Estimated duration

2 h

Organizer

Taideyliopiston Sibelius-Akatemia

Full title of the doctoral degree:
Perspectives on Jazz Synthesizer Improvisation: Analyzing Recorded Solos by Jan Hammer, Joe Zawinul,  George Duke, Chick Corea, and Michael Brecker

  • Artistic committee: Dr. Jarno Kukkonen (chair), Professor Jukkis Uotila, Dr. Markus Ketola, Dr. Mikko Helevä, Keyboardist/composer James Arthur ”Jim” Beard
  • Examiner of the thesis: Dr. Erkki Huovinen 
  • Chair: Professor Jukkis Uotila 

Programme

  • Opening of the examination
  • Musical performance by Ville Vannemaa, saxophones, Tuure Koski, bass, Jussi Lehtonen, drums, Visa Oscar, keys, live electronics 
  • Lectio praecursoria
  • Statement of the Artistic Committee 
  • Doctoral candidate’s comments 
  • Final statement of the thesis examiners 
  • Final statement of the chair 
  • Public Questions/discussion 
  • Closing of the examination

Artistic components of the doctoral degree

The degree included four doctoral concerts and a recording.

  • Doctoral concert Visa Oscar Plays the Electric Fusion Jazz of Chick Corea, 2013 (Helsinki Music Center, Black Box, March 22, 2013)
  • Doctoral concert Unleashing the Innovations Behind Michael Brecker’s EWI, 2014 (Helsinki Music Center, Black Box, May 6, 2014)
  • Doctoral concert Joe Zawinul’s Improvisational Concept and Its Legacy, 2015 (Helsinki Music Center, Black Box, May 28, 2015)
  • Doctoral concert The Role of Synthesizer in a Jazz Fusion Ensemble, 2016 (Helsinki Music Center, Black Box, April 21, 2016)
  • Recording Visa Oscar “Looking Back, Reaching Forward” Digital Album, 2022

Abstract of the thesis

This thesis studies different perspectives on jazz synthesizer improvisation by examining five recorded solos: “Celestial Terrestrial Commuters” [Birds of Fire], “Black Market [8:30], “Brazilian Sugar” [Brazilian Love Affair], “Got A Match?” [Chick Corea Electric Band], and “Gossip” [Michael Brecker Band Live] as well as published interviews of their original performers: Jan Hammer (1948-), Joe Zawinul (1932-2007), George Duke (1946-2013), Chick Corea (1941-2021), and Michael Brecker (1949-2007).

The primary research method employed is artistic practice-based, which consists of self-learning by aural imitation and music theory analysis. In the research process, synthesizer solos from the original recordings were imitated, transcribed, and analyzed. The source material comprises four doctoral concerts, audio recordings, videos, books, scholarly articles, magazine articles, and internet sources. The studied solos and accompanying parts were transcribed by the author and chosen from the repertoire of the doctoral concerts, in which the author performed original compositions and music frequently performed by the studied musicians. The analysis brings out the contextual background, synthesizer setups, and sound design. The transcription analysis focuses on rhythmic and melodic-harmonic phenomena such as scale choices, note choices, patterns, nuancing, timbral qualities, form, and tension control. At the end of each section covering a solo, there is a summary of the most essential qualities of that solo, along with an imitation video by the author.

The findings show that the critical elements in jazz synthesizer soloing are mastering the improvisatory languages of the jazz tradition and adjusting the playing style to each sound’s acoustic character. The studied solos demonstrate different ways of nuancing the notes with continuous controllers and manipulating the sound’s timbral qualities to keep the synthesizer sound expressive and exciting. A comparison chart of the studied musician’s personal data, song information, improvisational concepts, synthesizer setups, solo sound characters, and realtime controllers found in the five solos is presented at the end.

More information

Visa-Pekka Mertanen
visa.mertanen@mac.com