Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to explore the fundamental elements that constitute, shape
and define the thinking and creative processes embodied in musical style of ten prominent
South African jazz pianists. The study was qualitative and underpinned by an exploratory
research design. Using a collection of case studies, the study used semi-structured interviews
to probe participants’ backgrounds, formative influences, and musical style within a South
African context. An analysis of the findings resulted in the emergence of three main themes,
namely; Developing a musical identity; Negotiating a personal style; and, Finding the South
Africanness in jazz. The first main theme outlined the core influences that shaped the
participants’ earliest conceptions of musical style, and thus their developing identities. Family
members: modelling their parents’ and siblings’ musical interests, immediate environment,
interacting with professional jazz musicians, and the socio-political environment, were found
to be highly influential. Other factors included; learning which happened through formal,
informal, social and self-directed. Listening and musical preferences were also found to be key
to the forming identities of the pianists. The second main theme reflected a progression from
an ‘outward’ technical understanding of style to an assimilated ‘inner’ one. The first manifested
in the descriptions of noticeable elements in jazz music that have been shaped over time, while
the second describes ways in which the pianists’ individual social and cultural experiences
inform their musical styles. The third theme highlights participants’ challenge in defining a
South African style, resulting in a need to conceptualise a term(s) that would better describe
the nature of the music. South African works were found to be at the core of acquiring an
understanding of the musical styles of South African jazz pianists. External influences within
the South African musical style, and idiosyncratic features based on indigenous musical
influences were key to the musical identities of South African jazz pianists. Furthermore,
understanding the metanarratives that serve as creative inspirations for these compositions is
vital. The study concludes that a South African jazz style represents an amalgam of internal
and external musical influences, evolving over time. The incorporation of eclectic musical
elements from the indigenous ‘musics’ of the various South African ethnic cultures add an
inimitably South African articulation and prosody to the jazz language. The unique histories
and narratives of South African jazz pianists have resulted in their distinct approach to the jazz
style.
