Jazz, Blues and John

Scofield, a Synthesized

Language

An exploration into John Scofield‟s utilization of

blues language within a jazz improvisational

context

“When I was 14 I was a Blues snob and I listened to BB King; that was it. I liked Howlin' Wolf, BB

King, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Freddy King, Albert King. And then I got into jazz and I've

listened to everybody.” John Scofield(Brannon)

Gary Watling

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours)

University of Melbourne

Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Music

October 2011-11-09

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Declaration of Originality

This dissertation contains no material that has been accepted for the award of any other degree or

diploma in any other university and to the best of my knowledge, contains no material previously

published or written by any other person except where due reference is made in the text.

3

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Ashley Cross and Elizabeth Mitchell for their time, patience and

guidance throughout this year.

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Table of contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Aims and Objectives...............................................................................................pg 9

1.2 Structure of the thesis.............................................................................................pg 9

1.3 Methodology..........................................................................................................pg 11

2 Chapter 1- Analysis of selected elements of the blues language

2.1 Blues scale and the blue note.................................................................................pg 12

2.2 Expressive Techniques...........................................................................................pg 21

Time feel

Bending

Vibrato

Timbre

3 Chapter 2- An analysis of John Scofields improvisatory style

3.1 Background...........................................................................................................pg 30

3.2 General observations.............................................................................................pg 31

3.3 Analysis.................................................................................................................pg 37

3.4 Analysis of “All the Things You Are”..................................................................pg 38

General

Bending and blue notes

Timbre

Analysis of “Wee”..................................................................................................pg 42

General

Bending and blue notes

Timbre

Conclusion.............................................................................................................pg 45

Appendix 1.............................................................................................................pg 47

Transcription of “All the Things You Are”

4 Appendix 2.............................................................................................................pg 52

5 Transcription of “ Wee”

5

List of Figures

Figure 1: Blues Scale

Figure 1.1: excerpt taken from Muddy waters recording of “I Can‟t Be Satisfied”

Figure 1.2a: excerpt taken from Howling Wolf‟s recording of “Going Down Slow”

Figure 1.2b: excerpt taken from Howling Wolf‟s recording of “Going Down Slow”

Figure 1.3: excerpt taken from B.B King‟s recording of “You Upsets Me Baby”

Figure 1.4: excerpt taken from Little Walter‟s recording of “Rocker”

Figure 2: excerpt taken from B.B King‟s recording of “Paying The Cost To Be The Boss”

Figure 2.1: excerpt taken from B.B King‟s recording of “Crying Won‟t Help You”

Figure 3: excerpt taken from Muddy Waters recording of “Louisiana Blues”

Figure 3.1: excerpt taken from B.B King‟s recording of “The Thrill is Gone”

Figure 4: excerpt taken from John Scofield‟s recording of “Not You Again”

Figure 4.1: excerpt taken from John Scofield‟s recording of “Not You Again”

FIGURE 4.2: excerpt taken from John Scofield‟s recording of “Flat Out”

Figure 4.3: excerpt taken from John Scofield‟s recording of “All The Things You Are”

Figure 4.4: excerpt taken from John Scofield‟s recording of “Flat Out”

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Audio Tracks (accompanying Compact Disc)

Track 1: Fig 1.1

Track 2: Fig 1.2a

Track 3: Fig 1.2b

Track 4: Fig 1.3

Track 5: Fig 1.4

Track 6: Fig 2

Track 7: Fig 2.1

Track 8: Fig 3

Track 9: Fig 3.1

Track 10: Howling Wolf, Smoke Stack Lightning released March 1956, Chess label

Track 11: Muddy Waters Mannish Boy released June 1955, Chess label

Track 12: Little Walter Rocker released 1965, Chess label

Track 13: B.B king Sweet Sixteen released 1960, Kent label

Track 14: Fig 4

Track 15: Fig 4.1

Track 16: Fig 4.2

Track 17: Roberto Gatto, There Will Never Be Another You, released 1987, Gramavision label

Track 18: Fig 4.3

Track 19: Fig 4.4

Track 20: John Scofield, All The Things You Are, released 1989, Gramavision Label

Track 21: John Scofield, Wee, released 2004, Verve label

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8

Introduction

“I am totally in debt to the blues. I think blues is really powerful music, the good blues...I think I was

one of the first to seriously try to incorporate that element, the phrasing of blues and rock, with the

be-bop chords and changes. For me it‟s really hard to separate between jazz or fusion, rhythm &

blues, blues, or rock music. In a way, I think all those elements are in my music...” John Scofield

(Weisethuanet)

John Scofield (1951) is considered to be one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the modern era

and has collaborated with some of the most influential names in jazz including Miles Davis, Dave

Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock.

Though Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser, the blues plays a prominent role in his

improvisational style, echoing influences of such artists as B.B King, Albert King, Muddy Waters,

Jimi Hendrix and a plethora of other blues artists. He has managed to fuse the constructive elements,

distinctive techniques, and idiosyncratic traits of the blues with the harmonic sophistication of jazz,

creating one of the most unique and recognisable guitar styles in jazz, while broadening the tonal

palette of the instrument. Whilst jazz guitarists and jazz musicians generally have always sourced

inspiration from the blues, it is the opinion of the author that John Scofield‟s embedded blues

language manifests from different influences than his jazz predecessors. Although other jazz guitarists

such as Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall reflected elements of the blues in their playing, it was derived

from far more mellow influences stemming back to what Frank Tirro terms as “classic blues “(Tirro,

1993) represented by artists such as Bessie Smith and Louie Armstrong. Classic blues artists brought

a degree of professionalism, of polished and consistent artistry to the blues genre and were a major

influence on the development of jazz. Scofield however, grew up during the 1960s and was exposed

to the music of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. These bluesmen fall under

the category put forward by Tirro as “Country”(Tirro, 1993) and “Urban”(Tirro, 1993) blues, which

traditionally have been perceived as being apart the jazz idiom. Creatively embracing these influences

within a straight ahead jazz context is one of the features that make Scofield‟s voice on the instrument

unique.

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The purpose of this dissertation is to establish to what extent John Schofield utilizes blues language in

a straight ahead jazz improvisational context. Although much can be said about John Scofield‟s

compositional output which also features blues elements, the main area of focus for this dissertation

will be his improvisational style. More specifically, it aims to answer the following principal

questions: 1) What is the “Blues Language”? 2) Which distinctive elements of the blues idiom

permeate Scofield‟s style? 3) How are these elements used in his improvisational process?

The author believes that an in-depth examination of John Scofield‟s style is a pertinent area of study

for three main reasons. Firstly, John Scofield, along with Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny have had a

significant impact on guitarists of their epoch and on those who have followed, contributing greatly to

the popularization of the instrument in the jazz idiom. Yet despite Scofield‟s significant contribution

to the music, there is a noticeable lack of any academic research into his improvisational style.

Secondly, Scofield has developed his own sound “which conforms to, and reaffirms the fundamental

aesthetic principles of the jazz idiom”(De Stefano, 1996). The investigation of this individualism is

central to jazz and can be demonstrated by the abundance of doctoral dissertations which investigate

the improvisational styles of leading jazz musicians: Art Tatum (Howards 1978), Charlie Parker

(Owens 1974), Sonny Rollins (Blanq 1977), John Coltrane (Porter 1983), and Lester Young (Gushee

1977). Finally, the blues is often seen in jazz circles as “merely a predecessor to jazz”(Paul oliver) and

is rarely considered as a topic for serious research. In focusing on the blues aspect contained within

John Scofield‟s style, the author attempts to illuminate not only what makes John Scofield an

extraordinary individualistic artist but also affirm the blues as a complex and valid art form that

demands significant investigation.

This thesis is divided into two principal sections each comprising several sub headings.

The first section will be an analysis of the blues from an historic and stylistic standpoint and give

detailed explanations of blues tone colour, articulations, harmonic language, rhythm, melody and

phrasing. This undertaking will include audio clips and transcriptions of specific musical examples

from various blues artists.

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Section two delves into how John Scofield utilises blues language while improvising within a straight

ahead jazz structure. This will be achieved through the analysis of specific transcriptions. The solos

that will form the impetus for this investigation will be from John Scofield‟s recording of “All the

Things You Are”(Hammerstein, 1939) and “Wee”(Best, 1949). These tunes are comprised of chord

changes that are common to the musical repertoires of jazz musicians and are widely known and

performed.

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Methodology

In order to establish well-defined and accurate representations of the blues language and its use within

Scofield‟s improvisational style, the author engaged a variety of resources including: a number of

masters and doctoral level dissertations on significant jazz artists, interviews with John Scofield as

well as significant blues figures and journal articles. This subsequently led to a deeper understanding

of John Scofield‟s utilisation of blues elements in his improvisations.

This dissertation employs style analysis as the primary method of inquiry and investigates all aspects

and traits of the musical spectrum including tone, rhythm, placement, feel and dynamics as well as

melodic and harmonic considerations. The authors aim was to form a rational and methodical

approach for the examination of the blues language and the improvisational style of John Scofield, via

practices derived from musicology and jazz scholarship along with jazz performance and practice.

Throughout this procedure the author has incorporated well-known guidelines for „style analysis‟ that

have been articulated by music scholars such as Jan La Rue, Lawrence Gushee and Charles Keil.

An important part of the style analysis process is transcription. The majority of the musical examples

were transcribed note for note from the respective recordings, and the author made all attempts to

maintain a high level of accuracy both in expressive detail and consistent notational practices.

However, the transcription of John Scofield‟s solo on “Wee” (Best, 1949) was transcribed by Bruce

Saunders, a professor of music at Berklee College of Music, and was acquired from his website

www.brucesaunder.com. Many of the musical examples have been transcribed in their entirety, while

others only contain a select number of choruses or relevant measures. While transcribing the excerpts

and solos used for this dissertation the author utilised a program called “Amazing Slow Downer,”

which allowed the recordings of each excerpt to be slowed to a tempo where the highest accuracy

could be achieved, providing greater clarity while examining nuance. In some instances, certain

musical examples were analysed aurally due to visual transcription being deemed unnecessary. In

these cases the reader will be directed to specific audio examples that accompany this dissertation.

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The Blues Language

A style analysis of selected elements of the blues

“The blues is a personal state made in musical terms which is nevertheless valid for all members of

society”. (Tirro, 1993) The blues is an African American music that transverses a wide range of

emotion and musical styles and can differ in mood, theme, approach, and style of delivery.

The aim of this chapter is to discuss in detail specific elements of the blues language including blues

scale usage, the blue note, expressive techniques and articulations, dynamics, timbre, texture and

common phrases. It will be shown that Scofield‟s use of these elements definitively echoes the blues

styles of early delta, electric blues and R&B artists, a characteristic not common to his jazz guitar

predecessors.

Blues Scale and the Blue Note

An important characteristic of the blues language is the blues scale or mode, which informs the mood

of the blues genre. The scale includes three intervals that are varied in pitch: the third, fifth and

seventh. Each of these three scale degrees seem to be neutral, meaning neither major of minor and are

almost impossible to show accurately using Western musical notation. These notes could best be

described as “Pitch Complexes”1(Titon) or tonal areas, demonstrating discrepancies in pitch that stray

from the norm in regards to the Western notational system, which strongly believes in the sanctity of

intonation.

1 Pitch complexes refer to the microtonal increments of pitch that surround any given note.

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Figure 1

“It is necessary that the blues scale be perceived not as simply an alteration of the Western System-

not a major scale with a few notes changed, but rather as a very different configuration of

pitches”(Ripani).

It would be naive to state that in a blues performance, the blues scale presented in figure 1 would exist

in isolation. It is best to view this scale as a model that delineates the basic pitches of a highly intricate

blues mode.

When attempting to grasp an understanding of how the blues scale is used it is useful to examine how

the particular scale degrees function in a musical context. However, it would be impossible to

encapsulate the entire scope of the blues language through the analysis of any one blues performance.

Therefore the following collection of musical examples presents a cross section of the blues language,

with a view to highlighting the nuance of the music in as much detail as possible given the constraints

of this dissertation. Furthermore, it is beyond the scope of this thesis to accurately measure the

variations in pitch that are presented in these musical examples as well as it being deemed

unnecessary. The transcriptions do not and cannot accurately express the sonic nature of the

performances, which is one of the frustrations when attempting to show these blues language using

traditional Western musical notation. The point here is to grasp the notion that the pitches which lay

between the notes in the Western Tempered system are included in the range of notes available to a

blues performer.

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These pitch discrepancies are often referred to as „blue notes‟ and are central to the blues language.

The concept of the „blue note‟ is among the most frequently repeated formulae used when describing

the harmonic foundation of American music, in particular the styles of blues, gospel, R&B and jazz.

For the most part the academic fraternity has held the view that the „blue note‟ is an alteration of the

western major scale, with the third, fifth and seventh scale degree flattened.

“A frequently mentioned characterisation of U.S Negro songs is the so called „blue note‟, the

flattened or slightly lowered third and seventh degrees in a major scale.”(Tirro, 1993)

In fact the „blue note‟ is not really a note at all in the ordinary, sense of the word. That is, it does not

have fixed pitch relationships to its neighbours, but is rather a movement or a melodic tendency.

These micro-tones are often seen as impure by Western musicologists, but it‟s the constant interplay

between these pitches and the Tempered Western Tonal system that create the essence of the blues

sound.

“The harmonic foundation of blues, rock and some jazz styles in emic terms and performance

practice, in fact represent both a totally different conception of harmony to that of western functional

harmony and also represents a different comprehension of dissonance/consonance in

music”(Weisethuanet).

In other words these so called „blue notes‟ would not necessarily be considered to be „flattened‟ by an

individual performer but simply the right note for that particular situation. A significant argument for

these „blue notes‟ or micro-tones being part of a distinct harmonic system, rather than random pitches

come from Jeff Titon.

“The most important argument that these quarter-tones form distinct pitches in a down home blues

mode is that singers enter and move within the complexes in a manner reasonably consistent from

phrases to phrase, line to line, and stanza to stanza throughout a given song”(Titon)

What can be taken from this statement by Titon is that there is a high level of consistency to how

these pitches are used by blues musicians in performance practice.

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Figure 1.1 is taken from Muddy Waters‟ tune “I can‟t be satisfied” (Morganfield, 1948) and is a prime

example of the blues language. Muddy Waters, who was both a singer and guitarist, was an innovator

of the blues genre and is a master of evoking the sound and essence of the blues. He primarily used a

slide2 or a bottleneck in his left hand in order to obtain the graduations in pitch he required, which is a

common tool for the early blues guitarist (this will be discussed in greater detail in the expressive

techniques chapter). In bars 1, 3 and 5 Waters slides up to the fifth (D) and the third (B) of the tonic

chord (G). The third in particular seems to be sitting somewhere between B flat and B natural, a clear

demonstration of the notion of pitch complexes or tonal areas within one note.

Bar 4 shows another often heard blues device, the „double stop‟. In this example the third of the tonic

chord (B) is sounded simultaneously with the tonic note (G). As in bars 1, 3 and 5 the third seems to

sit somewhere between B flat and B natural. The resulting sound of the two notes combined is an

excellent example of blues dissonance.

Bar 7 illustrates how blues musicians manipulate the 7th of a chord as well as exemplifying the vocal

like qualities that can be achieved on the guitar. Waters slides up to the tonic note (G) from the flat 7

(F natural) and returns to a pitch that sits between the flat 7th and the natural 7

th. This varied 7

th degree

is neutral in its function and once again demonstrates the micro tonalities available in the blues

language.

In bar 9 the note (G) changes from the tonic to the 5th

of the sub dominant chord C dominant 7. Waters

alternates between the flat 5th and the natural 5

th, taking full advantage of the available variations in

pitches along the way.

2 A slide is a glass or metal piece of tubbing that is placed over the finger of a guitarist. Instead of

altering the pitch of the strings in the normal manner (by pressing the string against frets), a slide is

placed upon the string to vary its vibrating length, and pitch. This slide can then be moved along the

string without lifting, creating continuous transitions in pitch.

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Figure 1.1 (Track 1)

Figure 1.2a is another example of quintessential blues guitar playing by Hubert Sumlin and is taken

from Howling Wolf‟s recording of “Going Down Slow” (Oden, 1942). Bar 1 begins with an example

of how blues musicians use the small pitch increments between notes to create melodic interest.

Employing a string bend (see expressive techniques and articulation chapter) Sumlin moves from the

flat 5th to the sharp 5

th before returning to the natural 5

th creating a very distinct lyrical melody

utilising microtones. This concept is illustrated once again in bar 3 over the D7 chord. In this example

the root note (D) is approached from the flat 7th (C) via a full tone string bend. Once Sumlin reaches

the root note (D) he releases the bend to a pitch that lays somewhere between the natural 7th and the

flat 7th, then returns to the root note (D).

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Figure 1.2a (Track 2)

Figure 1.2b is taken from the same recording and further demonstrates how Hubert Sumlin exploits

pitch complexes to great effect. Here Sumlin rapidly alternates between the 5th and the flat 5

th to

create a „flurry‟ effect. This lick3 is repeated again later in the solo with almost identical intonation,

thus giving weight to the notion that the manipulation of pitch variation has clear intention and is not

random.

3 In genres such as blues, jazz, rock and country the term lick refers to a stock pattern or phrase.

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Figure 1.2b (Track 3)

This example, figure 1.3, is a transcription of B.B Kings solo introduction to “You Upsets Me Baby”

(King, 1954). The first four bars are played over a G dominant chord. A dominant chord contains a

natural 3rd

scale degree (B), and King repeatedly plays the flattened 3rd

(B flat) over this tonality. In

bar 6 the flattened 3rd

is once again sounded over the (G) dominant chord; however this time the (B)

flat note is bent upwards to a pitch that is slightly below the natural 3rd

(B).

Another interesting feature of this example is King‟s treatment of the 5th degree of the G dominant 7

th

chord. King bends from the 4th (C) up to a pitch that is slightly lower that the 5

th (D) then sounds a (D)

note on the adjacent string. Given B.B King‟s renowned facility to control bends it is the authors

opinion that the slightly lowered 5ths are not „mistakes‟ or „out of tune‟ notes, but rather constitute the

implementation of a harmonic concept that embraces microtones. This can be further illustrated in

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bar 8 where over a C 7th chord, King executes a bend to a note that lays somewhere between the 4

th

(F) and the flattened 5th (G flat) before continuing up the flat 5

th, then sounding the natural 5

th (G) on

the adjacent string.

Figure 1.3 (Track 4)

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Example 1.4 is a transcribed extract from a solo on the song „Rocker‟(Jacobs, 1965) by blues

harmonica player Little Walter. Walter pedals4 the 5

th of an E dominant 7

th chord (B) while alternating

between the flattened 3rd

(G) and the natural 3rd

(G sharp), exploring the micro-tonal possibilities that

the language allows. Over the sub- dominant chord (A7) the (B) pedal is lowered to (B flat) creating a

flat 9th tonality, while the (G sharp) is lowered to (G), which is the flat 7th

of the A 7th. The flat 9

th (B

flat) is gradually bent up towards (B) natural, becoming the 5th of the (E) 7

th chord. The flattened 9

th

tonality throughout this extract may also be perceived as the flat 5th of the tonic chord.

Figure 1.4 (Track 5)

4 The term pedal refers to a single note held or repeated,while music continues

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Expressive Techniques and Timbre

In this section the techniques and articulations used to create the nuance and inflection required to

navigate through the various pitch complexes available to blues musicians are discussed, along with

the timbrel variations blues musicians draw upon. Instrumentalists employed techniques such as

string bends5 and vibrato

6 to emulate the „blue‟ notes heard in the African vocal style of the field

holler. Blues instrumentalists also emulate other vocal characteristics found in blues and gospel

music such as melismas and falsetto7 by harnessing elements such as feedback, distortion and slurs.

Blues musicians also experiment with sound quality or timbre, using growls, screams and wailing

to convey pain, joy or anger. These elements of the blues language “create the impression that the

thoughts, feelings, and expressions of the moment were quite important, turning attention away

from the song as product of a deliberate and often arduous process of composition, towards the

performance itself and the personality and uniqueness of the performer” (Evans). This is

particularly important as it recognises the improvisational aspect of the blues, forming a clear link

with jazz. Some of the techniques listed above have been mentioned earlier in connection with

other elements of the blues; however, this section will explore these expressive techniques,

articulations and timbrel variations in greater detail. This discussion will not focus on the actual

physical movements required to create these techniques, but rather their application in the music.

For example, when talking about how a harmonica player such as Little Walter bends tones, the

focal point will be the harmonic, tonal or textural applications, not the tonguing technique used to

create the bend. Throughout this discussion musical examples will be given to illustrate the various

5 String bend refers to the act of a musician pulling a string, either upwards or downwards in order to

alter the pitch of a note. 6 Vibrato produced on a string instrument by cyclic hand movements.

7 Falsetto is a method of voice production used by male singers in order to sing notes higher than their

normal range

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techniques and how they are utilised in performance practice. Due to written notation being largely

ineffective in accurately depicting such things as micro tonality, emotional measurement,

expressive techniques and sound quality, the following examples can be found on the

accompanying audio compact disc with time indicators representing the particular phrases or

passages being discussed. This section is by no means a definitive catalogue of expressive

techniques and timbrel variations found in the blues language as it is beyond the scope and focus of

this dissertation to attempt to list and define them all. Therefore the sample of techniques and

timbrel effects discussed is quite narrow while the definitions and uses are general and broad.

Time Feel/ Rhythm

As with all African American music, the Blues is built upon a sophisticated rhythmic language. As

blues musicians possess a comprehensive rhythmic vocabulary, there is an almost infinite amount of

rhythmic sub divisions that could be illustrated by various musical examples. Attempting to list all of

these rhythmic sub divisions is not only a monumental task, it has been deemed unnecessary in this

context; nonetheless, the notion of swing or groove is a defining feature of the blues that warrants

discussion. The concept of swing is complex, and is made even more difficult due to Western musical

notation being largely ineffective in accurately depicting swing. Ripani describes swing as something

that “often exists between the beats on the printed page, and constantly changes, measure to measure,

and beat to beat”. In his study of swing, Charles Keil puts forward “The power of music is in its

participatory discrepancies, and these are basically of two kinds: processual (time feel) and textural

(timbre). Music, to be personally involving and socially valuable, must be „out of time‟ or „out of

tune‟.”(Keil) What is meant by Keil here is that swing is derived from the constant interplay of

idiosyncratic time discrepancies such as hesitation, anticipation or relaxed dynamics against a strong

rhythmic pulse. The overall effect is a musical phrase that “floats over the underlying beat, and it

imparts ambiguity to the rhythmic structure‟‟(Ripani).This ambiguity creates swing due to its

intentional at-oddness with the basic rhythmic pulse. The way a blues musician manipulates these

discrepancies in time is a significant factor in establishing individual identity on an instrument.

Another concept that is tied into the notion of swing is syncopation or off beat phrasing. Off beat

23

phrasing is an essential ingredient of the blues rhythmic language, as it is with all African American

derived music. However, it has commonly been stated that the syncopation found in American music

has its roots in Africa and that Western art music has had no significant impact on this particular

element of the blues. Ripani asks the question: “what are the specific differences in the use of offbeat

phrasing in the blues system from that of syncopation in the European system?‟‟ He concludes that

the fundamental difference between the two, is that off beat phrasing occurs as a regular and essential

element of the blues, however, “a composer of European music typically incorporates off beat

phrasing in an effort to introduce something out of the ordinary.‟‟ (Ripani)

Bending

Bending tones on instruments to create tension and release or to imply a blues tonality can be

traced back to the turn of the century and the early development of the blues. There are many ways

that a blues instrumentalist can bend notes in order to evoke the musical expression that is an

essentially a vocally derived element of the blues language. During a blues performance any note

may be bent up or down depending on the desired harmonic tension in a particular expressive

situation. The specific techniques used to create these bends differ from instrument to instrument

but their application remains the same. Bends are not only used to produce the microtonal

graduations in pitch that are a part of the harmonic template used in the blues system, but are a key

ingredient in personifying a blues performance. To categorize all the different types of bends such

as whole bends and pre bends would be quite a sizeable task, as such; only the bends relevant to the

particular music examples will be discussed. It is important to keep in mind that when dealing with

microtonal playing there are a multitude of pitches that a particular note or notes could be bent up

to or away from, therefore such terms as full tone bends and half tones bends do little to convey the

rich diversity of bending in real life performance situations.

Figure 2 is the introductory guitar solo from B.B King‟s “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss”(King,

1968) which is a classic example of how bending is employed within a blues performance. The

bends utilised within this track aren‟t just thrown in for good measure or as an effect, rather they

24

are interwoven into the fabric of B.B King‟s style. During the first four bars King employs an array

of typical blues bends. In bar 1 King bends the 9th(C#) of the B7 chord up a whole tone to the 3

rd

(D#) then performs a bend and release which involves bending the 9th (C#) up to (D#) then

releasing the bent note back down to the original (C#) note, highlighting the micro tones along the

way which results in a glissando like effect. Bars 3 and 4 sees King bend the flattened 3rd

(D) up to

a note that is situated somewhere between (D) and the natural 3rd

(D#), creating a “blue note”. This

is an example of bending being used to create the interplay between major and minor which is an

essential part of blues language. These micro tonal inflections also help to produce a vocal like

quality to B.B King‟s playing and serve as a vehicle to enable King to personify the notes he plays.

Bars 3 and 4 serve as a detailed illustration of the level of nuance and expression great blues

musician can generate from their instruments. King bends the flattened third of the B7 chord (D) up

to a tone just below the natural 3rd

(D#) then in the same movement bends the 4th (E) up to a note

close to (F) which is the flattened 5th. This is followed by a (D) note bent up to a pitch between (D)

and (D#) immediately follows and the phrase is ended with a fretted tonic note (B). When trying to

describe these bending examples, words and notation always fall short of the mark and seem

cumbersome as these devices need to be heard to fully understand their impact. It is worth

mentioning that as with many blues guitarists, B.B King is also a recognised singer and his guitar

playing could be said to be emulating his voice.

Figure 2 (Track 6)

Paying the Cost to Be the Boss

25

Figure 2.1 is taken from B.B King‟s “Crying Won‟t Help You”(King, 1967a) and is a common

blues phrase which is frequently heard amongst blues performers. King bends the 4th of C7, (F)

note up to the 5th (G), finishing with a pentatonic derived melody.

Figure 2.1(Track 7)

“To me it‟s like the human voice. It‟s like a person singing. It seems to say more and you can feel

it. It makes the sound sort of stimulating. I think in terms of not just playing a note but making sure

that every note I play means something. You need to take time with these notes. If you just play

notes and not put anything into it, you‟ll never have a distinctive style. You need to put yourself into

what you are doing. It will set you from the person just playing the guitar. In other words, make

music” B.B King (Weisethuanet)

C7

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Vibrato

“The faster I shake my hand the better it sounds to me. I want it to sound like the vibrato in a

human‟s voice.”(B.B King)

A musician‟s vibrato is analogous to a finger print, meaning that no two are exactly the same,

making vibrato an extremely powerful and passionate expressive device. A listener can distinguish

one performer from another purely by their vibrato alone. Vibrato is an essential part of a blues

performance. It has the power to make an instrument speak or sing and can transform a solo from

an organized collection of notes into a dramatic unfolding, an emotional entity, a story with a

beginning, middle and an end. There are a multitude of approaches used to create vibrato and each

is instrument specific, however, like bending, the application remains the same which is to allow

the artist to communicate how they are feeling at a particular point in time. As with many other

expressive devices employed by blues musicians, vibrato is intended to mimic the human voice,

and like the human voice vibrato comes in a variety of shades and inflection. However, generally

speaking, most blues musicians employ a wider, faster vibrato.

Figure 3 is an excerpt from the introductory guitar solo from Muddy Waters “Louisiana

Blues”(Morganfield, 1950) and is an example of a wide, fast vibrato. In this example Muddy

achieves his particular vibrato with the use of a slide.

Figure 3 (Track 8)

27

Figure 3.1 is an example of a fast vibrato being achieved without a slide. It comes from an excerpt

taken from B.B King‟s „The Thrill is Gone”(Darnell, 1951). Like Muddy Waters, B.B King‟s

vibrato is very rapid evoking a vocal like quality.

Figure 3.1 (Track 9)

Bm7

28

Timbre

Timbre8 plays an important role within the blues language and is perhaps one of the most defining

elements of the blues. Blues vocalists employ an array of tonal effects with their voices such as

growls, screeches, grunts, nasal moans and falsettos to colour their voice in order to evoke emotion

and drama. Similarly, instrumentalists distort and manipulate timbre to mimic the expressive range

of their singing counterparts. It is also important to stress once again that many blues

instrumentalist are also singers, which has seen blues artist appropriate the speech like nature of

their singing to their instruments. The techniques and tools used by instrumentalists to create these

timbrel variations are numerous and differ depending on the instruments capabilities. However

amplification has played a significant role in allowing the blues language to evolve to what it is

today. Blues musicians embraced amplification due to its ability to facilitate tonal diversity as well

as volume, which can be illustrated by the playing of blues harmonica player Little Walter. Little

Walter revolutionised the sound of the harmonica when he developed the technique of cupping a

microphone attached to an amplifier in his hand while he played. The result was an extremely

powerful tone that possessed a certain rawness to it, similar to a preacher shouting to his

congregation. Indeed most blues musicians seem to possess a rawness or vocal-like quality to their

sound. Another prime example of this can be heard in the “dirty “or “gravelly” guitar tones

exhibited by a plethora of notable blues guitarist such as B.B King, Albert King, Freddie King,

Albert Collins and Taj Mahal. These guitarists employ effects such as distortion, wah-wah, tremolo

and reverb (all of which are electronic devices that manipulate or colour timbre) in order to vary

their sound. Overall a blues musician “realizes that such timbre, along with other stylistic traits,

helps to communicate with his audience in an essential way, and learning to effectively use these

features is important to mastering the style.”(Ripani)

The following audio examples can be found on the accompanying compact disc and are from

various significant blues artists. These examples attempt to illustrate the role that timbre and its

manipulation play in a blues performance.

8 Timbre is what makes a particular musical sound different from another, even when they have the

same pitch and dynamic.

29

Track 10- Howling Wolf, Smoke Stack Lightning released March 1956, Chess label

Track 11- Muddy Waters Mannish Boy released June 1955, Chess label

Track 12- Little Walter Rocker released 1965, Chess label

Track 13- B.B king Sweet Sixteen released 1960, Kent label

30

Chapter 2: An Analysis of the Blues Elements in John Scofield’s Improvisatory Style

Background

Born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at age 11. Inspired by

both rock and blues players he later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. After a debut

recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, Scofield became a member of the Billy Cobham-

George Duke Band for two years. In 1977 he recorded with Charles Mingus, and joined the Gary

Burton Quartet. He began his international career as a bandleader and recording artist in 1978.

Between the periods of 1982 to 1985, Scofield toured and recorded with Miles Davis. His tenure with

Miles Davis placed him firmly in the foreground of the jazz world as a player and composer. Since

that time he has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recording over 30

albums as a leader including collaborations with contemporary artist such as Pat Metheny, Charlie

Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples,

Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil Lesh. Throughout his career Scofield has

punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with blues-funk oriented electric music.

“I got into B.B. King and blues, and that whole blues guitar thing, when I was 14, 15. Got real into it,

became a blues purist, and then I got into jazz shortly thereafter”. John Scofield(Interviews)

31

Scofield’s improvisatory style: General Observations

Scofield‟s improvisatory style synthesises the harmonic complexity of be- bop and modern jazz

language with the timbrel and microtonal nuance of country and urban blues. Scofield tends to play

with a lightly distorted sound, a trait commonly found amongst blues musicians rather than jazz

guitarists. His harmonic approach is based on the advanced pentatonic and chordal substitutions made

famous by modern jazz players like John Coltrane and others as well as the „straight ahead‟ be-bop

phrases of Charlie Parker. Integrated within this jazz syntax is a deep understanding and appreciation

of the blues traditions of artists such as Muddy Waters and B.B King. He utilises bends and a blues-

esque vibrato within a jazz improvisational context which is not common amongst traditional jazz

guitar players. The use of these expressive techniques doesn‟t come across as contrived or used

merely for effect; rather Scofield seems to be aware of “how each and every note/bend fits with the

horizontal/vertical structures of chord progressions essential to jazz” (Weisethuanet).

The idea of timbrel individuality, which so forcefully permeates the jazz idiom, is nowhere more

implicit than in John Scofield‟s style. Through the adoption of the blues language Scofield has

developed one of the most unique instrumental timbres in the history of jazz guitar. His manipulation

of elements such as dynamics and sonoric intensity is a major characterizing aspect of his sound. The

timbrel characteristics and dynamic manoeuvrability associated with Scofield‟s sound do not derive

solely from either jazz or blues respectively. Rather, it is the outcome of a salient fusion of stylistic

concepts from both genres that has allowed Scofield to attain his individual sound.

Scofield‟s distinctive style is also largely due to his acute sense of time and awareness of groove. This

emphasis on rhythm is “one of the most fundamental approaches to jazz improvisation, and is

normally referred to as time feel”.(De Stefano, 1996) Scofields plays in a manner that continually

emphasises or understates the underlying metric pulse within an improvisation, constantly pushing

and pulling against the figures played by other band members.

32

Figure 4 is an example of Scofield utilising blues-esque bends with jazz phrasing and is taken from an

improvisation on his own composition “Not You Again.” (Scofield, 2001) This particular tune has

been composed using the chord changes of the well known jazz standard “There Will Never Be

Another You.” (Warren, 1942) Bars 1 and 3 contain typical jazz phrasing, which makes use of chord

tones interspersed with chromatic passing tones. However, during bar 2 Scofield bends the (C) note

up to a note close to (D) flat. This is an example of how Scofield incorporates intonation as an

expressive device throughout his jazz phrasing and echoes his country and urban blues influences.

Figure 4 (Track 14)

Scofield‟s utilisation of string bends can be further illustrated in Figure 4.1. During bar 2 Scofield

bends the (G) flat note up to a (G) note. It is important to point out that Scofield uses space,

immediately preceding and following the bent note, which allows for greater impact and draws the

listener‟s attention.

Throughout “Not You Again,” (Scofield, 2001) Scofield‟s tone is quite distorted and strays from the

traditional jazz guitar sound. He also varies his articulation by picking or striking the string in

different areas of the guitar and utilising techniques such as slurs, hammer-ons and pull offs, in order

to alter timbre within his improvisation.

Bbm7 Eb 7 Ab maj 7

33

Figure 4.1 (Track 15)

Figure 4.2 is an excerpt from Scofield‟s solo on the tune “Flat Out”(Scofield, 1989) and is another

example of how Scofield utilises blues expressive techniques, in particular string bends, over jazz

harmony. Throughout this passage Scofield repeats a motif over the entire progression. This motif is

very common amongst blues players and is reminiscent of B.B King‟s playing, illustrated in Figure

2.1. Scofield moves the motif up in minor thirds which suggest a (B) flat diminished sound. Scofield

employs string bends to produce certain notes throughout this passage, the resulting sound is very

bluesy, yet still retains the sophistication of jazz.

Figure 4.2 (Track 16)

Track 17 is an audio example and is taken from “There Will Never Be Another You” (Warren, 1942)

found on Roberto Gatto‟s album “Ask” (Gatto, 1987) which features John Scofield, and can be found

on the accompanying compact disc. This particular performance demonstrates Scofield‟s highly

developed awareness of and ability to control and manipulate timbre and dynamics. Although this

performance is somewhat unusual in a jazz context, due to the instrumentation being guitar and drums

only, the improvisation by Scofield is executed within the harmonic and formal structures of this well

34

known jazz standard “There Will Never Be Another You.” (Warren, 1942) Scofield produces an

effect similar to the falsetto heard in the singing styles of blues and gospel singers such as can be

identified in the aforementioned B.B. King track “Sweet Sixteen.” (King, 1967b) (Track 4).

Figure 4.3 is Scofield‟s interpretation of the melody of “All the Things You Are”(Hammerstein,

1939) taken from his album “Flat Out.”(Scofield, 1989) This example demonstrates Scofield‟s

manipulation of timbre in order to create contrast and engage the listener. Bar 1 one is played with a

soft dynamic and a consistent timbrel approach. However, during bar 2 Scofield manipulates the

timbre of the note (F) by employing an aggressive attack on the string as well as employing a string

bend. The (F) note is bent up to a note that lies below (G) flat, resulting in a blue note. This blue note

seems to function more as a device to manipulate timbre, rather than a deliberate harmonic choice.

Dynamically, the (F) note is louder in its delivery, which allows for a greater contrast in timbre. The

overall effect is of screaming or squealing bearing a human-like quality. The use of timbrel

manipulation and colouration to obtain vocal or human like qualities through the use of techniques

such as string bends is an element essential to the blues language. This particular example is

reminiscent of the slide playing of Muddy Waters or the vocal cries of Howling Wolf.

Figure 4.3 (Track 18)

Cm7 B Dim 7

35

Figure 4.4 is another example taken from the tune “Flat Out” (Scofield, 1989) and demonstrates how

Scofield integrates these manipulations in timbre into his jazz language. During Bar 1 Scofield

employs an effect similar to that of a slide guitar player, via the use of a volume pedal (a foot operated

device that allows a musician to control the dynamic output of their instrument). The (G) flat note is

bent up to a note that lies just below a (G) natural, however Scofield uses the volume pedal to render

the initial attack of the note inaudible, which is comparable to what can be achieved with the use of a

slide. Scofield gradually increases the dynamic of the bent note, which creates a „moaning‟ or „crying‟

effect that can be observed in the vocal and playing styles of a plethora of blues artists. The use of

electronic devices was not heard in straight ahead jazz guitar prior to the emergence of artist such as

John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, however, such devices were prevalent in the blues and

rock genres. Bars 3 to 12 exhibit melodic and harmonic language and phrasing commonly found in

the jazz tradition, however, bars 13 and 14 reveal the influence of Muddy Waters and other blues slide

guitar players. The repeated (E) notes during bars 13 and 14 are played with a wide and fast vibrato

and varied articulation, which manipulates the timbre of the notes. This is draws comparison to figure

3, which is Muddy Waters introductory phrase on “Louisiana Blues” (Morganfield, 1950).

36

Figure 4.4 (Track 19)

37

Analysis of selected John Scofield Improvisations

The Analysis

There are two analyses of John Scofield‟s improvisations presented within this chapter. Both are

complete in the sense that they go beyond simply looking at the blues elements contained within

them. It is important that the blues elements evident in Scofield‟s playing are observed in context with

his general improvisatory style. Furthermore, when analysing the blues elements within these

improvisations, it is necessary to analyse each particular example within the context of an entire

phrase. This will highlight to what degree Scofield draws upon his blues influences within a jazz

improvisation.

The first analysis within this chapter is of Scofield improvisation on “All the Things You Are”

(Hammerstein, 1939), taken from his 1989 studio release “Flat Out.” (Scofield, 1989) This contrasts

with the second analysis, his solo on “Wee,” (Best, 1949) taken from the “EnRoute” (Scofield, 2004)

album, which a recording of a live club date in 2004. The purpose of these analyses is to investigate

how Scofield superimposes blues language over the harmonically complex chord progressions

commonly found in jazz standards. The analysis will be focused on how the blues elements are

seamlessly interwoven into the jazz language inherent within these improvisations.

Due to the constraints of this dissertation the focus of the analysis is restricted to blue notes, bending

and timbre, which constitute the blues elements that have permeated Scofield style to the greatest

extent.

In the analyses of John Scofield‟s guitar sound during his performance of “All the Things You Are”

(Hammerstein, 1939) and “Wee” (Best, 1949) certain applicable guidelines proposed by Jan LaRue

were integrated. According to LaRue, the style analysis of sound includes observations falling

naturally into two categories: timbre and dynamics. The definitions have been slightly modified,

making them more relevant to the particular musical context, that is; the discussion of John Scofield‟s

improvisatory style. The style-analytical category of sound comprises, 1) Timbre: the instrumental

colour and tone-quality produced by the improviser; 2) Dynamics: the intensity of sound or

fluctuation of intensity generated in a solo, and manipulated through different techniques and

procedures.

38

Analysis of Scofields solo on “All the Things You Are”

General

This rendition of Kern & Hammerstein‟s "All the Things the Things You Are”(Hammerstein, 1939)

appears on John Scofield‟s 1989 release, “Flat Out.”(Scofield, 1989) It is interesting to hear how

Scofield approaches this particular jazz standard. The tune consists of a 36 bar form and Scofield‟s

improvisation spans a total of 6 choruses. Scofield chose the trio format with the instrumentation

consisting of electric guitar, electric bass and drums. The musical interaction between the members of

the group and their choice of harmonic and rhythmic language is steeped in the jazz tradition;

however, the use of a solid body bass gives the track a modern quality. The production on this album

is quite slick which differs from traditional production methods for jazz recording.

Bending and Blue Notes

Scofield is essentially a jazz musician; as such his harmonic language is derived primarily from the

jazz idiom. What Scofield has managed to achieve is to successfully fuse the distinctive elements of

country and urban blues music with his broad knowledge of jazz harmony. A prominent feature

apparent in Scofield‟s improvisational approach is the use of „blue notes.‟ He achieves these blue

notes in the same manner as a blues musician, by employing techniques such as bends to emulate the

human voice. These „blue notes‟ are a key characteristic of blues harmony, however, what makes

Scofield‟s approach unique is that he uses these elements over sophisticated jazz harmonic

progressions. Traditional blues melodies are primarily played over dominant 7th chords which form

the essence of the blues sound. Scofield however employs these micro tonal ideas over major 7th and

minor 7th

chords which are present in the harmony of “All the Things You Are” (Hammerstein, 1939).

The first example of Scofield utilising „blue notes‟ over a major 7th tonality can be seen in the 4

th bar

of this solo. The tonality of this particular bar is (A) flat major 7. Scofield plays a (G) flat note which

is the flat 7th, which harmonically implies a Dominant 7

th chord. Throughout this bar he utilises blues

expressive devices to achieve colour tones commonly found in jazz. Scofield bends the tonic note (A)

39

flat up to (A) natural which is the flat nine of the chord. Although the (A) flat note is a resolution,

Scofield immediately bends to a tension note, denying the feeling of resolution. It isn‟t the actual note

choice that makes Scofield‟s approach over the (A) flat chord interesting, it is how he produces these

tonalities, by employing bending techniques that are reminiscent of blues musicians such as B.B King

and Muddy Waters.

The use of blues-like bends to colour the underlying harmony can be illustrated further in bar 34.

Over the (E) flat dominant 7 chord Scofield bends the 9th (F) up to a note that lays somewhere

between the natural 9th and the shape 9, then resolves back to the 9

th (F). The actual sharpened 9

th

tonality over a dominant 7 chord is not uncommon in jazz harmony, however the bending technique

used to achieve the tonalities is quite unique. The practice of a semi tone bend that returns to the

original note is a device commonly found in the blues and is often referred to as a „bend and release.‟

This technique can be heard in the styles of a plethora of notable blues artists being illustrated by

Figure 2, bar 2 of B.B King‟s “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss” (King, 1968) in the blues language

section of this dissertation. The use of space within this bar 34 helps give weight to this blues figure

and adds contrast to the bebop language that follows in bars 35 and 36.

Bar 51 and 52 contain various expressive techniques used by blues artists and further illustrates how

Scofield manages to incorporate these elements within jazz harmony and phrasing. The two bars in

question are a (G) major 7 tonality. He bends a flat 3rd

(B) flat up to a note that lies just below the

natural 3rd

(B) creating a „blue note.‟ Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this particular phrase is

the way Scofield bends the 9th (A) up to natural 3

rd (B) making use of all the micro tonal increments

along the way. The dynamic and technical control required of this particular bend is astounding and

echoes the influence of B.B King. This expressive element is exhibited in B.B King‟s “Paying the

Cost for Being the Boss”(King, 1968) figure 2. The way Scofield manoeuvres out of this blues like

bend by targeting an (F#) note which is the 6th of next chord (A) minor, demonstrates he is acutely

aware of how these blues expressive techniques fit within the harmonic context. The two bars

preceding bars 51 and 52 are also quite sparse, both rhythmically and melodically, once again adding

contrast and allowing the blues phrasing room to shine.

40

Bars 58 through to bar 60, draw attention to Scofield‟s ability to fuse blues type bends with bebop

phrasing. Over the (B) dominant 7 chord in bar 58, Scofield sounds the 9th (C) sharp, then

immediately bends the sharpened fifth (G) up to the 13th (G) sharp. Bar 59 shows Scofield follow the

bend with a chromatic jazz phrase over the (E) major 7th and (C) 7

th altered chords. Once again

Scofield sets up his blues language with the use of space, which is evident in bar 57. This seems to be

a trend within this improvisation.

Scofield‟s awareness of how blues language can be applied within complex jazz harmony is further

illustrated in the 4th chorus of this improvisation during bars 135 to 140. Scofield employs a blues like

double stop on beat 4 of bar 135, by sounding an (A)flat and sliding an (E)flat up to (F)

simultaneously. Double stops are commonly used devices among blues guitarists as shown in Figure

1.1 of Chapter 1.

Bars 137 through to 140 not only demonstrate Scofield‟s capacity for micro tonal nuance but also give

insight into how Scofield thinks harmonically. Scofield superimposes the (D) flat blues mode over the

(A) flat major 7th, (D) flat major, (D) flat minor 7

th and (C) minor 7

th chords. The use of this scale over

these chords creates various points of tension and resolution. During bar 137 a (B) flat is bent up to a

(C) flat note, which is then released back down to a (B) flat note in bar 138 over a (D) flat minor

chord.

41

Timbre

Scofield‟s guitar tone on “All the Things You Are” (Hammerstein, 1939) employs a slight distortion

on the initial attack of the note; however, each note still retains a distinct clarity. This particular tone

colour strays from traditional jazz guitar tone and is reminiscent of blues artists such as Muddy

Waters and B.B. King. An example of this type of tone can be heard on track 2 of the accompanying

compact disc, which is taken from Muddy Waters “Mannish Boy” (Morganfield, 1955). Although

Scofield utilises this tone throughout most of the improvisation, he employs devices to manipulate

timbre as a means of expression, a trait commonly found amongst blues musicians. During bars 137 to

140 Scofield produces variations in timbre by employing expressive techniques such as bends and

altering the velocity of his attack on the strings. This results in a vocal-like cry, which not only

engages the listener, but helps to personify the phrase. Bars 150 and 152 are another example of

timbre being manipulated to obtain vocal like qualities and clearly demonstrate Scofield‟s awareness

of the capacity of timbre as an expressive tool. This example is achieved by Scofield changing his

articulation and striking the string closer to the bridge of the guitar. This sound is similar to an effect

called wah-wah (refer to expressive techniques chapter). This effect is commonly used by rock, blues

and funk musicians and was originally designed to mimic the human voice.

42

Analysis of Scofields solo on “Wee”

General

“Wee”(Best, 1949) appears on John Scofield‟s 2004 release, “EnRoute” (Scofield, 2004). EnRoute is

a live album by The John Scofield Trio recorded at New York's Blue Note jazz club in December

2003. The tune is derived from the jazz standard composed by George and Ira Gershwin entitled “I

Got Rhythm” (Gershwin, 1930). The tune consists of a 32 bar form and Scofield‟s improvisation

spans a total of 8 choruses. The harmonic progression of this tune is known as „Rhythm Changes‟, a

frequently used as a point of investigation amongst jazz musicians.

Bending and Blue Notes

As mentioned in the previous analysis of “All the Things You Are” (Hammerstein, 1939), Scofield‟s

harmonic language is largely derived from jazz. This particular improvisation on the tune “Wee”

(Best, 1949) is another example of how Scofield inflects bebop phrasing with blues sensibilities such

as blue notes and bends. Bars 81 to 86 contain a very interesting phrase that employs large intervallic

leaps. Throughout this phrase Scofield uses string bends to distort intonation and utilise the pitch

complexes that exist between two notes. The use of these micro tonal increments generates harmonic

tension and captures the listener‟s attention.

Bars 113 and 114, which occurs during the 4th chorus of his solo are played over a (D) dominant 7

th

chord and displays Scofield‟s ability to interweave blues elements into the harmonic fabric of jazz.

Scofield repeatedly bends the tonic note (D) up to a note the flat 9th (D) sharp, creating a (D)

dominant 7th flat 9 tonality. He also allows space before this phrase allowing for greater contrast

between the predominantly swung eighth note angular bebop phrasing that proceeds bar 113 and 114.

Bars 131 and 132 illustrate Scofield‟s use of the flattened 5th degree of a chord. The phrase is quite

angular and outlines a (B) flat dominant 7th flat five tonality. Scofield employs string bends and slurs

to exploit the microtonal increments that surround the flattened 5th (E).

43

Bar 169 to 176 provide further weight to Scofield‟s ability to in fuse jazz harmony with blues

inflection and nuance. Over the (G) dominant 7th chord, Scofield bends the augmented 5

th (E) flat, up

to the 13th (E), then releases the bend back down to the augmented 5

th. This is another example of

Scofield employing the bend and release technique that is associated with many blues guitarists as

shown in Figure 2. Once again, Scofield uses space and relatively simple rhythmic material as a way

of developing contrast between this blues inflections and the jazz phrasing that proceeds and follows.

During bar 173, contains a (B) flat major chord, Scofield plays the 13th (G) then rolls or bends the

string off the fret board of the guitar. The resulting pitch seems to be a (D) note. By exploiting such

techniques Scofield is able to create ambiguity in intonation, resulting in blue notes.

Scofield uses the blues influences that permeate his style quite sparingly, using them as a means of

creating contrast and building energy. These colourations are a deep part of Scofield‟s individualism

and originality. Bar 205 substantiates this notion of Scofield‟s ability to employ common harmonic

chordal alterations found in jazz, with a manner that is unique and personalised. Over a (B) flat chord,

Scofield bends the 4th (E) flat, up the Flat 5 (E) natural, and then releases the bend back down to the

4th. Although the use of these colour tones is a common device found in the jazz syntax, Scofield is

able to personify these notes with the use a bend, which is a powerful expressive tool.

44

Timbre

Scofields guitar tone on “Wee” (Best, 1949) exhibits many characteristics similar to those found in

the stylings of blues guitarists, exhibiting a raw quality. This solo displays Scofield aptitude for

creating timbrel variation while improvising within a jazz structure, further highlighting the impact of

blues artist on his improvisatory style. However throughout this improvisation, Scofield doesn‟t

employ timbrel variation as in “All the Things You Are” (Hammerstein, 1939).

Scofield‟s capacity to manipulate timbre is evident during bars 201 to 205, and once again echoes the

influence of Muddy Waters and B.B King. Throughout this passage Scofield changes his articulation

on the (E) notes, striking the string closer to the bridge of the guitar; a common used device by

Scofield for manipulating timbre. Scofield also employs a wide and fast vibrato throughout this

passage which creates a sound similar to that heard in the slide playing of Muddy Waters and the

finger vibrato of B.B. King.

45

Conclusion

The main goal of this investigation was firstly to establish the extent to which the blues language

permeates John Scofield‟s improvisational style and secondary to understand how he utilise these

elements in his playing. To pursue this goal, it was essential to first examine what is the blues

language. This task and is a thesis topic in itself; however, throughout chapter one, the author believes

that the blues has been shown to be a highly sophisticated and intricate form of music that embraces

micro tonality, swing and timbrel manipulation in order to heighten the emotional impact a performer

has on their audience and to form a sense of individualism. This focus on individualism is not only

central to blues; it is an essential ingredient in jazz and is perhaps why these two genres have

frequently borrowed from one another throughout their histories. Due to the restrictions of this

dissertation the investigations into elements such as the blue note, timbre and rhythm were quite

narrow and both jazz and blues musicians would benefit from further investigation into these

elements.

Chapter two focused on John Scofield‟s improvisatory style and set out to demonstrate how the blues

elements discussed in chapter one were employed within a straight ahead jazz context. It can be easily

shown by the various quotes attributed to John Scofield that appear in this dissertation that Scofield is

indeed influenced by blues artists. Nonetheless, determining how he uses these influences can only be

achieved by analysing his improvisations. In so doing it has been demonstrated that apart from his

distorted guitar sound, Scofield uses the blues language rather sparingly within his jazz

improvisations, as a way of creating contrast in his music and to exert an individualism throughout his

playing style. Although Scofield harmonic and rhythmic language is derived primarily from the jazz

idiom, the blues is deeply rooted within his style and is not used merely for decorative effect.

Perhaps Scofield‟s own words give the greatest insight into the role the blues plays within his

improvisational approach.

46

“I am totally in debt to the blues. I think blues is really powerful music, the good blues...I think I was

one of the first to seriously try to incorporate that element, the phrasing of blues and rock, with the

be-bop chords and changes. For me it‟s really hard to separate between jazz or fusion, rhythm &

blues, blues, or rock music. In a way, I think all those elements are in my music...” John Scofield

(Weisethuanet)

This statement is poignant in that it is his attitude towards music that has allowed Scofield to develop

an individual voice on the guitar, and along with other players such as Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny,

has helped to breathe new life back into jazz guitar.

47

Appendix 1 (Track 20)

48

49

50

51

52

Appendix 2 (Track 21) Transcribed

by Bruce Saunders

53

54

55

56

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DARNELL, R. H. A. R. 1951. The Thrill is Gone. BMG.

DE STEFANO, R. 1996. Wes Montgomery's improvisational style (1959-1963): The

Riverside years. Ph.D. NN09589, Universite de Montreal (Canada).

EVANS, D. The Cambridge companion to Blues and Gospel music.

GATTO, R. 1987. Ask. Gala Records.

GERSHWIN, G. G. A. I. 1930.

HAMMERSTEIN, J. K. A. O. 1939. All the Things You are. Universal.

INTERVIEWS, D. Available:

http://www.digitalinterviews.com/digitalinterviews/views/scofield.shtml [Accessed].

JACOBS, W. 1965. Rocker. Arc(BMI).

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