Artistic Practice and/as Analytical Method in Historical Jazz Research

This article explores the potential of artistic practice as an analytical method in historical jazz research. The introductory discussion of historical research strategies involves an inquiry regarding the epistemology of jazz practices as well as the identification of historical predecessors of artistic research in publications of musician-based jazz theory. A case study on the history of jazz in the Austrian city of Graz proposes the application of artistic practice as research in combination with approaches in structural jazz analysis and historical research. By employing compositional and performative research with the aim of identifying and communicating aspects of historical jazz practices, the study exemplifies the relevance of embodied artistic knowledge for the analytical understanding of historical jazz.

Keywords: Artistic Practice, Practice as Research, Jazz Practice, Jazz Research, Jazz Theory