andprovidestheopportunitytobringemotionandimaginationto

enhancethespiritofthepiece.

6.2.5‘ANightinTunisia’

ComposedbyJohnBirks'Dizzy'Gillespie,thispiecehasbeenarrangedherebyBruce

Lynch.Writtenin1941andrecordedin1942,‘ANightinTunisia’becameajazz

standardandremainssotoday.Theuniquebasslinewasconsideredrevolutionary

foravoidingtheusual‘oneandthree’or‘fourbeatstothebar’standardbasslines.

Theformisthestandard32-barform.TheBsectionisbasedonthechordsofthe

jazzstandard‘AloneTogether’(comp.ArthurSchwartz).Uponcompletionofthelast

Asection,a16-barinterludeisemployedwiththelastfourbarstacet,givingthe

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soloistsaspringboardtolaunchtheirimprovisations.Onthelive1947versionBird

andDiz,CharlieParkerplayedthefamousfour-barbreak,settinguphissolo.

Ourversionbeganwiththestringquartetplayingrubatotimeexcerptsofthemelody,

followedbytheaforementionedbasspattern,8barsfollowedbythemelodyand

interludesettinguptheviolinsolo.Attheendoftheviolinsolo,theintroductionwas

employedtosetupthebasssolo.Achorusofthemelodyfollows,settinguptheopen

drumsolo,whichwasplayedinrubatotimeatthebeginning,andthenontheformof

themelody.Theinterludefollowed,withdrumfillstofiné.Inthiswaythechorusand

solostructureprovidedthecontexttoforeachsoloisttobuildonandcreatedtheleadin

forthenextplayerinarelay‘passingthebaton’mannertocontinuetoaddtheirvoiceto

theconversationandexitandentertheconversationwithcommonunderstandings.

6.2.6‘Skylife’ComposedandarrangedbyDavidBalakrishan,‘Skylife’isananthemrockgroove

writtenfortheTurtleIslandStringQuartet(1990).Theinclusionof‘Skylife’inthe

programmeopensupotheravenuesforimprovisationovertherhythmsection’s

funkandrockgroove,andprovidestheopportunityforimaginativeapproaches.

MahuiaBridgeman-Cooperwasthefeaturedviolinsoloist.Theinterpretationofthis

compositionrequiredanentirelydifferentapproachfromthestringquartet,which

theyachievedwithconvictionandrelativeease.‘Skylife’isarelatively

straightforwardABAB,16-8-12-8form.TheBsectionswereplayedwithanopen

feelingoverthepedalpoint,whichenabledatensionandreleasetooccur.Mahuia’s

soloshowedanothersideofthestringquartet’sabilitytoadapttodiverserhythmic

approachesfromtherhythmsection.Theviolinbuiltover24barswithbackgrounds

fromtheviolin,violaandcello,andthequartetreturnstoAandB.‘Skylife’isa

modernmusicalconversationwithasteadypulsebringingthejazzandclassical

instrumentationtoanewcontemporaryposition.

6.2.7‘ATributetoMaxRoach’:MaramaHallImprovisation(FrankGibson)

Thisimprovisationisanunaccompanieddrumsolo,whichoccasionallyreferredto

therhythmicphraseswhichmakeupthreeofRoach'sunaccompanieddrumsolos:

'ForBigSid','DrumsUnlimited'and'TheDrumAlsoWaltzes’.Theinnovative

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improvisationsofaltosaxophonistCharlie‘Bird’Parker,trumpeterJohnBirks‘Dizzy’

GillespieandpianistEarl‘Bud’Powell,amongstotherprominentjazzmusiciansof

the1940sand1950s,encourageddrummerMaxRoachtofindnewapproachesto

accommodatetheirmusicwhichwaslatercalledbe-bop.Hisfresh,innovativeideas

overtimecontributedtothedrummerbecomingamoreactiveandintegralpartas

anaccompanistintheband.Hisinnovationsaboveopenedupunlimitedpossibilities

forthedrummersthatfollowedhim,andthisimprovisationprovidesagood

exampleofthesepossibilitiesrealised.

Thisunaccompanieddrumsolobeganwithafour-cymbaldescendinglineplayed

severaltimesandrepeatedasafour-drumascendingline.Thecymballineis

repeatedleadingintoRoach’smelodiccomposition‘DrumsUnlimited’,whichisahi-

hatfigurerepeatedAA16bars,avariationBof8bars,andanothersectionAof8

barsmakinga32-barAABAcomposition.Thedrumsimproviseonthisformand

segueinto‘ForBigSid’,anotherAABA32-barcomposition,dedicatedtofellow

drummer‘Big’SidCatlett.Improvisationonthisformcontinuesandleadsintothe

thirdtheme,‘TheDrumAlsoWaltzes’,a16-bar3/4composition.Drumsimprovise

overthisformandreturntoashortstatementof‘DrumsUnlimited’,andthenthe

four-bardescendingcymballineisplayedasthefinalstatement.Thispieceisa

tribute,anditspeakstothehistoryandpersonalitiesofthosewhohaveforgednew

musicalpathwaysandopenedupthecreativepossibilitiesandroadsforthosewho

havecomeafter.

6.2.8‘StraightNoChaser’

Firstrecordedin1951‘StraightNoChaser’isonlythesecondbluesthatThelonious

Monkrecorded,with‘Mysterioso’beingthefirstin1948.Itisa12-barblues

employingMonk'screativelysimplecompositionalstyleofusingaconsistentidea

withdifferentmeasuresandendings.OriginallycomposedbyMonk,andarranged

byBruceLynchforthisconcert,‘StraightNoChaser’hasbeenapartofthestandard

jazzrepertoireforover50years.

Ourversionbeganwiththebassaccompaniedbydrumsplayingonechorusofthe

melodyaswritten,followedbytwomoremelodychoruseswithembellishments.In

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thefourthchorusofthebasssolo,thestringquartetplayedawrittenshoutchorus

leadingintothefinalandfifthchorusofthebasssolo.Thestringquartetplayedthe

firstfourbarsofanotherMonkblues,‘BlueMonk’,tosetupthecellosolo,withthe

sameformatcontinuingwiththesolosbyfirstviolin,secondviolinandviola,withall

solosonthelasteightbarsofthebluesform.Areharmonisedchorusof‘StraightNo

Chaser’hintsattheatonalitythatfollowed.Theuseofasimplemelody,different

measuresandendingsprovidedtheframeworkfor,andtheopportunityto,

embellishandgobeyond,yetmeettogethertocomposeandre-compose.

6.3 Conclusion Thisperformanceevidencedanexplorationofhybridityinmusicwhereajazz

drummerandclassicalmusicianscollaboratedtoencourageandcreateafurther

hybridizationwhilstretainingthevoiceofandarespectforthemusicians’traditions

andmusicalcultures.Itwasanaspirationalopportunitycapitalisedontobring

togetherimprovisation,jazzandclassicalmusicianstogethertocreateinthe

moment.Thiswasanexplorationofimprovisationandthejoiningofdistinct

aestheticgenres.Weattemptedtoallowthemomenttocreateitselfandembraceit

withspirit,acknowledgingthatourmusicianshipandapproachhasbeeninformed

andcraftedbythosegreatjazzandclassicalprogenitors,traditionsandfoundations.

Whileimprovisationwascreated‘inthemoment’and‘themomentcreated’,the

historyandcontributionofthosewhohavegonebeforeplayedacrucialpartboth

unconsciouslyandthroughconsciousexecutionintheongoingexpressionand

evolutionofthecraft,musicandmusicianship.

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Chapter7:Conclusion

Thisexegesisexploredthepossibilitiesofamalgamatingjazz-basedimprovisation

withthestyleandimprovisationsofthreeothermusicalcultures:Indian

(Hindustani)classicalmusic,ChineseclassicalmusicandWesternclassicalmusic

(chambermusictradition).Thisresearchaimedtoexploremusicalcollaborationand

theconnectionpointsbetweenbop-basedjazzimprovisationandthe

improvisationallanguagesofmusicfromIndiaandChina,andWesternclassical

chambermusic.Importantly,thecentralthesisofthisprojectwasthatthesemusical

languagescanbeusedincollaborationwithjazztocreatenewstylistic

interpretations,whilststillretainingdistinctmusic-culturalvoices.

Thecentralapproachtothisperformance-ledresearchwas,asdiscussedinChapter

1,theconceptof‘discourseinmusic’,wherebycommunicationonbothmusicaland

linguistic(discussion)levelsbecametheprimemotivatorofartist-to-artist

communication.ThroughtheperformancesandrecordingsIcreatedforthis

exegesisthenotionoftradition(andwhatwethinkofasmusicaltraditions)was

exploredthroughthemusicalandlinguisticdiscoursethatoccurredduringthe

rehearsal,performanceandrecordingofthemusicwecreated.Theincorporationof

thiscommunicationwasparticularlyimportantforthemergingofjazzwith

aestheticallyandculturallydifferentmusicalgenresininterculturalcollaborationsto

createhybridmusicalperformanceswherebothmusicalcultures(andthe

performers)haveequalinputintheperformance.

Ibegantheexplorationofhybridisinggenresbyexaminingthegenrecentraltothis

exegesis:jazz.AsstatedinChapter2,interculturalcollaborationshavebeenan

importantstylisticfeatureofjazzfromitsearliestyears,andinfact,jazzisaproduct

ofinterculturalcollaborationsbetweendescendantsofAfricanslavesandfree

peopletotheUnitedStates,Europeancolonialdescendants,andhybridcultures

betweenthetwo(suchasAfro–Cuban[Hispanic]orAfro–Haitian[French]).This

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makesjazzauseful,flexiblemusicalvehicleforcollaborationswithothergenresand

cultures.

Keytothisresearchwasimprovisation.Improvisationiscentraltojazz,andtomany

othermusicalcultures.InthisresearchitwasimportanttomethatIcoulduse

aspectsofjazzwithmusicianswhoseprimarystylewasnotjazz,butalsotoexplore

aspectsofstyleandimprovisationinthevarietyofmusicalaestheticsmy

collaboratorswerebringingtotheproject.

Chapters3through6exploredthesedifferentcollaborationsinrecordingand

performance.InChapter3,Ibeganbyestablishingabase-lineofAmericanbopjazz

byrecordinganalbumofTheloniousMonkcompositions,withAmericanjazz

musiciansChuckManning(TenorSaxophone),LarryKoonse(Guitar),TheoSaunders

(Piano)andPutterSmith(Bass).Thisestablishedthefoundationandframeworkfor

me,usingtheunderstandingIhaveofthegenrethatIhaveperformedformostof

mylife.Thenegotiationsofmusicallanguage,meaninganddiscourseenableda

shareddialogueandacollaborativeexplorationofjazzimprovisation,andallthat

longpracticedjazzmusiciansbringtosuchperformances,providingtheopportunity

tosetoffthisexplorationofinter-culturalmusicalcollaborationsfromasolid

startingpoint.

Chapters4and5exploredHindustaniclassicalmusicandChineseclassicalmusic

aesthetics,respectively.BothIndianandChinesemusicshaveradicallydifferent

aestheticvaluesandstylisticimpulses.WhiletheragasysteminIndianclassical

musicsemphasisesimprovisationaskeytothemusicalexperience,Chineseclassical

musichasemphasisedtheartofembellishmentandornamentationonan

establishedmelodicline.Inexploringeachofthesemusicalstyles,Ifoundthatinmy

collaborationwithIndianmusiciansBasantMadhur(Tabla),LesterSilver(Sitar)and

ChinmayaDunster(Sarod),animprovisationalmelodicragafoundationpositioned

thepersonalisationofthemusiceasilywithintheperformances,withtheIndian

musicians’creativelyexploringtheragasandjazzimprovisationasacombinationof

collectiveideacreationandpersonalcomposition.Nogenreortradition

predominatedandthiscreatedsomethingnovelwhilstretainingdistinctvoicesand

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traditionsbringingtogethermulti-culturalismandtraditioninanintercultural

collaboration.

Incontrast,mycollaborationwithChinesemusiciansTanyaLi(Erhu)andWilliamYu

(YangQin)foundthat,justastheswing,groove,technique,backgroundand

aestheticscontributetomyimprovisations,itwasseenasparamounttoTanyaand

Williamthattheimprovisationincorporatedtherightchoiceoftechniqueand

melodyembellishmenttobringoutthebalance,harmony,elementsandemotionof

thepiece.Therightfeelingandemotionwaspositionedasbeingessentialtothe

musicaldiscourseandasbeingrespectfultowhateachofusbroughttothe

interculturalcollaboration;anacknowledgementandvaluingofourrespective

traditions,musicianshipandmulticulturalism.

InChapter6,IexploredthepossibilitiesofjazzwithaWesternartmusicstring

quartet,withaddedelectricbass.Thiswasconsiderablydifferentagain,utilising

bothimprovisationandembellishmentofthemelody.IfoundthatBruceLynch

(ElectricBass)andtheTheBlackStringQuartet(MahuiaBridgmanCooper[Violin],

JessicaHindin[Violin],JosephHarrop[Viola],RachelWells[Cello])followedtheir

ownuniquepathsintoimprovisatoryaesthetics.Theperformanceevidencedan

explorationofhybridityinmusicwherecollaborationencouragedfurther

hybridizationtobringtogetherdistinctaestheticgenreswithimprovisation,jazzand

classicalmusicianstogethercreatinginthemoment.TheclassicalEuropeanstring

quartetwiththejuxtapositionofanelectricbassaddedafurther,distinctlymodern,

elementinthisinterculturalcollaboration,synthesisinginthediscoursearangeof

voicesandgenrestocometogetherasonevoicetotellnewstories.

Throughouttheperformancesinthisproject,distinctivevoiceswereharvestedfrom

thecollectivesound,yettherewasacomingtogetherinthemomentthatmadethe

wholegreaterthanthesumofindividualvoices.Whilebringingtheirowncharacter

andpersonalexperience,themusicwasindividualisedandcollectivelycreated

accordingtothemusicians’feelingandskill,andbasedontheirpersonal

interpretation,understandingofandrespectfortradition,andinrelationtoour

musicalconversationsandcollaboration.

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Ireiteratethatitisapparentthattheseinterculturalcollaborationsare

fundamentallyabouttheinteractioninthecourseofmakingmusicencapsulating

thefeeling:thediscourseinmusicratherthanthediscourseonmusic.As

improvisers,weseektocreate‘inthemoment’throughexpressingourfeelings,

spiritandpersonalities,butatthesametime,werelyonourmusicalbackgrounds

andtechnicalexpertise.IbelievethemusicportfolioofCDsthataccompaniesthis

exegesisspeaksforitselfwitheverylistenerhearingwhatspeakstothem,basedon

thecapturedmomentandamyriadofunconsciousandconsciousperceptionsand

interpretationsfilteredthroughexperiencesandtheirstory,theconnectionand

conversationtheyhavewiththemusic,‘theirmoment’.

Inworldmusicandfusion,thedistinctculturalvoicecanget‘lostinthemix’,

mergedbeyondrecognitionoroverwhelmedbythedominantvoice.These

collaborationssoughttoretainthedistinctculturalvoiceandtogiveequalvoiceto

allinvolvedthroughretainingculturalintegrity.Thiswasassistedbytraditional

tuningsandinstrumentsandthedecisionsmadebetweenmusiciansinthecourseof

rehearsal,performanceandrecording.Attimes,suchasthosediscussedinChapter

4,ourinitialideashadtochangeduetopracticalconstraints,creatinganew

conversation.Thisprojectisfoundedoncollaborationwithcompositionschosen

andorchestratedtobuildontothatcollaboration,torenewestablishedmusical

relationshipsandbuildnewones.Musicalcollaborationisnotafiniteexpression,

butanopen-endedprocess.Itisaboutbringingopennessaswellasrespectforthe

pastanddiversebackgroundstotheconversation.Thus,wecreateanotionofvalue

andrespectforallthemusiciansinvolvedandwhattheybringtotheconversation,

aswellasameansofpursuinganewwayofmakingmusic;acelebrationofdiversity

andpossibilities–whatmightbecalled‘multiculturalmusic’.Multiculturalmusicis

wherethereisanopennesstotheothers’perspectiveandwheretheconversation

isnotone-sidedormeldedbyone’sperspectiveandbackground,andisthusnot

fusionor‘worldmusic’.Itis,however,adiscourseinmusicinthe‘spacebetween’in

theperformancespace.Thisisaspacewherenoonevoiceorgenredominates,but

acelebrationofdiversity,andanhonouringofrespectivehistoriesandtherichness

ofindividualandculturalexperience.

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TheburgeoningNewZealandmulticulturalsocietyisaboonformusicianswanting

toexploreothermusicalcultures,styles,andaesthetics.Thenotionofbeingableto

improvisewithanymusicianfromarangeofbackgroundsandacrossarangeof

genresisintriguingandpresentsinfinitepossibilities.Improvisationprovidesthis

opportunitytotellnewmusicalstories:tomergecompositionandperformanceto

createsomethingnew‘inthemoment’andtocreate‘newmoments’.Future

researchinthisareacouldpotentiallyexploredifferentaestheticelementsand

improvisationstylestoenableothermusicalandculturalstoriestobetold.This

couldpotentiallybeimportantasmoreandmoreKiwimusicianshavecompeting

andoftenconflictingculturalbackgrounds.Musicalcollaborationandanopenness

tocelebratediversityalloweachmusicalvoicetobeheardinatrulyequal

conversation,‘thediscourseinmusic’creatingandtellingthatnewstory.

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Auckland:AucklandUniversityPress.

________(2013)FrankGibsonSr.Audioculture

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Brindley,E.(2013).Music,Cosmology,andthePoliticsofHarmonyinEarlyChina.

NewYork,NY:UniversityofNewYorkPress.

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144.

Burnard,P.,Mackinlay,E.,&Powell,K.(2016).RoutledgeInternationalHandbookof

InterculturalArtsResearch.NewYork:Routledge.

Butt,J.(2002).PlayingwithHistory:TheHistoricalApproachtoMusical

Performance.Cambridge;NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress.

Candy,L.(2006).Practice-basedResearch:AGuide.(CreativityandCognitionStudios

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Deveaux,S.,&Giddins,G.(2009).Jazz.NewYork:W.W.Norton.

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Fischlin,D.,&Heble,A.(Eds.)(2004).TheOtherSideofNowhere.Jazz,

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Frith,S.(2000).TheDiscourseofWorldMusic.InG.BornandD.Hesmondhalgh

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Gifford,P.M.(2001).TheHammeredDulcimer:AHistory.Lanham,MD:Scarecrow

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Gorow,R.(2002).HearingandWritingMusic:ProfessionalTrainingforToday's

Musician.Gardena,CA:SeptemberPublishing.

Griffiths,P.(2001).ImprovisationII:WesternArtMusic6:The20thCentury.InS.

Sadie&J.Tyrrell(Eds.),TheNewGroveDictionaryofMusicandMusicians.

London,England:MacmillanPublishers.

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Hodson,R.(2007).Interaction,ImprovisationandInterplayinJazz.NewYork:

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Horsley,I.(2001).ImprovisationII:WesternArtMusic2:Historyto1600.InS.Sadie

&J.Tyrrell(Eds.),TheNewGroveDictionaryofMusicandMusicians.London,

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JazzAge.Durham,NC:DukeUniversityPress.

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GreatTraditions(pp.160-177).Woodbridge:BoydellPress.

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NewYork:FreePress.

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Dean(Eds.),Practice-ledResearch,Research-ledPracticeintheCreativeArts

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Korall,B.(1990).Drummin'Men:TheHeartbeatofJazz:TheSwingYears.Oxford,

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_________(2002).Drummin'Men:TheHeartbeatofJazz:TheBebopYears.Oxford,

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Kroll,J.(2004).TheExegesisandtheGentleReader/Writer.TEXT(3)SpecialIssue:

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FreeJazzandImprovisationsmusik.Bielefeld:Transcript.

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Rasch,R.(2011).BeyondNotes:ImprovisationinWesternMusicoftheEighteenth

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Schuller,G.(1991).TheSwingEra:TheDevelopmentofJazz,1930-1945.Oxford,

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ColumbiaUniversityPress.

Scruton,R.(1999).TheAestheticsofMusic.Oxford,England:OxfordUniversity

Press.

Shipton,A.(2001).ANewHistoryofJazz.London:Continuum.

Sinclair,K.(2000).AHistoryofNewZealand.(Rev.Ed.)Auckland:Penguin.

Singh,D.(1979).InvitationtoIndianMusic.Ludhiana,India:ClassicalMusicCircle.

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UK:AshgatePublishing.

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CreativeArts.Edinburgh:EdinburghUniversityPress.

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Aotearoa/NewZealand(pp.93-102).Cambridge:CambridgeScholars.

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____________(2012)“AnyRags,AnyJazz,AnyBoppersToday?”JazzinNew

Zealand1920-1955(UnpublishedPhD.Thesis)UniversityofAuckland.

Wegman,R.C.(2014).‘WesternArtMusic:Introduction’InNettl,etal.

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Widdess,R.(2015).NorthIndia.M.Church(ed.).TheOtherClassicalMusics:Fifteen

GreatTraditions(pp.138-159).Woodbridge:BoydellPress.

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RepublicofMacedonia(UnpublishedPhD.Diss.).UniversityofCaliforniaLos

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Wizleben(eds.).GarlandEncyclopediaofWorldMusic.NewYork:Routledge.

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database.

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andJ.L.Wizleben(eds.).GarlandEncyclopediaofWorldMusic.NewYork:

Routledge.RetrievedfromMusicOnline:TheGarlandEncyclopediaofWorld

Musicdatabase.

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Discography

Broadbent,A.(2009).TogetherAgain:Broadbent,GibsonandSmith.Auckland,New

Zealand:OdeRecords.

Broadbent,A.(1986).SongofHome:AlanBroadbentTrio.Auckland,NewZealand:

KiwiPacificRecords.

Broadbent,A.(1987).EverythingILove:AlanBroadbentTrio.LosAngeles,CA:

DiscoveryRecords.

Burrows,D.(1976).TheTasmanConnection.Sydney,Australia:CherryPieRecords.

Davis,M.(1959).KindofBlue.NewYork,NY:ColumbiaRecords.

_______.(1969).InaSilentWay.NewYork,NY:ColumbiaRecords.

_______.(1970).BitchesBrew.NewYork,NY:ColumbiaRecords.

_______.(1992).Doo-BopNewYork,NY:WarnerBrothers.

Donegan,L.(1978).Puttin‘ontheStyle.London,England:Chrysalis.

Ellis,D.(1967).ElectricBath.NewYork,NY:ColumbiaRecords.

_____.(2010).LiveInIndia.SleepyNightRecords.[OriginallyaJazzIndia

presentation,recordedatRangBhavan,Bombay,India1978.]

Evans,B.(1966).BillEvansTrioWithSymphonyOrchestra.LosAngeles,CA:Verve

Records.

Getz,S.(1962).BigBandBossa.LosAngeles,CA:VerveRecords.

Gibson,F.(1976).DoctorTree.Auckland,NewZealand:EMINZ.

_______.(1981).ExecutiveDecision:FrankGibson’sSpaceCase.Auckland,NewZealand:

OdeRecords.

______.(1981).Parallel37:FrankGibsonwithMiltJackson,JohnScofield,Bobby

Shew,SteveErquiagaandMikeNock.Auckland,NewZealand:OdeRecords.

______.(1983).SpaceCase11:FrankGibson’sSpaceCasefeaturingClaudioRoditiandRon

McClure.Auckland,NewZealand:OdeRecords.

________.(1985).SpaceCase111:FrankGibson’sSpaceCase.Auckland,New

Zealand:OdeRecords.

______.(1987).Jazzmobile.Auckland,NewZealand:KiwiPacificRecords.

Gibson,F.&M.Nock.(1987).OpenDoor.Auckland,NewZealand:OdeRecords.

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79

Gillespie,D&Parker,C.(1952).BirdandDiz.LosAngeles,CA:VerveRecords.

Hiroshima.(1979). Hiroshima.NewYork,NY:AristaRecordsInc.

MahavishnuOrchestra.(1971).InnerMountingFlame.NewYork,NY:Columbia

Records.

Mayer,J.(1969).JohnMayer'sIndoJazzFusion– Etudes.London,England:

TransatlanticRecordsLtd.

McNabb,M.(2000).TheEndistheBeginning.Auckland,NewZealand:Saranbang

Records.

__________.(2009).AstralSurfers.Auckland,NewZealand:SDLMusicLtd.

__________.(2012-13).EveryDayisaBeautifulDay.Auckland,NewZealand:

SaranbangRecords.

MorriseyMullenBand.(1979).LoveDon’tLiveHereAnymore.AbbeyRoad,London,

England:EMI.

Oregon.(1976) .ElvinJonesandOregon:Together.SantaMonica,CA:

VanguardRecordingSociety.

Parker,C.(1947-52).CharlieParkerwithStrings–TheMasterTapes.LosAngeles,

CA:VerveRecords.

Paz.(1982).PazareBack.London,UK:SpotliteRecords.

Roach,M.(1985).MaxRoachDoubleQuartet:TheSwedenborgStringQuartet-Live

AtVielharmonieMunich.Tribiano,Italy:SoulNote.

___________(1986).BrightMoments.NewYork,NY:SoulNote.

Shakti.(1977).AHandfulofBeauty(withJohnMcLaughlin).NewYork,NY:Columbia

Records.

_____.(1999).RememberShakti.NewYork,NY:VerveRecords.

Sutton,T.(2003).JazzmeetsSymphony:AlanBroadbentTrio.Auckland,New

Zealand:BMWSeries.

TurtleIslandQuartet.(1990).Skylife.LosAngeles,CA:WindhamHill.

WalkerBrothers.(1978).NiteFlights.London,England:GTORecords.

Williams,T.(1969-70).OnceinaLifetime.NewYork,NY:VerveRecords.

SAMPLEDBYDJSTHEFOLLOWINGALBUMSANDCOMPILATIONS:

DJNumark.(2004).Jurassic5-HandsOn.NewYork,NY:SequenceRecords.

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Fingathing.(2002).DrunkenMaster11.OnSuperheroMusic.Manchester,UK:Grand

CentralRecords.

DJVadim.(1999).HowtoExerciseTheTurntableRecordPlayer.OnU.S.S.R.Lifefrom

theOtherSide.London,England:NinjaTune.

EuginoD.(2000).OnRespectOverdue.Vol2.Sydney,Australia:CreativeVibes.

FILMSOUNDTRACK:

Hayward,R.(1972).ToLoveaMaori.Dunedin,NewZealand:RudallandRamai

HaywardFilmProductions.

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APPENDIX1:MusicianBiographiesFourInOneMusicians’Biographies

PutterSmithisajazzbasslegendperformingwithmanyofthegreats,including

TheloniousMonkQuartet,ArtBlakeyandtheJazzMessengers,DukeEllington

Orchestra,BillyEckstine,AlanBroadbent,LeeKonitz,RayCharles,CarmenMcRae,

ArtFarmer,MarleneDietrich,BurtBacharach,ErrolGarner,GerryMulligan,Charlie

Haden,ArtPepper,ManhattanTransfer,ShellyManne,JoeLaBarbera,BillyMintz

Quartet,DexterGordon,BillyHiggins,DonCherry,CarlaBley,DianaKrall,Natalie

Coleandmanymore.

LarryKoonsehasreceivedmultipleGrammynominationsandhastouredwithMel

Torme,BobBrookmeyer,CleoLaine,JohnDankworth,BillyChilds,JohnPatitucci,

DavidFriesen,LucianaSouza,NatalieCole,BobMintzer,PeterErskine,andWarne

Marsh,andwasafeaturedperformerwiththePercyFaithOrchestra.Heiscurrently

amemberofBillyChild’slandmarkchambersextetandjazzvocalistTierneySutton’s

trio.AttheinvitationofNelsonMandelaandUNICEF,Larryperformedforthefirst

annualSAMIXfestivalwiththeSteveHoughtonquintet.Inhistravels,hehas

performedatCarnegieHall,theAcademyofMusic,DisneyHall,theSydneyOpera

House,andhasbeenafeaturedsoloistwiththeL.A.Philharmonic,thePhiladelphia

Orchestraandmanyotherorchestrasthroughouttheworld.Larryhasrecordedwith

CleoLaine,AlHirt,JimmyRowles,BobBrookmeyer,LucianaSouza,LeeKonitz,Larry

Goldings,MelTorme,AlanBroadbent,RayBrown,TootsThielemans,RodStewart,

LindaRonstadt,DavidFriesen,BobSheppard,WarneMarsh,CharlieHaden,Natalie

Coleandmanyotherjazzartists.

TheoSaunderswasbornandraisedontheislandofManhattanandwasfirst

intoxicatedbythesoundofjazzwhileattendingtheHighSchoolofPerformingArts.

Apianist,composerandarranger,hehaslivedinSouthernCaliforniasince1985,but

hiscareerhasremainedinternationalinitsscope.Saunders’musicalodysseyhas

takenhimtofourcontinentsandtwenty-fivecountries.Hehasperformedand

recordedwithdozensofjazzluminariesandworkedextensivelyinthebandsof

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FreddieHubbard,CarlaBley,SonnyFortune,BobBrookmeyer,andJohnKlemmer.A

highlightwashisparticipationinthehistoricalbum,LivingTimeonColumbia

Records,whichbroughttogetherthewritingofcomposerGeorgeRussellandthe

improvisationalgeniusofpianistBillEvanswiththeband,includingJoeHenderson,

TonyWilliams,RonCarter,SamRivers,JimmyGuiffre,SnookyYoungandHoward

Johnson.

ChuckManninghasmadedozensofappearancesandcollaborationswithmusicians,

suchastheLosAngelesQuartet,andhehashadalong-timecollaborationwith

SwissmultiinstrumentalistIslaEckinger.ChuckhasrecordedwithAlphonseMouzon

andisaregularmemberoftheBobbyBradfordMo’tet.

FreedomThroughDisciplineMusicians’Biographies

BasantMadhurisawidelyacknowledgedtablaplayerandamuch-respectedartiste

inthearenaofIndianClassicalMusic.Onaccountofhisversatilityandpleasing

disposition,heisaforemostcreativeartistintherealmofIndianclassicalmusicin

NewZealand,andAustralasiaasawhole.MadhurmovedtoNewZealandin2002

andestablishedtheSargamSchoolofIndianMusic.In2008,hereceivedtheAward

ofAppreciationforhiscontributiontothefieldofmusicbyGOPIO(Global

OrganizationofPeopleofIndianOriginNewZealand).Basanthashadthehonourof

accompanyingsomeofthestalwartsofIndianClassicalMusic,suchasGrammy

winnerPt.VishwaMohanBhatt,Pt.RonuMajumdar,Pt.RakeshChaurasia,Dr.Kadri

GopalnathandmridangamplayerPatriSatishKumar,tonameafew.Otherthan

beingaregularfeatureinmanymusicfestivalsinNewZealand,Basantisknownto

performinIndia,Australia,andUSAonotheroccasions.

LesterSilverhasneverlosthispassionforstudyingandlearningaboutthemusic

knownasRagaSangeet.Thesitar’sbeautifultoneandshimmeringnoteshave

enchantedlistenerseversinceRaviShankarbroughtitoutofIndiamorethanhalfa

centuryago.Sincebeingintroducedtothismusicoverthirtyyearsago,therehave

beenmanyteachersandinfluences,withmostofLester’sformaltrainingbeing

undertheguidanceofsitaristProf.PrasantaK.BhanjaofSantiniketan.Aftermuch

personalpracticeandeffort,LesterisnowconsideredtobeoneofNewZealand's

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leadingexponents.Lesterisawell-respectedandacclaimedmusicianinthisfieldof

IndianartmusicandisaregularperformerinAuckland'sclassicalmusicconcerts,as

wellasregionalartsfestivalsaroundNewZealand.

ChinmayaDunsterwasborninKent,England.Afterattendingartcollege,Chinmaya

lefttheUK,andwithwatercoloursandSpanishguitarinhand,wentonthehippy

trailthatledthroughAfghanistantoIndia.Afterexploringandpaintinginthe

Himalayas,SriLanka,Thailand,andJapan,anall-nightconcertinNewDelhiin1979

provedtobeaturningpointinhislife.Thereheheardaperformancebytheworld-

famoussarodistAmjadAliKhanandinstantlyfellinlovewiththesarod.Threeyears

laterhebecameastudentofAmjadAliKhan’sleadingdisciple.Chinmayadedicated

thenextthirteenyearstothestudyofIndianclassicalmusiconthesarod,bothin

LondonandattheOshoCommuneinPune,India.In1990,withtwoothercommune

members,hefoundedtheeast-westfusionbandTerraIncognita,whichreleased

twoCDsonNewEarthRecords.Hisrelease,CelticRagas,ablendofIndianandCeltic

elements,appearedonNewEarthRecordsin1998.In2003ChinmayaandhisCeltic

RagasbandwereexclusivelyhonouredtoperformliveatPaulMcCartney’swedding

inIreland.In2004,PaulMcCartneychosethesong‘ChanceMeeting’from

Chinmaya’sCDCelticRagas,asthethirdtrackonhisfavouritesongscompilation,

GlastonburyGrooves(2004).

TheFiveElementsMusicians’Biographies

TanyaListartedlearningtheerhuattheageof10.Byage14,Tanyawasinvitedto

playsoloperformancesinvariousconcertsandsheperformedthroughoutthe

provincesandcitiesofChina.

WilliamYustartedtolearnyangqinatnineyearsofage.Hewonfirstplaceinthe

NationalMusicCompetitionofChinawhenhewas15.Williamwasadmittedtothe

LiaoNingProvinceSongandDancetroupeattheageof16.

TanyaandWilliamhaveover30yearsofmusicalexperienceinChineseOrchestras.

In2004theyimmigratedtoNewZealand.Subsequently,theyhaveperformedat

music,government,ministerial,Chineseassociationandeducationalfunctions,and

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alsoperformingwiththeAucklandPhilharmoniaandattheInternationalJazz

FestivalinWellington.

Open-EndedMusicians’Biographies

BruceLynchisanelectricandacousticbassist,producerandarranger.Arrivingin

theUKinthemid-1970s,Lynchbecameasessionmusiciantouringandrecording

withCatStevens.HealsorecordedontwoalbumsforRichardThompsonandan

albumwithRickWakeman,aswellasplayingonKateBush'sdebutalbum.Whilein

theUK,hewasanearlymemberofBritishjazz/funkbandMorrissey-Mullen,

togetherwithfellowNewZealandsessionmusicianFrankGibson,Jr.ondrums.

ReturningtoNewZealandin1981,hestartedarrangingandorchestratingforNew

Zealandtelevisionandjazzensembles.Helaterbecamearecordproducer,

producing,amongstothers,KiriteKanawa'sMaorialbum,andreceivingtwoNew

ZealandMusicAwards.

TheBlackQuartetareasophisticated,versatilegroupofextremelytalented

musicians,offeringacontemporarytakeonthisclassicensemblestyle.Theyhave

collaboratedwithperformerssuchasKanyeWest,Six60andLadyhawke.Theyhave

alsocomposedadvertisingmusicforsomeoftheworld'sbiggestcommercial

brands.

MahuiaBridgman-CooperisanAucklandbasedcomposer,producerand

accomplishedviolinist.AfoundingmemberofTheBlackQuartet,hehasbeencalled

toplayandproduceforadiverserangeofartistsandensemblesincludingLaurence

Arabia,MaiseyRika,Ladyhawke,MoanaandTheTribe,TVNZ,TheNZSO,SJD,Kid

KenobiandHayleyWestenraamongothers.In2016hetookhometheAPRAbest

filmscoreawardforLeeTamahori’sMahana,whichaddstothepreviouslywon

APRAMaiohaawardandmultiplenominations,includingBestFilmScoreforFantail

in2013,andHouseboundin2014,amongstothers.

JosephHarropisalsoaprofessionalviolinistandviolist,educatorandmusic

academic.‘DrJoe’,ashisstudentscallhim,believesinthepowerofmusic-making

asaninstrumentofsocialchange,asacreativewaytoinvestinone’sselfandthe

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community,andasatemplateforachievementandhigheraspirations.Joseph

studiedinAucklandandGermanybeforecompletinghisPhDattheRoyalAcademy

ofMusic,London.HeleftasuccessfulperformanceandlecturingcareerintheUKto

takeonthechallengeofimplementingthemusical-socialdevelopmentprogramme,

SistemaAotearoainOtara,SouthAuckland.JosephwasgivenaSirPeterBlake

LeadershipAwardin2013andwaselectedasanAssociateoftheRoyalAcademyof

Musicforsignificantcontributionstothemusicprofessionin2014.Hehas

presentedinternationallyonmusicperformancepracticeandsocialactionthrough

music.Thetechniquesofeffectivemusicensembleperformanceareaparticular

researchinterest.HisworkispublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress.

RachelWellsstudiedwithEuanMurdochandCoralBognuda,andgainedherATCL

withdistinctionunderJimTennant.SheplayswiththeBlackQuartet,andhas

freelancedandrecordedwithotherchambergroups,andahostofNZ'sfinest

contemporarybandsandartistsincludingBroods,LawrenceArabia,theBlackbird

EnsembleandHayleyWestenra.ShehasaBachelorofFineArtsfromElam,

AucklandUniversity.

JessHindingainedadegreeinPerformanceViolinatTheUniversityofAuckland

SchoolofMusic.Followingherstudies,shesuccessfullyauditionedforthe

internationallytouringworldmusicstageshowBarrage,basedinAlberta,Canada.

Afteralmostsixyearsofextensivetouring,encompassingfivecontinentsand

multipleinternationaltelevisionappearances,shereturnedhometocontinuea

careerasafreelancemusicianperforminginNewZealandandinternationallywith

differentshowsandbands.In2016JessicawasappointedMusicDirectorofSistema

Aotearoa,anorchestralmusical/socialinterventionprograminSouthAuckland

bringingfreemusicaleducationtoover400childrenweekly.Jessretainsanactive

professionalperformingcareer,andregularlyrecordsandperformsforartistsacross

variousmusicalgenres,andfortelevisionandmoviesoundtracks.Herwork

encompassesclassical,world,gypsy,jazz,country,andCelticmusic.

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APPENDIX2:DiscographyofAlbums

ConsultedasBackgroundResearch

ArtEnsembleofChicago.(1967--68).ArtEnsemble.NewYork,NY:PrestigeRecords.

ArtEnsembleofChicago.(1984-90).TheThirdDecade.München,Germany:ECM.

ArtEnsembleofChicago.(1990).LiveattheEighthTokyoMusicJoy.Tokyo,Japan:

DIW.

Ayler,A.(1962).FirstRecordings.Volume2.Tokyo,Japan:DIW.

Bailey,D.(1986).Cyro.London,England:Incus.

Bailey,D.(1995)TheLastWave.Tokyo,Japan:DIW.

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APPENDIX3:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter3SelectedstillsfromthevideoaccompanyingtheFourInOneRecording

Sessions

SelectedleadsheetsandnotesfromFourInOne

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APPENDIX4:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter4SelectedstillsfromthevideoaccompanyingtheFreedomThrough

Disciplinerecordingsessions

SelectednotesandsketchesmadeforFourPartSuite

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APPENDIX5:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter5SelectedphotographsfromTheFiveElementsrecordingsessions

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SelectedsketchesfromTheFiveElementsrecordingsessions

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APPENDIX6:AccompanyingMaterialtoChapter6SelectedphotosfromtheOpen-EndedConcertatMaramaHall

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RecordingsandPerformances

CD1:TheFrankGibsonQuartetPlaysMonk:FourinOne

1. CrissCross3.52

2. LightBlue4.25

3. Epistrophy3.54arr.PutterSmith

4. IMeanYou4.55

5. Monk’sMood5.40

6. InWalkedBud3.04

Orchestratedfordrumset(FrankGibson)

7. Eronel5.35

8. FourinOne6.10

9. UglyBeauty4.18

10. Monk’sDream7.03

11. Pannonica5.40

12. Evidence3.20arr.PutterSmith

AllCompositions:TheloniousSphereMonk

MUSICIANS

FrankGibson(Drumset)Alltracks

ChuckManning(TenorSaxophone)Alltracksexcept6

LarryKoonse(Guitar)Tracks1,4,7,8,11

TheoSaunders(Piano)Tracks2,3,5,9,10

PutterSmith(Bass)AllTracksexcept6

MusicalDirector:FrankGibson.AssociateDirector:PutterSmith

ProducedbyFrankGibson.AssociateDirector:PutterSmith

EngineeredbyNolanShaheed

RecordedatNolan’sStudio,Pasadena,CAon8and10March,2015

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118

CD2:TheFrankGibsonIndianEnsemblePresents:Freedom

ThroughDiscipline1. FreedomThroughDiscipline13.06

MusicforSitar,Tabla,Sarod,DroneBox,SnareDrumandPercussion

Comp.Gibson,Silver,Dunster,MadhurandLynch

2. FirstMeeting,Firsttake7.08

MusicforSitarandDrumset

Comp.GibsonandSilver

3. FourPieceSuiteforTablaandDrumset

Part1and25.45

Part3and44.65

Comp.Gibson

4. ConversationswithChinmaya7.42

MusicforSarod,TablaandDrumset

Comp.Gibson,DunsterandLynch

MUSICIANS

FrankGibson(DrumsetandPercussion)

BasantMadhur(Tabla)

LesterSilver(Sitar)

ChinmayaDunster(Sarod)

RecordedattheBoatshedStudio,Bayswater,Auckland

FourPieceSuiteforTablaandSitarrecorded15.12.2014

FreedomThroughDiscipline,FirstMeetingFirstTakeandConversationswithChinmaya,

basictracksrecorded27.10.2015

Drumandpercussionoverdubs,editingandProTools.October2015

MixedandmasteredbyFrankGibsonandBruceLynch

CD3:FrankGibson’sChineseEnsemblePresents:TheFiveElements1. SpringtimeonTianMountain3.54TraditionalChineseFolkSong

2. ExitThrutheEntrance2.47

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119

Comp.MurrayMcNabb

3. Intensity/Fire3.58

Comp.FrankGibson,WilliamYuandBruceLynch

4. MarcoPolo’sReturn13.10Comp.MurrayMcNabb

5. Empathy/Compassion5.28

Comp.FrankGibson,TanyaLiandBruceLynch

6. HappyHouse5.03

Comp.OrnetteColeman

MUSICIANS

FrankGibson(DrumsetandPercussion)

TanyaLi(Erhu)

WilliamYu(YangQin)

MusicalDirector:FrankGibson.AssociateDirector:BruceLynch

ProducedbyFrankGibson.AssociateProducer:BruceLynch

EngineeredbyBruceLynch

Recorded,mixed,masteredandedited2016and2017attheBoatshedStudio,Bayswater,

Auckland

LivePerformance:FrankGibsonandCollaboratingArtists,TheBlack

StringQuartetandBruceLynchPresent:Open-Ended

1. StolenMoments

Comp.OliverNelson,re-arrangedbyBruceLynch

2. SoWhat

Comp.MilesDavis,re-arrangedbyBruceLynch3.

InWalkedBud

Comp.TheloniousMonk,re-arrangedbyCarlDoy

4. Naima

Comp.JohnColtrane,re-arrangedbyBernieAllen

5. ANightinTunisia

Comp.JohnBirks'Dizzy'Gillespie,re-arrangedbyBruceLynch

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120

6. Skylife

Comp.andarrangedbyDavidBalakrishan

7. ATributetoMaxRoach

MaramaHallImprovisationFrankGibson

8. StraightNoChaser

Comp.TheloniousMonk,re-arrangedbyBruceLynch

MUSICIANS

FrankGibson(Drumset)

MahuiaBridgman-Cooper(Violin)

JessicaHindin(Violin)

JosephHarrop(Viola)

RachelWells(Cello)

BruceLynch(ElectricBass)

PerformedandrecordedliveatMaramaHall,OtagoUniversityon28July2017.