Harmonic signification: A study of articulation practices in four unaccompanied jazz double bass solos.

摘要

The author presents the transcriptions and analyses of four unaccompanied jazz bass solos. The bassists represented are Jimmy Garrison in an introduction to the "Resolution" theme, Eddie Gomez featured on the first half of the melody of "Embraceable You", Christian McBride soloing on "Isfahan" and Robert Hurst playing a composition arrangement and solo on "Evidence". The historic range of the selections is from 1964 to 1992.;The two main branches of inquiry document the range of tools of articulating harmony and examine the harmonic concepts and styles that are produced. Comparisons are drawn on the level of signification of each articulation tool. In addition, the question of how a soloist interacts with the harmony of the composition is addressed.;The author uses a Methodology drawn from jazz harmony theory, musicology and linguistics. A Definition of Terms provides an explanation of specialist language used throughout the analyses. The author uses a formal model as the basis of the Comparative Analysis of the four solos and summarises the findings in the Conclusion.;An Appendix contains four complete solo transcriptions, four chord charts and five Tables of the Occurrence and Usage of Tools of Harmonic Articulation. A Selected Bibliography and Discography is provided.