Thinking in Jazz: The Infinite Art of Improvisation

This text delves into the fascinating ways in which musicians, both on their own and together, master the art of improvisation. Its central aim is to shed light on the distinct creative processes that underpin this spontaneous form of musical expression. By charting the journeys of leading musicians from their initial encounters with jazz to the forging of their own unique improvisational voice, Paul Berliner reveals that a lifetime of dedicated preparation lies behind every note a skilled improviser plays.

Berliner's insightful integration of data concerning musical development, the rigorous practice and intellectual engagement artists dedicate to jazz beyond the stage, and the intricate complexities of composing in the moment culminates in a fresh understanding of jazz improvisation as a language, an aesthetic, and a rich tradition. The culmination of over 15 years spent immersed in the world of jazz, "Thinking in Jazz" blends participant observation with detailed musicological analysis, the author's personal experience as a jazz trumpeter, interpretations of existing scholarly and performer writings, and, crucially, original data gleaned from interviews with more than 50 professional musicians.

Collectively, these interviews offer invaluable insight into the creative output of jazz giants such as Betty Carter, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, and Charlie Parker. "Thinking in Jazz" features a wealth of musical examples spanning from the 1920s to the present day, including transcriptions (cross-referenced to commercially available recordings) of collective improvisations by the ensembles of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.