Jazz Syllables

note I: there is no universally agreed or standard subset of syllables to represent different Jazz articulations.

note II: there is a fine line between parts with no information about articulation and parts that have too much information. More information is needed for the inexperienced; whilst professionals may need very little and are afforded an opportunity to interpret more. A point worth making: Duke Ellington never included articulations of any sort on his scores, believing with some justification that his players were experienced enough to know what to do. For those well versed in a given musical language, things don’t have to be spelled out.

note III: However, it is fair to say that in Jazz (as with Swing), what is written and what is played are not the same thing; that there is a significant element of interpretation in accord with the Jazz/Swing language. It is this language that must be learned in the name of authenticity.

note IV: Tonguing technique is what determines articulation: horn players need to develop good tonguing techniques in order to execute proper phrasing and articulation.