A study of the improvisation technique of Miguel Zenon in five selected songs

Abstract

This Graduate Recital Document offers a study of distinct improvisation techniques of Miguel Zenon in five selected songs. As for his composition and improvisation techniques, he incorporates Puerto Rican folk music and fuses it with modern jazz language on both rhythmic and harmonic idea, which serves as a consideration for the author's Master Recital. The five songs analyzed were Seis Cinco, from the album Jibaro (2005) and Yochabel, from the album Looking forward (2002) respectively, both songs composed by Miguel Zenon On Green Dolphin Street, composed by Bronislau Kaper, as played by Miguel Zenon. The Man I Love, composed by George Gershwin, as played by Miguel Zenon and Jibaro, composed by Miguel Zenon from the album Jibaro (2005). Essential theoretical issues such as Zenon's rhythmic and harmonic approaches were addressed in depth and the knowledge gained was then used to inform practice strategies for the saxophone. The author also included pedagogical exercises for saxophone improvisation on modal harmony and rhythmic idea, which is a very crucial aspect of Zenon's playing style.;