Arts & Culture
The Evolution of Jazz Improvisation Techniques
Quick fact
In early New Orleans jazz, multiple horns often improvised at the same time, creating a dense, polyphonic texture—a far cry from the single-note flurries of bebop or the open explorations of free jazz.
Why this is interesting
You've probably heard a jazz musician play a spontaneous solo that sounds like a conversation. But did you know that the very idea of what a 'good' jazz solo is has changed completely over the last century—from group chatter to dizzying speed, then open space, and finally total freedom?