Treatments of the ii-V7-I Chord Progression in Jazz Improvisation: An Analysis of Phrases Used by Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Dexter Gordon

The art of jazz improvisation demands that jazz performers create musical ideas in real time based on the harmonic and melodic structure of a song. The study and transcription of the jazz masters is crucial in understanding the art of improvisation. This article demonstrates how master jazz performers use the ii-V7-I chord progression in improvisational practice. This chord progression is essential to jazz improvisation and has been handled by jazz musicians in many different ways. This compilation of ii-V7-I improvisatory phrases will include a brief analysis of each idea. These analyses will display the artists' similarities and differences in personal style.