Modern Music Theory Improvisation and Application

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Today we will look at a couple of unique ways that Julian Lage exploits jazz chords and their extended sequences. His style in regards to chords is reminiscent of the great jazz guitarist Jim Hall at times.

Example 1: Julian’s use of chord inversion. This goes back to Bach and creates a beautiful sound from simple triads. By inverting them [starting on a different note of the triad each time] Julian creates clear harmonic movement

These simple chordal inversions of C major also make beautiful sounding triad arpeggios and really stand out on the guitar fingerboard.

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In this next example Julian employs a “TOP DOWN” Harmonisation concept. Julian Lage keeps the top note A throughout and harmonises with chords below it. This way of harmonising a top note is a great challenge and a really useful way to practice and develop chord substitution.

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In this next example we have an ending where Julian takes the basic ii V and extends the progression. This is a very playful way to end a solo guitar performance to keep the audience guessing when the final cadence will come.

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Finally we have a Substitution for a iii vi ii V. Julian employs b5 substitutions which in turn create a descending chromatic progress that again plays with the audience until the final ii V I.

Eb as b5 of Am and Db [Enharmonically C#] as b5 of G

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LINK J LAGE #2 https://jazzimproviser.com/2021/11/21/julian-lage-jazz-guitar-style-breakdown-and-analysis-part-2/

Link J Lage #1 https://jazzimproviser.com/2021/11/18/julian-lage-jazz-guitar-style-examples-and-lessons-1/