Advisor
Landry, Dana
Committee Member
Kovalcheck, Steve
Committee Member
Bellman, Jonathan
Committee Member
Stewart, Connie
Department
College of Performing and Visual Arts; School of Music, Music Performance
Institution
University of Northern Colorado
Type of Resources
Text
Place of Publication
Greeley, (Colo.)
Publisher
University of Northern Colorado
Date Created
5-2022
Extent
110 pages
Digital Origin
Born digital
Abstract
This study examined ten transcriptions of improvised solos by trumpeter Blue Mitchell. Mitchell was a prominent performer in the hard bop style known for his tenure with the Horace Silver Quintet. The transcriptions were selected from recordings produced between 1958 and 1977. These pieces include “Sir John,” “Peace,” “Strollin’,” “Why Do I Love You?,” “Chick’s Tune,” “Gingerbread Boy,” “I Love You,” “Quiet Riot,” “Silver Blue,” and “OW!” The chosen transcriptions were analyzed and compared for common melodic devices such as motivic development, use of sequence, blues language, bebop language, and melodic quotes from other songs, which are all common elements of jazz vocabulary. This study illustrates the elements that Mitchell chose to use, and more importantly, how he chose to use them. The overall structure of Mitchell’s solos was also examined. Mitchell was a very lyrical musician and his solos tended to be symmetrical in construction.
Degree type
DA
Degree Name
Doctoral
Local Identifiers
Moore_unco_0161D_11018.pdf
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by the author.
