Form and Harmonic Motion, Hello and Goodbye

Scott Healy, Grammy nominee and longtime keyboardist for Conan O’Brien, talks about form and harmonic motion, and how chords in jazz can be “melodic” as well as structural. Join Scott in the fight against the overwhelming proliferation of non-functional diatonicism! We also listen to some Claude Thornhill, then move to a detailed analysis of “Hello and Goodbye” by Bob Brookmeyer.

About Scott Healy

Composer Scott Healy leads the The Ellington Study Group in Los Angeles, a hands-on study of scores and recordings of large ensemble jazz music as well as music theory and orchestration techniques. The material is advanced, and is geared toward professional classical and jazz composers, film composers, arrangers, and instrumentalists who want to increase their understanding and appreciation of large ensemble jazz writing. The discussion ranges from the minutia of voicing and harmony, to broader topics like form, pacing, transparent orchestration, compositional intent, and improvisation. Previous classes have included works by Duke Ellington from the 1930’s, Ellington/Strayhorn from the 1950’s, and works by jazz composers, arrangers, and band leaders Gil Evans and Miles Davis, Bennie Moten, Fletcher Henderson, Sammy Nestico, Thad Jones, and Sun Ra. Visit Scott’s website: bluedogmusic.com