| Description |
The development of jazz tenor saxophone playing throughout the 20th century coincided with many historical events and cultural changes in the United States. In this investigation, I will examine the impact that these changes had on great tenor saxophonists across several pivotal eras in the development of jazz music. To do so, I will analyze select transcriptions of jazz tenor saxophone solos to describe prominent playing techniques that help characterize the playing styles of different eras within the development of jazz music. I will use historical knowledge regarding individual artists, developments in jazz music, and significant cultural events and/or changes to contextualize these playing techniques. I will demonstrate some of the ways that musical analyses of jazz transcriptions can provide unique insights into the impact that historical events and societal developments had on American jazz artists. Furthermore, this examination will provide effective examples of how the development of jazz music is a continuous process in which the innovations of different artists build on the work of previous generations, creating a constantly-evolving artistic medium. |
