What is this Alchemy stuff and what does it have to do with Jazz?Is there such a thing as Alchemy in music or jazz? Through the legacy of key performers, we know that the three challenges faced by aspiring players can definitely be approached and mastered. Many players remain in awe of and inspired by the amount of ease and relaxation displayed by such legendary artists as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, and others as they performed for small and large audiences. Evidence exists, through their recordings, of highly evolved transmutations of basic music theory and guitar instrument fundamentals to the superb levels of musicianship. We consider the aforementioned musicians, along with other such Jazz Luminaries as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown and others to fit into a unique categorization. Like transforming base metals into gold, during their careers, they were able to take fundamental and basic musical elements and transmute those elements into such fresh new musical directions as Bebop, Swing, Post-Bop, and Fusion. Even primitive 12-Bar blues underwent transformational shifts to become a key form in the Jazz Genre. A song in the genre, even if written 50 years ago, can be performed today in a fresh new creative way due to an elemental force inherent in the nature of jazz improvisation. Further discussion of Alchemy may be found here.Return to Home Page - Jazz-Guitar-Alchemy.com
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