Inside Improvisation Series, Vol. 6: Developing a Jazz Language: For All Instruments

Developing a Jazz Language is the sixth volume of Jerry Bergonzi's series, Inside Improvisation. Learning a language requires listening on many levels to the meanings, the sounds, the intentions, and the inflections or nuances of the language. The first chapters of this volume focus on the prerequisites of chord scales, approach notes to chord tones and target notes, scale motives and sequences, and lines. Part two qualifies improvisational techniques into three areas; melodic, harmonic, and sonic (rhythmic devices are the focus of Vol. 4, Melodic Rhythms) and it is designed as a menu of soloing devices from which you can select your personal course of study. Over 100 specific devices are discussed and conceptualized so as to give the improviser more depth of expression and a greater well from which to draw ideas. Among the numerous topics presented are: guide tones, voice leading, chord substitutions, three tonic system for composition, tritonics, hexatonics, tonal expansions, whole tone playing, augmented symmetric scales, double diminished scales, limited range and large range playing, shapes, blues melodies, accents, comping as a soloing device, common tones, articulations, and more. The CD contains 12 standard chord progressions, each played in two different tempos.