A TRIPTYCH OF BASSISTS EXPLORING THE ARTISTRY AND TECHNIQUE OF THREE DISTINCTIVE JAZZ BASSISTS

This thesis, submitted to the College of Music, Mahidol University, Jazz Department, represents the culmination of my graduate research under the supervision of Lect. Tanarat Chaichana, Ph.D. (Music) as my major advisor, and with the guidance of Lect. Ampai Buranaprapuk, Ph.D. (Music) as co-advisor. This thematic paper focuses on four jazz standard songs played by three different period representative jazz bassists, including Paul Chambers, Jimmy Garrison, and Christian McBride. By analyzing how the three bassists applied the scales and rhythm to the solo and bass line of the four songs, the results of this research not only provided a deeper understanding of the performance characteristics of the three bassists but also achieved the purpose of imitating and learning. After summarizing the performance characteristics of the three bassists, any jazz bass players may apply those characteristics to practice and performance and gradually develop personal styles to improve jazz bass playing skills.