Jazz Improvisation in Electronic Music

Electronic music is a broad categorization that spills over into many different styles of music today. In fact, there is hardly any music that is not produced with the help of electronics, which makes distinctions even more complex. In general, most people now think of electronic music as looping compositions that actually have electronically created sounds in them.

While there have been many great electronic songs over the years, there have also been periods of stagnation. Looping samples have proven to be limited in all but the most creative hands, and many compositions suffer from lack of engaging structure and development. This is an area that jazz improvisation may be of some use.

Computer based electronic music started in academia. At the dawn of the computer age, only universities and their high profile music professors could afford to work with the expensive and gigantic machines to make music. They produced all sorts of extremely experimental compositions that should probably not even be labeled as music, but they eventually lead to the standards of the electronic genre that we know today.

The modern looping electronic music that is prevalent in such styles as pop, hip-hop, and all sorts of different types of dance, came from early looping and delay experiments by academic composers in the first days of computers. Many musicians have used looping as the basis of their work, and this has led to some trouble that may require the assistance of jazz.

The problem with such a repetitious basis for music is that it can lack the build and release of more standard instrumental styles. Also, the greater number of people able to produce electronic music, due to the increased availability of music software and computers, has created a saturation of similar musicianship that lacks much progress.

The last, and most important major downside to electronic music is that, by nature, it does not seem to focus on melodies. There are many electronic songs with great melodies to be sure, but overall this is not a main concern for electronic musicians.

What jazz improvisation can offer is both melody and development. A properly placed section of melodic improvisation over a looping harmony could be a great way to turn a repetitious section into a constantly evolving one. A well-improvised line can be a very engaging and exiting aspect to music that most electronic compositions never reach.

Part of the strength of looping music is the strong rhythm, and you would still have that, but with added melodic improvisation there would be another layer to the music that keeps it fresh and moving. When the best jazz groups play an up tempo tune, they frequently get to a totally in the moment state that is pretty rare in music, and this could be added to electronic music without losing any of its strong points.

Beyond the musical aspects, adding jazz improvisation to electronic music, to create a sort of electronic jazz music, could open up both styles to new fan bases. Jazz lovers who may have never given electronic music a chance may look at it differently if they have some improvisation to get them into it. The same would be true the other way around; if electronic music fans heard some improvisation in their style, they might get more into standard jazz.

In this modern age of globalized music and increased recording capabilities, every composer should take full advantage of all the musical styles, rather than just sticking purely to one. At some point, if styles continue evolving and combining, we may reach an age of music that is devoid of any major distinctions, and this should be better for everyone who loves to hear something new.