How 'Bout Some Help In Defining Two Terms?

[Hardbop]

I'm reading Gary Giddins' "Visions of Jazz" and he repeatedly uses two terms I'm not sure I know exactly what he means.

They are "break" and "turnback."

[Tenorman]

Any context which might help?

I know a "break" as a solo in a Jazz piece, so break and solo would be virtually interchangeable

[andreimatorin]

well breack is more than just a solo... It usually refers to a 'break' in the rhythm section. Often you'll find a solo break where any of the instruments might take a short solo (usually anywhere from 1/2 to somewhere like 4 bars). Usually it's not an entire chorus.

I've NEVER heard of turnback, but i have heard of a turnaround, is that what you're talking about?

[Tenorman]

Difference in usgae (usgae?? try usage it makes better sense) between the countries I suspect. My Sax teacher, years ago, used it in the context of when the ensemble "breaks" leaving a soloist or section to continue, usually with all or some of the rhythm section. He was a Big Band man

[andreimatorin]

Originally posted by Tenorman
Difference in usgae (usgae?? try usage it makes better sense)

where did that come from??!!:confused:

[Tenorman]

I posted, then realised that I had typed usgae instead of usage, so instead of changing it I edited in a little ehh joke??

[Muskrat Ramble]

Afaik, a "turnback" is just a much less common synonym for "turnaround," which is a way of harmonically linking the changes (chord progression) of one chorus to the beginning of another (a chorus being a basic large-scale structural unit of a tune). If you're not a musician, these are easily heard but hard to explain if you don't know some basic harmonic theory. Basically, what you do is raise the harmonic tension at the end of one chorus and release it at the beginning of the next. Once you get to the final chorus, then you resolve the whole thing so it seemingly comes to rest.

Here's a little bit that might be helpful:

http://www.torvund.net/guitar/BluesGuitar/Turnaround_1-1.asp

This is a very useful intro to the basics of jazz improv:

http://www.outsideshore.com/primer/primer/

[Phil Kelly]

Actually "turnback" and " turnaround" basically refer to the same thing ..a linking phrase to either a repeat a section of the song ..or to the next chorus of the song.

Most songs ( but by no means all ) from the era of the GAS utilize a basic 32 bar songform :

A1, A2, B, A3.. each section 8 bars long

as the letters imply, musically , the 1st 2nd and 4th phrases are usually similar melodically ..The B section is the Bridge or release ..different melodic materail.

The last 2 bars of A1 are a turnback to A2 , and at the end of A3 , a similar turnback returns to the beginning of the next chorus ..

The same turnback process occurs in the last two bars of a 12 bar blues form as well.

as for "break", it usually signifies a momentary pause in the rhythm section to let the soloist lead in on the last turnaround to his first chorus ..where the rhythm reenters behind him ..

hope that helps: :D