Nico Assumpção and jazz bass improvisation

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate Nico Assumpção. He has not received the interest and recognition of the American jazz audience, despite having recorded and performed with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world. Four works were transcribed and analyzed in detail with respect to the following issues and elements: rhythmic conception, bass techniques and melodic and harmonic characteristics. Observations were made and trends examined in his music as well as his improvisational style, which illustrates his stylistic significance. Results show that Nico Assumpção is indeed representative of the Jazz Fusion and Latin Jazz styles, despite his low profile in jazz literature. This is seen in his electric bass playing through his use of Brazilian and other Latin elements in conjunction with a jazz vocabulary. This is exemplified through the transcriptions and analysis of his works.