Projects [PhD/DMus]

null Temporal constraints, creativity, and memory in expert jazz improvisation

Nurmi, Mikko
JyU

The thesis explores the relationship between temporal constraints and creativity and the significance of learning a “vocabulary” of melodic patterns in explaining creativity in expert jazz improvisation. It examines how changes in tempo and harmonic rhythm are related to creativity (defined as the generation of novel, unpredictable, and valuable ideas or other kinds of products) and to what extent memory retrieval of learned melodic patterns explains the generation of creative products in a sample of walking bass improvisations. The research material consists of full-length transcriptions of recorded walking bass improvisations by Paul Chambers and Ron Carter, both of whom are some of the most significant musicians in the history of jazz. Implications on action planning, motor chunking, cognitive load, and previous models on jazz improvisation are discussed.