progressive jazz

noun

1. an experimental, nonmelodic, and often free-flowing style of modern jazz, especially in the form of highly dissonant, rhythmically complex orchestral arrangements. Compare bop ¹, cool jazz, hard bop, modern jazz.

Word History and Origins

Origin of progressive jazz¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

An accomplished player in the world of Carnatic music, a style of South Indian classical, Rajagopalan was invited to join the revived ‘70s band featuring progressive jazz guitar great John McLaughlin. “

From Seattle Times

Tapscott founded the band and the Union of God’s Musicians and Artists Ascension, an artists’ collective, to provide more gigs for progressive jazz musicians living in L.A., and to get local children involved in the arts.

From New York Times

While just as savory, the back end lives a little more dangerously, as free jazz testaments and digital agitations share space with help from experimental beatsmith Daedelus and progressive jazz star Kurt Rosenwinkel, just two of the album’s savvy features.

From Seattle Times

Even Matthew Shipp, among the more idiosyncratic and independent-minded of progressive jazz pianists, referred to Mr. Jamal as “a musical architect of the highest order.”

From Washington Post

While it’s instantly recognizable as progressive jazz circa 2023, it also hews closer to mainstream R&B than any music he’s made yet.

From Washington Post