Chapter 12

Free Form,Avant-Garde

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The Process

• Free form - also known as Free Improvisation– Sheds the structures of harmonic repetition and

rhythmic regularity– Players react to one another without restrictions

• Finished product less important than the process

• Style can be compared to abstract art

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Score for Free-form demonstration 9

“Dialogue”

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Justification

• Seeds of free playing have always existed– The nature of improvisation places emphasis on

spontaneity – Every jazz performance contains improvisation

• Success of Free-form rests on the compositional strength of the performers

• Improvisation takes the dominant role

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Ornette Coleman(b. 1930)

• One of the most controversial free jazz players

• Capable of playing melodically and rhythmically, and swinging

• Feels no obligation to contain or extend musical ideas to fit a certain preset situation

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Ornette Coleman-continued-

• First player to move all the way to harmonic freedom

• Frequently played without piano

• Not locked into Western tuning conventions

• Pursuit of new ideas a trademark

Listen to “Faces and Places” CD2, track 7

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Cecil Taylor(b. 1929)

• Background included conservatory training and an interest in contemporary European compositional practices

• Considered an avant-garde expression of third stream

• Music can be appreciated by classical or jazz audience

• Concerts feature long uninterrupted compositions

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Cecil Taylor-continued-

• Uses a variety of musical textures

• Fragmented and often percussive style

• Often easier to comprehend the whole rather than focus on the parts

• Listening to Taylor requires patience and stamina

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Coltrane Legacy

• Short career but great influence• Seamless transition to freer playing• Modal approach was a springboard• Melodies centered on higher harmonics• Tunes often move from familiar to

unfamiliar e.g. “My Favorite Things”

Listen to “A Love Supreme” CD 2, track 8

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Chicago Style Free Jazz

• First notable artist was Sun Ra (1914-1993)

– First composer to employ collective improvisation in a big band

– Controversial posture as a musical cosmic scientist/philosopher

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Other Chicago free players

• AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Music)

• Art Ensemble of Chicago– Emphasis on creative interaction– Wide range of tone colors– Exploration of sound structures– Suspension of fixed rhythmic support

• World Saxophone Quartet

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Anthony Braxton(b. 1945)

• Member of AACM in the 60s

• Blended non-jazz compositional ideas with more traditional idioms

• Music sometimes more measured and classical in approach

• Some compositions based on philosophical theories

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Contemporary Avant-garde

• Greg Osby, alto saxophone– Prominent younger free player – Forward looking as means of finding an

individual voice

• Henry Threadgill, composer– Also challenges neoclassicism in jazz– Iconoclast ideas and philosophy– Pushes the boundaries of creativity

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The Free jazz controversy

• Wide range of opinions and acceptance of free jazz– It has managed to maintain a faithful audience

• Seeks to redefine itself

• Players thrive on controversy

• The listener must decide to accept or not– Here the definition of jazz becomes subjective