Improvising with one or more people is like a spontaneous conversation, whereas playing using written music is like reading a book or a story out loud. Both are wonderful things to do, both serve a purpose, both can be fun and enlightening. And just like any conversation or book, they can also be boring or pedantic or simplistic; some conversations are doomed to be dominated by a loud-talker or a “topper.” With written music, the unfolding sound is scripted. Spontaneous conversations—whether verbal or musical—flows where it will. Anybody can do it.
