Brecker’s Blues: Transcription and Theoretical Analysis of Six Selected Improvised Blues Solos by Jazz Saxophonist Michael Brecker

An analysis of selected musical improvisations of tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker. The improvisations span the years 1987-99 and are all characterized by a shared underlying 12-bar chord structure commonly known as “Blues”. The improvisations were chosen by the author by means of six necessary characteristics: 1. Performance over a 12-bar Blues (major or minor) harmonic progression; 2. Profundity or “specialness” of the improvisation as determined by the author; 3. Theoretical complexity of the improvisation sufficient to warrant an extended analysis as determined by the author; 4. Historical placement of the improvisation from 1987 to the year of the Document submission; 5. Commercial availability of Compact Disc recordings of all of the improvisations; 6. Lack of availability of other transcriptions of the improvisations from either commercial or academic sources. It is the author’s contention that the transcription and analysis of the selected improvisations will help illustrate Mr. Brecker’s approach to the Blues as well as identify the theoretical underpinnings upon which these improvisations rest