Verso un’analisi cognitiva della creatività in musica: l’improvvisazione nel jazz

In a study of the improvisations of saxophonist Charlie Parker, Owens (1974)
found repeated patterns of notes, or formulas. This paper presents results of a com-
puterized adaptation of Owens’s method, which we used to begin to examine the
role of formulas in jazz so/os. We used a computer program to search for formulas in
6 solos by Parker, 4 by Lester Young, and 1 by Jaco Pastorius. In Parker’s solos, almost
3400 formulas of various lengths were found. Approximately 90% of the 400 notes
in Parker’s solos, on average, were included within the formulas. Formulas were also
frequent in the solos of Young and Pastorius. We also found systematic changes over
time in repertoires of formulas. Our data indicate that these three players were for-
mulaic improvisers. The possible role of formulas in improvisation is discussed.