Personalizing Jazz Vocabulary

Book excerpt: This method book is designed to help intermediate to advanced jazz students incorporate classic jazz vocabulary into their original improvisations. Using a series of standard and modern chord progressions, guitarist Davy Mooney provides several short passages that are meant to be played exactly as written within an otherwise improvised solo; students are expected to adapt this written material to their own purposes by improvising into and out of it. In an effort to overcome the disconnect between developing a unique sound and learning the language of past jazz masters, the author eloquently analyzes several phrases and chord changes and comments on various aspects of improvisation, referencing the styles and specific recordings of many outstanding jazz artists. This is the method that Mooney used as a student to personalize his own jazz vocabulary and learn to express himself within the context of the jazz tradition. Mooney proves he has both the vocabulary and the chops to deliver generously repeated guitar/bass/drums backup tracks for student use; he then demonstrates the method by providing transcriptions of his own improvisations, incorporating the same phrases and chord progressions required of the student. The firm message conveyed by this book is that, “you can do it too.” Written in standard notation only. Includes access to online audio.