Modal Jazz

By Dan Mariska and Chris Misa

History

• Response to complex chord progressions of bebop and hard bop– Soloists focused intensely on playing each

chord - hard to improvise

• Composers and musicians like George Russell began experimenting with modal approach to improvisation

Theory

• Songs written around modes• Player’s focused on the melody they were

playing not the chords• Gave piano and bass players more freedom

in backing and interacting with soloists• Players also could use non-diatonic notes to

control, create, or build tension

Players

• Miles Davis– All Blues

– So What

• John Coltrane– Impressions

– Crescent

• Bill Evans

More Modal Players

• Cannonball Adderley• Paul Chambers• McCoy Tyner• Jimmy Garrison

Later:• Michael Brecker• Steve Grossman