To be, or not to bop : En studie i Dizzy Gillespies musik samt metoder for att integrera transkriptioner och analys i improvisation och komposition.

This artistic research project investigates how studying Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet solos can inform and inspire personal development as a jazz improviser. Through transcription and analysis of selected solos, I explored Gillespie’s use of rhythm, harmony, articulation, and phrasing. These solos were practiced as études, revealing both technical challenges and stylistic nuances. The work highlights the technical demands of bebop trumpet playing, particularly in the upper register, and led to a refined practice routine focusing on tone, flexibility, and accuracy. Based on the analysis, I developed a series of exercises to internalize bebop vocabulary, improve voice leading, and sharpen rhythmic precision. The project concluded with a concert featuring a blend of Gillespie’s compositions and post-bop works, offering a practical setting to apply the insights gained throughout the study.