Does jazz have to be played differently every time?
I've been listening to jazz for quite a while now and never occurred to me how jazz works. So I decided to do some research and highkey fell down a jazz rabbit hole. For example, if improvisation is such an important and often defining part of jazz, what happens when a musician plays a solo they previously improvised, transcribes it, and decides to repeat it in most performances because they liked it? Is it still jazz or does it break the whole point? Or like let’s say I transcribe Miles Davis’ “So What” note for note, is that considered playing jazz? If not, what genre of music would that be called? Also, I've also been wondering about vocal jazz as well. Is vocal jazz still jazz or does it lean more into traditional pop territory?
Sorry if I sound too technical. I'd just really appreciate your thoughts on this.