University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Improvisational and creative techniques employed by baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber on the blues and its variants

Barnett, Adrian Arthur

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/99625

Description

Title
Improvisational and creative techniques employed by baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber on the blues and its variants
Author(s)
Barnett, Adrian Arthur
Issue Date
2018
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
McNeill, Charles
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
McNeill, Charles
Committee Member(s)
  • Sweet, Bridget
  • Pugh, Jim
  • Nettl, Bruno
Department of Study
School of Music
Discipline
Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D. (doctoral)
Keyword(s)
  • Ronnie Cuber
  • Jazz
  • Improvisation
  • Blues
  • Baritone saxophone
  • Saxophone
  • Music
Language
en
Abstract
Ronnie Cuber stands out as one of the most notable baritone saxophonists in recent history. Throughout his career he has worked alongside a variety of notable musicians such as Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Eddie Palmieri, George Benson, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, and Frank Zappa among many others. His approach to playing the baritone saxophone showcases his ability to incorporate his experience playing an assortment of musical styles from bebop and Latin music to funk, pop, and R&B. The focus of this project is to investigate the creative techniques employed by Ronnie Cuber in regards to his improvisations and compositions based on the 12-bar blues form. This includes transcriptions of eight of Cuber’s solos on five of his compositions. The transcriptions are accompanied by in-depth analysis and discussion on each of the selected works. The analyses will encompass harmonic and melodic creative techniques and material, idiomatic techniques of playing the baritone saxophone, quotes, etc., as well as discussing signature traits of Ronnie Cuber’s playing style such as reoccurring melodic ideas, consistent harmonic navigation over a specific chord type or set of chord changes, and structure of solos over the blues form. Following the solo analysis is a discussion of Ronnie Cuber’s original compositions based on the 12-bar blues form which addresses variations on both the form and harmonic structure.
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99625
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2018 Adrian Arthur Barnett

Owning Collections

Doctoral Project Theses [Option 2] - Music PRIMARY