Automatic jazz accompaniment computation: an open advice-based approach

Music systems are based on always partial, sometimes default, knowledge. In order to meet this essential character we need open systems that can constantly adapt their music assumptions. Ideally, the system should provide the naive end-user with the ability to manipulate the music knowledge on a user-understandable level. The paper presents a computer tool, entitled JOINME, that composes a jazz accompaniment consisting of drums, bass and piano lines. JOINME is an advice propagation system, that separates the music knowledge from the actual accompaniment computation. The system supports changes/revisions of its musical knowledge on the user interface level. Its open architecture enables a close, smooth collaboration with jazz experts.