How do you approach improvisation during a session to ensure it complements the overall composition?

Improvisation is a necessary skill for a professional musician. Being able to listen to four bars of a metronome, see a chord progression, and take a shot at recording a song is a skill that only practice and improvisation can provide. At the same time, it's crucial to be discerning about what to play and where. The most important factor is the context, as well as the vision of the producer and the artist. You have to play what the song needs.

I have sought to develop my improvisation skills over the years, improvisation can be applied to any style, not just jazz, and it helps me a lot to easily solve passages in a project without overthinking, in a more intuitive way, supported of course by the theoretical principles that I handle in various styles. That is why I prefer to have creative freedom as an arranger and only sometimes, as an exception, I accept score study projects. For me creativity and sincere interpretation is the mainstay of my artistic work.

I find it very beautiful. I consider the guitar as a sound resource at the service of the song.

So my improvisation is not "guitaristic", but always tries to be musical.

This allows me to enhance the song, which is the ultimate goal of my work.

I find that improvisation is EXACTLY the same thing as language learning. The EXACT same concepts apply. You have to speak to become fluent. If you want to speak English go to England or the US, if you want to play Jazz, improvise over Jazz music, play with other Jazz musicians. You can't learn to play Metal playing with Jazz musicians though. For that you have to listen to Metal and play with other metal musicians. 

In approaching improvisation during a session, I focus on understanding the composition’s structure, mood, and emotional arc. Before playing, I analyze the key, tempo, and style to make sure my improvisation will feel like a natural extension of the existing music. I then experiment with melodies and harmonies that complement the piece, often keeping my ideas simple to avoid overshadowing other elements.

I aim to enhance the composition by adding subtle variations or layers rather than reinventing it. My goal is to elevate the composition while staying true to its core vibe and intent.

When approaching improvisation, I focus on enhancing the composition without overpowering it. I listen intently to the song’s core elements—melody, harmony, and existing rhythm—so I can weave my ideas seamlessly into the track. I aim to add subtle textures or fills that support the song’s energy and dynamics. By balancing creativity with restraint, I ensure my improvisation serves the music and aligns with the artist’s vision.

I love improvising during a recording session because it means that customers rely on me 100% and my skills allow me to always be ready on many different genere and sounds!

The key here is to always play for what the song needs. Even though sometimes the brief may point you in a different direction, you have to trust your gut and play what feels right. And of course, you need a delicate ear. That has been my mantra for the past 20 years, and it has never let me down. Every musician gets better at that with experience, it's all about the mileage. The keyword is 'instinct'.