Chamber Jazz Concepts and Techniques as Applied to Six Original Compositions

Chamber jazz was introduced in the 1950s with artists like Ahmad Jamal and the Modern Jazz Quartet leading the way in this new genre. It is a fusion of elements from both Western Art Music and Jazz, combining to form a unique style and sound. Chamber jazz composers and arrangers utilize many of the formal characteristics of jazz such as vamps, introductions, endings, and interludes to focus the sound of the ensemble. This is done to distinguish chamber jazz from conventional small group jazz, which tends to focus more upon long improvisatory sections. This paper will look at the musical practices important to the sound of chamber jazz through a detailed analysis of these conventions as they appear in the six compositions presented herein. This study will be aided by references to musical texts, musical manuals, scores, and recordings where appropriate.