Predicting Philip Kiefer

What is improvisation in Jazz? It is a spontaneous and creative act, where musicians create music on the spot. Jazz musicians use improvisation as a means to express themselves in the most personal and unique way on stage. However, there’s something intriguing about improvisation, a question we can explore: Is improvisation predictable? We will try to find an answer to it or at least delve into this idea a little bit.

While the essence of improvisation lies in its unpredictability, there is a subtle predictability in Jazz. To improvise, jazz musicians navigate through scales, chords, rhythmic patterns and ‘licks’, allowing them to anticipate and respond to each other in real-time. This creates a shared musical vocabulary when improvisation takes place, introducing an element of predictability amongst spontaneity.

Moreover, Jazz can be builds on established structures such as chord progression and song forms, which can be seen as a map for the improviser. The musician will then make use of its technical proficiency and understandings of these structures to craft a coherent improvisation.

This musical genre blends, with s delicate balance, the predictable and unpredictable, the planned and the spontaneous act into a beautiful musical conversation.

What is the project about?

We approached saxophone player Philip Kiefer and asked him to improvise several times over a Jazz Blues chord progression. Subsequently, we analyzed his improvisations to identify any recurring patterns. Once the analysis is complete, we can identify frequently played language and attempt to predict a potential improvisation by Philip.

Why do jazz musicians tend to repeat themselves?

Jazz musicians have consistently employed a shared vocabulary since the 1930s, rooted in tradition, respect for pioneers, and the functional requirements of improvisation. This continuity, influenced by iconic eras such as Swing, fosters a recognizable jazz identity, creating a cohesive musical language that evolves while preserving core elements of the genre.

Can we imagine a way to break out of that predictable box?

Jazz musicians are constantly in search of innovation and new sounds to incorporate into their improvisations. The challenge lies in achieving this while still staying true to the essence of Jazz. Though defining a genre can be subjective, we believe that breaking out of the predictable mold and innovating to make improvisations more unpredictable involves finding a balance between preserving the jazz identity and experimenting. Explore unconventional harmonies, rhythms, and timbres, and consider blending jazz with elements from other genres. Embrace unique melodic patterns and scales, challenge structural norms, and prioritize personal expression. Use improvisation as a storytelling tool and draw inspiration from diverse genres. The key is to maintain a connection to jazz's essence—improvisation, expressiveness, and creativity—while introducing fresh and unpredictable elements to evolve the genre without losing its identity.