What is reharmonisation? (JazzAdvice.com)

Before attempting a project based on jazz reharmonisation, the definition of reharmonisation must first be established.

This post will seek to identify that very definition.

One website that has proved very helpful so far and will no doubt prove to be more helpful as the weeks go on is jazzadvice.com, a website created by seasoned jazz musicians Forrest Wernick and Eric O'Donnell.  The website offers various guides - literary guides, audio guides and video guides - to help everyone from beginners to professional musicians out with resources to help them improve their jazz musicianship.

Talking of the development of jazz, website author Eric O'Donnell states that

"...the practice of reharmonizing common chord changes, whether implied melodically by the soloist or explicitly stated harmonically by the rhythm section, was crucial..."

So what is it? Jazz advice simply states that at it's most basic form, reharmonisation is a process of playing something with "[the] same melody, but [using] different chords and orchestration."

The website gives an example of two pieces of the same music, though with one reharmonised.  The following posts will show practical examples of this reharmonisation in action.

Below are some key pages from the website that explore some of the key principles of jazz reharmonisation.

http://www.jazzadvice.com/how-to-use-pop-tunes-to-improve-your-ear/
http://www.jazzadvice.com/jazz-contrafacts-and-reharmonization-a-creative-approach-to-jazz-standards/
http://www.jazzadvice.com/basic-bebop-reharmonization/

J

References

O'Donnell, Eric. 'Basic Bebop And Jazz Reharmonization | Jazzadvice.Com'. Jazzadvice.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 June 2015.

O'Donnell, Eric. 'Jazz Contrafacts And Jazz Reharmonization For Improvisers | Jazzadvice.Com'. 
Jazzadvice.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 21 July 2015.

O'Donnell, Eric. 'How To Use Pop Music To Improve Your Ear Training Skills | Jazzadvice.Com'. Jazzadvice.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 26 July 2015.