Linking Improvisation to Cultural Context: Bringing a Jazz Drumming Aesthetic to the Music of Diverse Cultures

Abstract

This exegesis explores how differing musical languages can be used in collaboration to create new stylistic interpretations, whilst retaining distinct music-cultural voices. Through this research I will advance the field of performance-led research with an original contribution to knowledge and performance, and demonstrate, through the accompanying recordings, the jazz drumming aesthetic in relation to the performance, improvisation and the music of three very different musical cultures: Indian classical, Chinese classical, and Western art music (specifically chamber music). I examine notions of tradition, authenticity and hybridity through collaboration with musicians from the above-mentioned musical cultures. The compositions and performances contained within this research delve into improvisational approaches within and between musical cultures, and how they relate/react to the focus on improvisation and individualistic composition techniques found in jazz. My collaborators retained traditional instrumental tunings, harmonies and aesthetic approaches, while collaborating with jazz drums (kit). This ensured that the voices of the non-jazz musicians were given equal importance as the jazz voices. In particular, this research explores opportunities of cross-cultural and intercultural musical expression, and the unique musical stories that may arise from embracing an open musical discourse.