devices

a

here are some devices that are used:

enclosures
descending triplet stochelo thing/cliche that stochelo uses

can anyone else add to the list?

doesn't have to be relegated to GJ devices...

pdaigle

Half-step approach

BluesBop Harry

There's a great book by Jerry Coker called "Elements of jazz" that attempts to dissect the jazz language and contains many so called devices, he says they are the "..connective tissue"
What you're naming however seem to be melodic embellishments, you can learn more about them in books about melodic construction, classical or jazz.

Off the top of my head, here are some of the devices used in the improviser's vocabulary, as identified by Coker:

the 7-3 resolution: Refers to the harmonical movement of the seventh of one chord resolving to the third of the next, that occurs when going from any chord to another a fourth away.
The C note in a D-7 chord going to the B in a G7, or the F in a G7 going to the E in a CMaj7.
Very cool because it lets you imply a chord change with just two notes.
Used by all.

Line cliches: Refers to the chromatic movement of one note in a chord, usually the root to the major sixth, while the rest remain static.
Can be used harmonically or melodically. Has a 7-3 resolution built in so it's a good candidate for fourth changes (V7-I, dominant cycle, etc).

Digital Patterns: These are usually groups of four notes, for example 1-2-3-5 (C-D-E-G), that are rearranged (up to 24 possibilities) and used to play against chords each pattern played as eight notes and filling two beats, so two patterns fit a whole bar. A good device for fast complicated tunes where changes transpire quickly.
Coltrane was THE master of this approach and used them extensively in "Giant step" and "Countdown". They are also used by virtually every other jazz improviser.

Jerry Coker has identified 14-18 devices and provides explanations and numerous recorded and notated examples in the aforementioned book as well as play-alongs and a method for practicing/ingraining the elements.
It isn't about Gypsy Jazz but almost all of the elements can be and are used in this idiom as well.

Hope this helps.
Enrique

Bones

A,

Do you have any tab for the rosenberg triplet lick or how he uses the enclosure ideas?

thanks

a

i don't, but it's probably somewhere on this board.

BluesBop Harry

I think the Stochelo line cliche is on the Gypsy picking book and the enclosure can be found on the Gypsy fire book and on one of the free lessons on this site.

Bones

Thanks, I'll check there.

V-dub

[quote="Bones"]A,

Do you have any tab for the rosenberg triplet lick or how he uses the enclosure ideas?

thanks[/quote]

I assume this is what they are talking about (all notes are triplets):

Use over Am
[code]
-17-12----------12-16-12----------12-15-12----------12-14-12----------12-
-------13----13----------13----13----------13----13----------13----13----
----------14----------------14----------------14----------------14-------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[/code]

But to be fair to the Rosenbergs, I haven't heard them use this lick in years. In fact, every time I figure out a new Rosenberg cliche, they stop using them. They are on to us!

As far as enclosures, I'm not sure what they are referring to, but I think it means using arpeggio/scale shapes that fit over the chord voicings. The best way to observe that is to look at a good transcription (corret fingering is key) of their solos. Dennis has a bunch I'm sure!

Bones

Thanks I'll try that. Can you think of any recorded examples that I can listen to?