Essay Sample on Birdman: Weather Report's Innovative Jazz-Rock Fusion

Introduction

One of the clear differences between Weather Report's 'Birdman' is the introduction of artistic changes that are influential to the mood of listeners. The use of the saxophone, which is played uniquely to bring about a sensationally joyous feeling among the listeners. As compared to the conventional jazz solos, the jazz-rock fusion style befits the digitized music audience that prefers an artistic amalgam of RnB, rock, and jazz genres of music. For example, the viola and cello sound is differentiated from the sound of jazz solos in 'Birdman'. Such that, the pinched harmonics are artistically fostered by using the index finger to pluck the string while the thumb strops it. As a result, it sounds more sensational than jazz solos.

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Compare and Contrast Saxophone Solo Style

The saxophone is 'Birdman' is lighter than in Wayne Shorter's solo in E.S.P. the saxophone is also artistically relaxed with ornamental additives are aim to embellish the sound of the jazz-fusion. These artistic approaches make jazz-fusion more pleasant to the ear due to its impact on the mood. The slight alterations in the music style tend to enable the sound of the saxophone to stand out as a way of making the solo light while elaborating on the melodic gesture behind it. The solo (between 3.08 and 3.28) is accompanied by the piano to sound more dissonant with scalar melodic notes descending artistically. Unlike in E.S.P Shorter's solo represents the Belop of fast-lightening notes that create a rapid style tempo.

The Most Important Parts

The improved solos make jazz-fusion more artistic and favorable to the mood. First, toning down the tempo with a sense of RnB and Rock style toward instrumental playing makes jazz-fusion more pleasant for the mind. Further, it sounds catchy to the listeners' needs due to an assurance of message conveyance in a comprehensive manner.

Characteristics of Jazz-Rock Fusion

Other than what Weather Report introduces to jazz, jazz-rock fusion is characterized by the tendency to incorporate new technology. Other than a guitar for the conventional jazz solo, electric guitars, and post-production editing are some of the features that have been factored-in while composing jazz-rock fusion (Coryell and Laura 14). Also, this style often incorporates the emergent music styles such as Rock n' roll, RnB, Chicago Blues, and Funk, and Rock, especially after the 1950s. According to Coryell and Laura, since the growth of jazz-rock fusion, some of the popular artistes whose contributes to the history of the genre are Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Headhunters (Herbie Hancock), Return to Forever (Chick Corea), Miles Davis, and Mahavishnu Orchestra (John McLaughlin) (43).

Works Cited

Coryell, Julie, and Laura Friedman. Jazz-rock Fusion: the people, the music. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2000. Retrieved from: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=XwWdk3x9u28C&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=JAZZ+ROCK+fusion+characteristics+and+popular+historic+artistes&ots=zVRJMfXQqb&sig=hvxN0jH-cQNDV7IhRAi-7lmLB5M

Goati_ 'Weather Report - Birdland'. (2009). [Online]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/Ae0nwSv6cTU (Accessed on the 3rd day of January 2019).

Miles Davis. 'E.S.P'. (2004). [Online]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRhqn21-xeg (Accessed on the 3rd day of January 2019).