TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp On Jazz.
One of the most frequent questions is how jazz musicians know when to play. The answer lies in a deep understanding of form, feel, and listening.
Jazz is built on structure, such as the 12-bar blues or 32-bar AABA song forms, but players constantly communicate within that framework. Through eye contact, subtle gestures, and a shared language of rhythm and harmony, musicians know when to take a solo, back off, or jump in.
Great jazz is about listening as much as it is about playing. Musicians pay close attention to each other, responding in real time. It’s a conversation, not a script—so knowing when to play is as important as knowing what to play.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.