The problem with jazz is that is can go on and on with no defined finish to the song – a lot of the time it just peters out. People in a jazz quartet, for instance, take little solos and go off on one, sometimes not sticking to the key that everyone else is playing. That can lead to problems for the others in the band and everyone else has to be on the ball to be able to handle these unannounced key changes. I have visited many jazz bars in NYC and London and been brought up on a plethora of different jazz artists from over the decades. I also play piano and guitar in a band so have direct experience of this too.

The point made by Paul above about call and answer (or point and counterpoint as he says) it valid too, but not all jazz pieces have this in it (have a listen to Jimi Hendrix and Steve Winwood on Voodoo Chile [not slight return] for a wonderful example of this in the blues). And not all of jazz is a conversation. Jazz is more about one’s self expression.

The comparison with a telephone sales pitch isn’t quite right therefore. On a telephone sales pitch, we are trying to get to a defined finish – the close. In jazz, there is no such thing as a close, there is only the freedom of expression (and no one likes a salesman who goes on and on).

In my opinion, a better comparison would be rock ‘n’ roll. The start of the song is what catches your attention and grabs you by the balls (introduction and opening questions). Then you have the freedom of expression in the guitar solo (which is like the progressive questioning) whilst also sticking to the flow of the song. And there is the defined drum roll and everyone working together at the end of the song to finish….the close.