Reader Visa-Pekka Oskari Mertanen let us know about about their 2025 doctoral Thesis, defended on Jan 31st, Perspectives on Jazz Synthesizer Improvisation.

Mertanen analyzes jazz synthesizer improvisation through five recorded solos, by Jan Hammer, Joe Zawinul, George Duke, Chick Corea, and Michael Brecker:

• Celestial Terrestrial Commuters, from the Mahvishnu Orchestra album Birds of Fire (1973);
• Black Market, from the Weather Report album of the same name (1976);
• Brazilian Sugar, from the George Duke album Brazilian Love Affair (1980);
• Got A Match?, from the album Chick Corea Electric Band (1986); and
• Gossip, from the album Michael Brecker Band Live (1993).

The analysis includes a look at the role of synthesizers in jazz fusion, from the 1960s to the 1980s; a discussion of some of the key synthesizers used on these recordings; and transcriptions and analysis of each of the five works.

The transcription analysis includes scale choices, note choices, patterns, nuancing, timbral qualities, form, and tension control:

Mertanen also provides a chart of each of the musician’s personal data, song information, improvisational concepts, synthesizer setups, solo sound characters and realtime controllers.

“The findings show that the critical elements in jazz synthesizer soloing are mastering the improvisatory languages of the jazz tradition and adjusting the playing style to each sound’s acoustic character,” notes Mertanen. “The studied solos demonstrate different ways of nuancing the notes with continuous controllers and manipulating the sound’s timbral qualities to keep the synthesizer sound expressive and exciting.”

Perspectives on Jazz Synthesizer Improvisation is available now as a free download.