Mastering Jazz Phrasing: The Art of Expressive Timing and Interpretation

Andy Keys, Christmas in the park 2024. Photo by Chris Melville

Jazz phrasing is at the heart of what makes jazz unique and captivating. As a jazz singer, understanding how to phrase your melodies and lyrics with the same freedom and creativity that an instrumentalist might is key to bringing your performances to life. Phrasing in jazz isn’t just about singing or playing notes in a specific order. It’s about the spaces between those notes—the subtle choices of rhythm, timing, and dynamics—that give the music its emotional depth and individuality.

Jazz phrasing, whether on vocals or instruments, often involves bending traditional rules of melody and rhythm. It’s a reflection of the artist’s voice, their mood, and their understanding of the music itself. This art of phrasing is something that jazz musicians—vocalists included—constantly shape and redefine with each note.

In this article, we’ll explore the essential concepts of jazz phrasing, drawing inspiration from both vocalists and instrumentalists such as Miles Davis and D'Angelo, who are known for their distinctive approaches to phrasing. We’ll discuss how phrasing transcends just singing the melody and becomes a powerful tool for storytelling and expression.

What Is Jazz Phrasing?
At its core, phrasing in jazz refers to how a musician shapes and interprets a musical phrase. It’s the way in which a phrase is delivered rhythmically, melodically, and dynamically, allowing for personal expression and nuance. In jazz, a "phrase" is not always a simple sequence of notes; it’s more about how those notes are played (or sung), and how they are articulated through timing, pauses, and emphasis.

A jazz phrase might stretch or compress time, leave space where silence would traditionally be, or place emphasis on unexpected beats. This freedom is what allows a jazz musician—whether vocalist or instrumentalist—to "speak" through their instrument, telling a story with each note. As a jazz singer, your voice becomes an instrument that can play with time and rhythm in ways that are unique to you.

The Role of Phrasing in Jazz Singing
When it comes to jazz singing, phrasing is just as important, if not more so, than the melody itself. Jazz singers don’t simply sing the notes that are written on the page—they interpret those notes in a way that expresses their individual style and emotional connection to the music. This ability to interpret and manipulate phrasing is one of the things that separates jazz singers from other vocalists.

1. Rhythmic Flexibility: Jazz singers are known for their ability to swing, syncopate, and stretch rhythm in a way that feels fluid and conversational. You may decide to delay a phrase slightly or push a note forward to add emphasis, creating a sense of movement or surprise.
2. The Use of Space: Phrasing in jazz is often about the spaces between the notes as much as the notes themselves. A well-placed pause, held note, or slight delay can create anticipation and give more impact to the phrase. Think of the space as part of the musical conversation, a tool for building tension or releasing it.
3. Dynamic Range: Phrasing also involves shaping the dynamics of your delivery—deciding when to sing softly, loudly, or with more intensity. Changing your volume throughout a phrase can help convey emotion and meaning. You may find that a line sounds more heartfelt when sung softly, or more urgent when delivered with intensity.
   
   

Jazz Phrasing in Instrumental Music
Though we’re focusing on vocal phrasing here, it’s worth noting that instrumentalists also have their own unique ways of phrasing, and these techniques often cross over into vocal jazz. Jazz instrumentalists, such as trumpet legend Miles Davis, are known for their distinctive phrasing, which can provide inspiration for jazz singers. 

Miles Davis: The Master of Space and Silence
Miles Davis is perhaps one of the greatest examples of a musician who understood the power of phrasing, especially the use of space and silence. Known for his sparse, expressive trumpet lines, Davis was a master of restraint. He often played fewer notes than expected, allowing the spaces in between to carry just as much meaning as the notes themselves.

For vocalists, this approach can be applied by choosing when to hold a note longer than expected or when to intentionally drop out of a line to let the music breathe. This can create a sense of intimacy or introspection, as Davis often did with his trumpet. His phrasing, though understated, was always deeply emotional, telling stories through silence as much as through sound.

Watch this video, where Herbie Hancock explains Miles Davis' advice.

D'Angelo: Soulful Syncopation
D'Angelo, the neo-soul musician known for his smooth vocal delivery and complex rhythms, is another great example of a contemporary artist who has mastered phrasing. His approach to phrasing has roots in both jazz and soul music, blending intricate rhythmic syncopations with a relaxed, almost conversational tone.

What makes D'Angelo’s phrasing so compelling is his ability to "play" with time. His lines often stretch or compress rhythmically, creating an off-beat quality that adds tension and groove. For jazz singers, this type of phrasing can be applied by deliberately altering your phrasing against the beat, creating a laid-back feel or swinging feel depending on the rhythm of the song.

D'Angelo uses the concept of beat timing known as Dilla Time, after the great beatmaker J Dilla. Watch this video for a description of how Dilla Time works.

Key Elements of Jazz Phrasing: What to Focus On

1. Time and Rhythm: Jazz phrasing gives the musician the freedom to stretch and bend the rhythms. You might not always land exactly on the beat, or you might make deliberate choices to delay or anticipate a phrase. When working on phrasing, try experimenting with shifting your timing—playing behind the beat for a relaxed feel or ahead of it for urgency.
2. Articulation: The way you articulate a phrase is another important part of jazz phrasing. This can involve varying the length of your notes, adding vibrato or even using different vocal registers. For example, a jazz vocalist might sing a phrase smoothly, or they might "snap" a note with a sharp, staccato delivery. Articulation is key to keeping the phrasing fresh and dynamic.
3. Syncopation: A hallmark of jazz is the syncopated rhythm—emphasizing the off-beats or placing accents where they are least expected. Singers can use syncopation to "play" with the rhythm and create a sense of surprise. For example, you might end a phrase on an upbeat rather than a downbeat, creating a sense of unpredictability.
4. Interaction with the Band: Jazz phrasing is rarely an isolated endeavor. When you sing jazz, you interact with the band in real time, responding to their phrasing and the overall feel of the performance. This interaction often leads to spontaneous phrasing choices, creating a unique interpretation of the song each time it’s performed. Be sure to listen closely to the rhythm section, especially the drums and bass, as they set the groove and shape the phrasing of your vocals.

Developing Your Own Phrasing Style
While it’s helpful to learn from great musicians like Miles Davis or D'Angelo, developing your own phrasing style is an important step in becoming a true jazz vocalist. The more you study the masters, the more you’ll be able to internalize various phrasing techniques and then make them your own.

1. Imitate and Experiment: Start by imitating the phrasing of your favorite singers and instrumentalists. Pay attention to how they use space, syncopation, and articulation. Once you’ve practiced those phrases, start experimenting with your own. Try changing rhythms, stretching notes, or playing with phrasing in different ways.
2. Learn to Listen: Listening is one of the most important skills a jazz vocalist can develop. The more you listen to jazz music, both vocal and instrumental, the more you’ll begin to hear and internalize different phrasing techniques. Focus on how players like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, or even vocalists like Sarah Vaughan shape their lines, and consider how you can incorporate these elements into your own voice.
3. Practice with a Rhythm Section: The best way to hone your phrasing skills is to practice with live musicians. Jazz is about interaction, and you’ll find that the more you work with a rhythm section, the more you’ll develop an intuitive sense of how to phrase with the band. Take the time to really listen to the rhythm section’s phrasing—especially the bassist and drummer—and experiment with how your vocals can respond in real time.

Conclusion
Jazz phrasing is the backbone of a great performance. It’s about creating an emotional connection through timing, articulation, and rhythm—whether on vocals or an instrument. By studying and incorporating techniques from jazz greats like Miles Davis and D'Angelo, you can develop a phrasing style that speaks to your individuality as a vocalist. As you learn to manipulate rhythm, space, and dynamics, you’ll unlock the power of phrasing, giving your performances the nuance and emotion that make jazz so captivating.
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Happy singing!