"BLUE GIANT" Shinichi Ishizuka and Miho Hasama's jazz lectures starting with instruments ~INTRODUCTION~

When you play your own songs with a big band or a small combo, how do you choose the instruments and players?

The basic premise is that jazz is a type of music that leaves a lot to the performers. I think what's interesting about jazz is that it leaves room for improvisation, or "ad lib," meaning that it's out of the composer's hands. So the composer's job is to choose performers who can bring the music they've written into the shape they envision. Everyone has their own way of choosing.

I see! First of all, please tell us about the basic instrumentation.

In a large group, there is a rhythm section of "drums, bass, piano, guitar," and various other instruments join in on top of that. On the other hand, in a small group like a piano trio, the rhythm section is "drums and bass," with the piano added on top of that. In my case, I want my son to play the drums, which are the key to the rhythm.

A dragon's son? (laughs)

I want them to have the talent to play with instinct, not with their head. Because the drums clearly show the essence of jazz, which has its origins in rhythm and blues. And the bass (double bass) plays the role of a father watching over his son as he plays as he pleases.

When things aren't going well, they are the guardians who correct the course and make up for what is lacking. The instruments that are played are chosen from the perspective of how well they can support the relationship between the two children and how they can play together.

We have a grasp of the framework of the arrangement. So, if you were a middle school music teacher and your students asked you, "What's an easy instrument to start playing?", what would you answer?

Piano and guitar. If you play where it says, the sound will come out. There's very little difficulty in getting the sound out at first. There are high hurdles to overcome, but I want to convey that they're the best way to get into music.

By the way, do you have an image of what kind of character each instrument has? For example, woodwind instruments...

Hmm, that's difficult. Generally speaking, the saxophone is sparkling and glamorous like a brass instrument, yet has the feel of a soloist who goes his own way. The flute has a high range and is flashy, like the most popular instrument in class. The clarinet has a wide range and is dexterous and warm, while the oboe and bassoon have a deep sound and are partners you'd want to explore over the long term.

That's interesting, what about brass instruments?

The star of the show is the trumpet, with its overwhelmingly high range and brilliant tone. Many of the actual players seem to have a naturally captivating personality.

What about trombones and tubas?

The trombone is completely different from other instruments, from the way it strikes pitch to the way it's phrasing. It's like a hidden diva-like instrument that doesn't show it on the surface but actually has its own character. In contrast, the tuba is the unsung hero. The appeal of these two instruments is that they can create the power and impact of a pod of killer whales. They are drama makers that create a path to a climax and instantly build up the excitement.

And while it's a minority in jazz, the horn is a versatile instrument that acts as a bridge between various sounds, including wind and string instruments.

What about strings?

When playing the bass or cello, you feel as if you're embracing the wood with your body, so you can feel the beauty of the sound that resonates with the wood, and the violin has a narrative quality that sounds like a person talking. Then there's the harp. It's an instrument that enriches the color of the song. For example, when shooting a movie, color correction is done at the end to create the worldview of the film, and the harp plays a similar role.

What about percussion instruments? You said earlier that drumming requires instinctive talent.

I think there's a charm to music that can't be explained by theory. Even if you could write a paper on how to play a drum to create a good groove, playing it exactly as described in the paper won't result in good music. Rather, percussion instruments need something that makes your body react and play, even if you can't understand it.

Like raw charm?

That's right. Not only drums, but jazz piano, which is part of the rhythm section, doesn't sound cool without raw percussive talent. Perhaps the same sensibility is necessary for the vibraphone, a keyboard percussion instrument.

By the way, do the roles of these instruments change when you're playing in a small combo or a large ensemble?

The demands on the performers are completely different. For example, in a quintet (a five-person group) consisting of trumpet, saxophone, drums, bass, and piano, the important thing is harmony among the five. But five people is also a number that allows each individual to be soloist. Even if one person expresses their ego and says, "I want to play like this now," the other four can respond instantly.

When this becomes a large ensemble of 18 people, it's difficult for 17 people to accurately interpret the ego of one person. What's more important is the ability to understand in each moment how your own sound should blend with the sounds of 18 people and take on that responsibility. Is this player someone who can demonstrate their strength within the group, is they a good soloist, and in a jazz world where improvisation is the foundation, what position can they take to bring the best energy to the group? Part of my job is to determine that.

I think the appeal of jazz is that the sound is improvisational and ephemeral, and this is also related to the way the instruments and performers are chosen.