The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time: Ranking, Analysis & Photos (Book) [Hardcover] Review

Ranking musicians/artists is wrongheaded but some of these picks are just beyond the pale.He ranks the number 1-4 top jazz pianists of all time as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Bud Powell and Art Tatum.Reasonable picks.So who's number 5?Gotta be along the lines of Chick, Herbie, Keith, McCoy, Cecil, Fatha Hines, Teddy Wilson, Fats, or Jelly Roll, right?Get this- Monty Alexander!and who's number 6?Benny Green!I was in disbelief.As you wade through the rest of the picks you realize that the closer a pianist comes to duplicating Oscar's style the higher he is rated (Gene Harris rates 12 if I recall).Now I have plenty of Monty Alexander and Benny Green recordings and enjoy their playing, but they are hardly the sort of original pianists that would merit their rubbing shoulders with these giants.This book may familarize the jazz piano enthusiast with some players they didn't previously know but a better book in that regard would be Robert Doershuk's "88: The Giants of Jazz Piano."Doerschuk's book features more pianists, is more informative and comes with a CD.I will say that Rizzo's book has some nice photos.

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Product Description:

Handy resource for jazz listeners and hardcore fans.Spanning players from eighty years of history, this bold book steps forward and claims who are the greatest. Compiled from an extensive survey conducted with the best jazz minds in the ed



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Improvising Jazz Piano W/CD (Music Sales America) [Paperback] Review

This book is quite interesting and informative, yet there are pretty blantant problems with the layout and information that make it tough to understand. As for good stuff, there is some summary information onintervals and building chords and scales, with pretty nice sections onmodal jazz and different playing styles throughout the 1900's. There areplenty of examples and "dictionaries" of different progressionsand chords. There is some information on voicings, but the book isseriously lacking in this department. The voicings (and improv for thatmatter) focus is limited and does not really ever stray away from II-V-Iprogressions. (What if I DON'T want to play a II-V-I??) The entire book ismostly sight reading (yuck), songs and notation, and not enough explanationof theory, which can seriously bog down any beginner. I don't understandthe point behind showing every chord in every key and every single mode,because you can just build these from rules. I would recommend this bookmaybe in conjunction with Waite's Modern Jazz Piano book and Mark Levine'sJazz Piano Book.

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Product Description:
This last work by one of the most authoritative experts on jazz composition and arranging is a must for the serious pianist who wishes to expand his technical and creative powers. Deals with all aspects including a survey of piano styles from 1900 to today. Learn the seventh chord system, the sixty chord system, altered triads, modal improvisation, left hand voicings, and more.

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Big Ivory Book of Jazz Piano Solos [Paperback] Review

This is a great book full of great arrangements of hymns, worship and christmas songs.I love the reharmonizations and cool funky voicings used by the great arrangers of the book.Unlike other arrangements in other books i've looked at, which are quite boring and straight forward i found myself analyzing and just blown away by some of the ways the chords were voiced and reharmonized.I really enjoyed playing through these arrangements and i'm going to incorporate them into my own playing. i highly recommend this book and other Word Music Publishing books to anyone who is involved in the christian music industry who wants to stand out from everyone else.

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Product Description:
The latest in Word Music's popular Big Book series is filled with more than 130 pages of medium difficult hymn and gospel arrangements, plus patriotic and seasonal favorites. The song titles are tastefully arranged in a jazz style appropriate for use in services of blended worship. 34 songs, including: Amazing Grace * America, the Beautiful * Blessed Assurance * Deck the Hall * Infant Holy, Infant Lowly * Just a Closer Walk with Thee * Morning Has Broken * Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us * The Solid Rock * Were You There? * When Morning Gilds the Skies * and many more.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Piano Stylings of the Great Standards, Vol. 2 [Paperback] Review

The arrangements are not technically difficult, but they have lots of accidentals and various rhythms that require close and careful reading. Fortunately, the publishers have produced a beautiful volume, with large, almost oversized, easy-on-the-eyes printing set on heavy paper in a lay-flat binding. In other words, the book itself is as elegant as the arrangements it contains. Also included are the original sheet music settings.

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Product Description:
Arranged for piano. Piano Stylings of the Great Standards for the pianist who longs to play the best-loved and most important songs of the popular genre in very special and elegant musical settings. The arrangements are represented in varying styles, written and influenced by the many great pianists who, over the years, have helped to shape popular piano performance.

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Warren Bernhardt Teaches Jazz Piano: Volume 1 - A Hands-On Course in Improvisation and Technique [Paperback] Review

Make no mistake. This book isn't for the casual piano player. I think I'm a pretty good player but this book assumes you know a lot about sophisticated cording and comping already. The recordings are good and Warren is an outstanding player. The playbook is a thin 32 pages or so and it's hard to do much more than play what's written there.
It didn't work well for me. Way too advanced.

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Product Description:
With only a basic knowledge of the piano, you can enter the world of jazz improvisation!With WarrenÕs expert guidance, youÕll quickly develop an understanding of the building blocks of jazz piano: scales, melodic development, rhythm comping, chord building, bass lines and much more!

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The Jazz Theory Book [Spiral-bound] Review

There was a time when it was a common adage that Jazz can't be taught. You were either born with it, or were lucky enough to pick it up... to some extent that is true... as there is a time you have to lift your head from the books and learn on the bandstand... but the question is how to get to that point - - the point where you can benefit from lead sheets or learning off of records, or by communicating with other musicians ?
For many years, a lot of the "Jazz" educational material on the market was either antequated by the time of publication (remember going into music shops to find "modern" piano books that would teach you how to play stride version of Honeysuckle Rose and the Maple Leaf Rag?)... other books contained misleading information, or some of the better ones required technical reading skills (as well as hand spands and chops) that few Jazz masters themselves were known to possess (!) - - Finally, over the years, a few breakthroughs... two of the earliest that come to mind would include books by David Baker and John Mehegan. - - But most of us still wondered, "When is somebody going to write *the book* ?" - - ...finally someone did.
The publication of this book has launched Jazz education into the modern era... Very readable, well presented, modern, practical, never over academic or esoteric, and requiring the most minimal amount of reading of musical notation possible - - and written for a generation raised on Miles Davis and John Coltrane not Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong (as great as they were.)
Combining this book with the right listening, hands on playing (check out some of the Aebersold play-a-longs) and the right fake book... in a situation where a great Jazz teacher might not be so available or affordable, with the right attitude (check out Berliner's Thinking In Jazz) - - this book is your spiral bound musical conservatory, with advice relevent to players of all levels... From those basic intervals, scales, chord voicings and changes that all Jazz students learn in their first lessons, to the insight required to "put it all together" - - This is a great reference for everyone, from the begining student, the aspiring amateur trying to get into a program (or take his or her playing to the next level)... to the seasoned veteran who'd like to learn the language and reason and gain better insight into what he or she is playing and hearing in order to grow as a musician. Regardless, this is one resource that belongs in your music learning library !

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Product Description:
Endorsed by Jamey Aebersold, James Moody, Dave Liebman, and others, The Jazz Theory Book presents all the information any student of jazz needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced players, and written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz, it is used by universities around the world.

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Duke Ellington: Jazz Piano Solos Series, Vol. 9 [Paperback] Review

The vast majority of the pieces in this book have extensive and serious errors in the chord changes.Most jazz players refer to the chord changes, so be forewarned. Flat signs are missing everywhere in the chord changes - in the chord root and alterations.There are no errors in the music notes on the staff, which is how you can verify which changes are wrong.Only 5 pieces in this book are accurate.I brought this problem to the attention of Hal Leonard, after having spent over an hour detailing examples of the pieces, measures, errors.Shockingly, they told me that I didn't understand the use of "accidentals" and that I needed to study music theory.I fell off my chair laughing!
Here's the reply from Hal Leonard Customer Service:We think that you are missing a key point of music notation: any accidentals that appear in the key signature are not re-printed throughout the music.We would suggest that you begin studying music theory.Hal Leonard publishes titles designed to help you in this endeavor....
So if you buy this book, enjoy the printed music, but plan to correct the changes in all except 5 of the pieces in this book if you want to play the changes.

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Product Description:
Exciting new solo arrangements of 24 beloved Duke Ellington songs, including: Caravan * Don't Get Around Much Anymore * It Don't Mean a Thing * Mood Indigo * Satin Doll * Take the "A" Train * and more.

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Contemporary Music Theory - Level Three: A Complete Harmony and Theory Method for the Pop and Jazz Musician (Piano) [Paperback] Review

I've played music for years, and now that I'm retired, I wanted to understand more about what I was playing.I picked up Mark Harrison's Contemporary Music Theory Book level 2 and made my way through it.I was stunned to find that I had been instructed incorrectly on several points.That was one reason I purchased the book.I wanted to clean up some confusion I had with theory. Now I've just finished the level 3 book.Mark Harrison's books are structured with achievable learning steps.His lessons are followed up with exercises after the chapter to reinforce concepts taught in the chapter.The answers follow the exercises.This is greatly appreciated because it gives the reader immediately feedback.The reader can check the answers, and if there was an error made, the reader can go back and correct any misunderstanding before moving on.If you want to learn more about music structure and harmony, these books are an excellent source without having to go through music theory classes.The lessons are clearly written out and understandable.These books provide the reader with skills so they can not only understand the movement and progressions of chords, but be able to substitute chords in any key for harmonies they may want.Mark Harrison is an expert.This is the best set of theory books that I've ever seen.

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Product Description:
This book is the product of Mark Harrison's experience teaching hundreds of students at the world-famous Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. Suitable for instrumentalists, vocalists, composers and songwriters, this Level 3 course covers the chord tones, extensions and scale sources for all major, minor, dominant and diminished chords, and then applies the contemporary shape concept to create voicings, polychords, and to harmonize melodies.

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Monk's Music: Thelonious Monk and Jazz History in the Making (Roth Family Foundation Music in America Imprint) [Paperback] Review

Monk's Music is a fine read that will repay your attention.It will appeal to you if you are interested in music, especially jazz, and the way it interacts with and is given context by the culture it exists in.Jazz fans, Monk fans, music fans, and anyone with an itnterest in music and culture will want to read this book.

This is a book grounded in the academic tradition--yes, it uses big words and knotty concepts.It requires focus and attention to read.On the other hand, if you are willing to put in a bit of effort, the average music fan will find much of interest, and your effort will be repaid amply.

Solis sets about examining some very interesting questions, like "how does someone become a Jazz icon?""In an evolving musical genre, where slavish reproduction of a musical work is not valued and is indeed a source of disrespect, how does the ongoing evolution of a set of musical works take life and substance?"

If you are expecting a biography of Monk, or a simple analysis of his music, you will be disappointed--although the book does provide an excellent synopsis of Mon's life to provide contest, and also provides lucid analysis and commentary on the music.

Solis gives life and context to his discussion by incorporating the results of extensive interviews with musicians who played with Monk, a primary resource that has depth.

A unique and interesting book, I recommend it to anyone interested in jazz, music, and culture, and of course anyone interested in Monk and his music.

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Product Description:
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) was one of jazz's greatest and most enigmatic figures. As a composer, pianist, and bandleader, Monk both extended the piano tradition known as Harlem stride and was at the center of modern jazz's creation during the 1940s, setting the stage for the experimentalism of the 1960s and '70s. This pathbreaking study combines cultural theory, biography, and musical analysis to shed new light on Monk's music and on the jazz canon itself. Gabriel Solis shows how the work of this stubbornly nonconformist composer emerged from the jazz world's fringes to find a central place in its canon. Solis reaches well beyond the usual life-and-times biography to address larger issues in jazz scholarship--ethnography and the role of memory in history's construction. He considers how Monk's stature has grown, from the narrowly focused wing of the avant-garde in the 1960s and '70s to the present, where he is claimed as an influence by musicians of all kinds. He looks at the ways musical lineages are created in the jazz world and, in the process, addresses the question of how musicians use performance itself to maintain, interpret, and debate the history of the musical tradition we call jazz.

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Alfred's Basic Adult Jazz/Rock Course (Alfred's Basic Piano Library) [Paperback] Review

The Jazz Course has a great selection of popular jazz and rock styled exercises that would be fit for the, say, second year of study for a teenager or adult applying themselves earnestly to learning piano.

The exercises are musical and musically fun, and they won't insult the adult learner's intelligence.They are, however, mostly just simple songs.While the occassional mention is made of conceptual jazz, as would be used for improvising, the book is a traditional melodic exercise book at heart, not a conceptual approach.

That said, there are jam-session hints at the bottom of many pages that can be used to play along with other intruments.Along those lines, though, few songs have chord symbols (and no miniture guitar fret symbols) actually set above the staves.Having I, IV, etc., on practically every song would be ideal for teaching jazz/rock.

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Product Description:
Adult beginners can be taught the basics of jazz and rock music easily using this dynamic supplement to Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course.And, teachers don't have to be jazz or rock experts to teach it!Perfect for individual or group instruction and playable on both acoustic and electronic keyboard.

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Claude Bolling - Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio: Set of Parts/CD (Book & CD) [Paperback] Review

I consider this piece a mandatory one in the repertoire of any serious flutist, as it is perhaps one of the first examples of "crossover" music between classical and jazz styles. The recording itself was a platinum record during the 1970's. The recording is still available so that the written music can be followed easily, and if you are fortunate enough to have a good pianist to follow, you will find the music fun and not so difficult to play, if you are an intermediate or advanced flutist.

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Product Description:
This book has been a top-selling item for years, and now a companion CD with play-along and backing tracks is available! This means flute players can now learn this legendary piece of music on their own - our perfect piano accompaniment CDs eliminate the need for a pianist to play with! The CD can be purchased alone, for those who already own the book, and a book/CD pack is also available for those purchasing this for the first time. This suite in seven parts is composed for a "classic" flute and a "jazz" piano. It was the first jazz recording of world-renowned flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal and Claude Bolling. It is possible to play the whole piece with only flute and piano, but bass and drum parts are included for the complete Suite. The CD includes full recordings and flute play-along tracks for seven songs: Baroque and Blue * Fugace * Irlandaise * Javanaise * Sentimentale * Veloce * Versatile. Also available: CD Only (HL00672559, $16.95); Book Only (00490508, $47.50).

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Latin Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series [Paperback] Review

This book is absolutely wonderful! I am an 18-year-old piano student and I have been classically trained for 10 years. These arrangements were perfect for me because I needed a large amount of quality jazz songs to play in a hotel lobby just before most people went to bed. These pieces are fabulous because they dont require all the attention from everyone in the room (many people like to read while listening), yet if someone wants to just sit and actively listen to what I'm playing, they have a lot of interesting melodies and chords that keep their attention locked and invested in the music. Often times, people will walk in the lobby and just stand and listen to the beautiful melodies these arrangements create before actually going to the desk and checking in. It's very rewarding for me to play this music because they speak to a huge audience, and I find that my listening audience will grow every time I pull the book out and start playing.
But Beyond the fact that the original melodies are wonderful, it's even amazing to me the great flexibility that the arranging allows. They are superb when plays them simply as they are and just marvels in what is written on the page, but if you like to changearound things and play them your own way, you have the freedom to move things around and put your own "feel" to the music. Even the different styles of songs in this book are very flexible and broad,too. Songs range from slightly melancholy, to pensive, to light and upbeat, all the way to a couple that are loud and boisterous. I can only find two songs in the entire book that written in a similar style and mood.
I dont want to lead you on that these pieces are just the sort that simply find a good groove and then uphold the same simple thing the whole time, either. These are good, melodious SONGS that anyone could make up lyrics to and singly along with if they wanted to.
But anyway, I just wanted to let it known how thankful I am to Hal Leonard and the arranger, Brent Edstrom, for putting together this book. I am SURE that anyone of medium to advanced piano skills will find this book creeping its way into their everyday, multipurpose repertoir for use at any gig, and that they will probably end up considering buying all the rest of the books in this series, as I'm doing too.

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17 Latin jazz classics, including: Adios (Perez Prado, Astor Piazzolla) * Brazil (Xavier Cugat, Django Reinhardt) * A Day in the Life of a Fool (Stan Getz, Paul Desmond) * Desafinado (Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim) * Mambo #5 (Perez Prado, Xavier Cugat) * Manteca (Dizzy Gillespie, Cal Tjader) * Mas Que Nada (Dizzy Gillespie) * Perfidia (Perez Prado, Nat King Cole) * Samba De Orfeu (Paul Desmond, Vince Guaraldi) * Triste (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Cal Tjader) * and more.

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The Piano Handbook: A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano [Spiral-bound] Review

This really is the best of the few decent books in this category - and one of only a small handful that don't treat you like an idiot. Concomitantly, if you ARE in idiot, this book won't work for you. As other reviewers have noted, the pace is definitely fast compared to the 'graded' lesson books commonly used by piano teachers. But using the CD, and practicing every exercise until you truly understand it - you WILL go far, and fast, with this one. I've carefully checked every other "teach yourself piano" title I've seen in the local stores, and even bought and returned a few. This one, however, is a keeper. By the end of the book, you'll be playing some fairly impressive classical pieces (more than enough to impress your friends - unless they're experienced pianists!). Along the way, you get a very nice background in piano history (great photos an illustrations!), and you'll gain a good, solid understanding of reading music. (hm - except for all those british musical terms. Feh. Luckily, American-style is included as well.)
Generally, you really, really should try to get a teacher. But if you just can't afford it, this book is the next best thing. Combine it with a few videos/DVDs (like the "Van Cliburn competition" - YES!, or even buy "The Pianist" or "Shine" right here on Amazon) so you can get an idea of how pianists hold and move their hands. (not that you'll move like these people for a long while!).
There is a crazy typographical error in my edition of the book, where an entire paragraph is repeated! This is only a little sad, because the space could have been put to use for more of the author's great information. It's not enough to drop my rating! The binding (at least in my edition) is spiral - a VERY SMART move, as it sits nicely on the music desk. I have to make photo copies to use the sheet music in other books!
This one has got my full recommendation. And better yet, if you have any musical background at all, or have had some piano lessons (even in your distant past) this book will have you flying along in no time.

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Product Description:
This illustrated handbook offers a comprehensive tutorial for learning to play piano alone or with a teacher. An accompanying audio CD demonstrates key techniques and concepts, and the author explores the common origins of different musical cultures to show that learning different kinds of music can be an enriching experience. Readers discover how classical piano technique and musicianship inspire creative approaches to composing and improvising across a variety of styles, including pop and jazz.

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Jazz, Rags & Blues, Book 2 (Alfred's Basic Piano Library) [Paperback] Review

I got this book for my 16 year old son per request from his piano teacher and he seems to like it very much. It is something different from the traditional material for this level. I don't get tired of listening to this type of music as quickly as the other lesson books.

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Jazz, Rags & Blues, Books 1 through 5 contain original solos for late elementary to early advanced-level pianists that reflect the various styles of the jazz idiom. An excellent way to introduce your students to this distinctive American contribution to 20th century music. Available separately (item #18115), the CD includes dynamic recordings of each song in Books 1-3 of this series.

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Post-Bop Jazz Piano - The Complete Guide with CD!: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series [Paperback] Review

As a jazz enthusiast, this book was something new that went beyond all other jazz teaching books that I have come across.It has given me a new outlook on the jazz of the 1950's.Left-hand voicings, two-hand voicings, scales, tonality, modality are just some of the main ideas that this book goes through.One thing that really caught my eye, is the in depth look at the impression Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett use in their music.The book is a great option for those looking to expand their jazz knowledge and incorporate their own style.The book moves quickly but provides the information that is important for those of us looking to play.It comes with a very handy CD which allows to hear what it's supposed to sound like. I highly recommend this book.

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Product Description:
This comprehensive book and CD package will teach you the basic skills you need to play post bop jazz piano. From comping to soloing, you'll learn the theory, the tools, and the tricks used by the pros. The accompanying CD features many of the examples in the book performed either solo or with a full band. THE HAL LEONARD KEYBOARD STYLE SERIES provides focused lessons that contain valuable how-to insight, essential playing tips, and beneficial information for all players. Comprehensive treatment is given to each subject, complete with a companion CD.

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Jazz Piano and Harmony : A Fundamental Guide (Book & CD) [Paperback] Review

Jazz Piano and Harmony written by John Ferrara is geared to beginners and intermediate players, especially classical players who want to learn jazz piano basics.Chords, inversions, diatonic harmony, and improvisation techniques are all covered in a well-organized, progressive manner.Three and four part chords are shown to be related to a major scale which is actually the basic way improvisational melodic lines are derived: from chord scales.The discussion on inversions illustrates how left hand voicings can move smoothly from one chord to another utilizing common tones.The bottom line is that it gives you a way to construct left hand accompaniment to a melodic line.For classical players who are primarily note readers, this removes a lot of the mystique from the concept of playing a chordal arrangement with only a melodic line and chord symbols.The chapter on chord scale construction shows how simple it is to create chord scales that will work over diatonic and non-diatonic structures.This gives you the option of playing and thinking linearly, rather that playing around the chord tones which most untrained players tend to do.The written exercises are excellent in helping the student assimilate the material.I would highly recommend this book which has been designed to help a good pianist become a great musician!!

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Product Description:
A comprehensive guide to jazz piano and harmony for thebeginning to intermediate pianist/musician. The subject content startswith basic triad and seventh chord construction, and continues withinversions and voice leading, left hand voicings, improvisationtechniques, tensions, spread voicings, diatonic harmony andsubstitutions, secondary dominants, harmonic analysis, cadences, andblues. There are over fifty full pages of music examples, along withexercises to help the student comprehend the subject matter.

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Complete Jazz Keyboard Method: Intermediate Jazz Keyboard [Paperback] Review

I bought "Mastering Jazz Keyboard" at a local music store and found that it was just a little too advanced for me, though I liked the tone and pace of the book. So I ordered "Intermediate Jazz Keyboard," and so far, I've found that it's just what I was looking for.

I'm a classically trained pianist looking to branch out into jazz improvisation. I sightread really easily, I know my major and minor scales inside and out, but I was always a little confused by chord markings like "Emin7b5" and "Csus". I knew what they meant, but I didn't really get what you'd use them for. What Baerman does is explain when - and why - to use advanced chords.

The best part of the book is the accompanying CD. After reading a few pages, you'll find yourself wanting to try things out but not quite knowing how. Every topic has at least one example track on the CD, usually more than one. And all the tracks are written out in notation, so those of us who are used to reading music won't feel too disoriented.

All in all, this book has a great balance of theory and practice, with a good sense of humor and bits of jazz history thrown in to boot. The only thing that would make it more complete would be a few worksheets or tables to fill in, just for practice constructing chords or scales.

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Product Description:
This book is great for keyboardists who have learned the basics of jazz harmony and improvisation.Topics include a brief review of concepts and skills from Beginning Jazz Keyboard, and continue with the modes of the major scale, chord extensions, making the changes, using chromatic tones and guide tones, chord substitution, ""rhythm changes,"" the blues, altered dominant chords and more.Continuing the format of Beginning Jazz Keyboard, new concepts are reinforced by etudes and songs for practice.Packed with hundreds of harmony and improvisation ideas, this book is essential for any serious student of jazz keyboard.The CD includes examples and opportunities to play along.

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Blues Piano: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series (Keyboard Instruction) [Paperback] Review

I got this book along with a number of other blues books, and this one has been my favorite.It doesn't contain as much material as the multivolume Alfred series, but I find the organization, presentation, and *especially* the examples to be superior in Mark's work.The way the examples build section by section and chapter by chapter is exquisite.They are musically interesting yet very focused on the point at hand--I always enjoyed playing through the examples, but was never confused by unnecessary complications.

The companion CD is the best I've seen in any music instruction book, ever.Most examples have the left and right hand parts on the left and right channels, so you can mute one speaker or the other for "hands seperate" practicing.I personally don't use this much, as I prefer to work it out with the metronome, but I'm glad it's there and you may appreciate it.On tracks that have a backing band, the band is on one side and the keyboard on the other so you can play along to just the band.Finally, the "complete" examples at the end of the book feature a "slow" and "fast" version on the CD.One nitpick: I wish he'd included (in the text) the metronome settings he used, making it easier to practice/jam without the CD.

I've got several of the Hal Leonard books in this series, and they're not all by Mark Harrison.His books are definitely a cut above.All in all, if you have any interest in the subject whatsoever, you can't go wrong with this book.

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Product Description:
Ever wanted to play the blues, but weren't sure where to start? Blues Piano will teach you the basic skills you need. From comping to soloing, you'll learn the theory, the tools, and even the tricks that the pros use. And, you get seven complete tunes to jam on. Listen to the CD, then start playing along! Covers: scales and chords; left-hand patterns; walking bass; endings and turnarounds; right-hand techniques; how to solo with blues scales; crossover licks; and more.

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Contemporary Jazz Piano: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series [Paperback] Review

I have several other books by Mark Harrison and truly enjoy his latest offering.
I have been looking for a book that covers this genre for a while and find the chords and voicings very helpful.
Although I haven't been playing that long, I feel this book will help me get to another level.

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Product Description:
This comprehensive book/CD pack will teach you the basic skills needed to play the variety of styles that comprise contemporary jazz piano. From comping to soloing, you'll learn the theory, tools, and techniques used by the pros. The accompanying CD demonstrates most of the music examples in the book. The full-band tracks feature the rhythm section on the left channel and the piano on the right channel, so you can play along with the band!

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88: The Giants of Jazz Piano [Hardcover] Review

A bonus 11-track cd comes with this portrait of eighty-eight pioneers and players of jazz piano, from Jelly Roll Morton to Benny Green. Here are insights on lives, techniques, and changing perspectives on jazz piano styles and artistry, enhanced by the author's personal experience as a jazz pianist and his original interviews with many of the players. Avid fans of the genre will find The Giants Of Jazz Piano positively absorbing.

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Product Description:
This handsome, insightful hardcover volume delves deep into the music of 88 visionaries who have made an indelible mark on the world of jazz through their mastery of the pianoÃ-s 88 keys. This engaging collection describes the intriguing personality and performance characteristics of each pianist. Seven major figures are covered in depth: Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Keith Jarrett and Cecil Taylor. Other featured artists include: James P. Johnson, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole, Oscar Peterson, Les McCann, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea and 70 others, in styles ranging from stride to swing, bebop to post-bop, funk to avant garde, and more. Includes a bonus CD with 11 great jazz tracks, 100 photos, and a foreword by Keith Jarrett.
"Like great solos, these essays have grace, wit, and a sense of personal involvement ... Immensely valuable stuff!"
- Dick Hyman

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Intros, Endings and Turnarounds for Keyboard: Essential Phrases for Swing, Latin, Jazz Waltz, and Blues Styles (keyboard instruction) [Paperback] Review

This book teaches many things at once.

Learn intros and endings suitable for use in gigs.
Learn different chord changes besides the typical II-V-I.
Learn some phrases and voicings that help you jump right in,
rather than just seeing the chord changes written out.
(The last chapter is the exception)
Learn how to improvise - If you haven't been able to cross that
bridge, just let yourself wander while playing these samples.
You can't help but hear different melodies in them.

Each sample is presented in a random key, but it is still up the
student to practice them in all keys.
Well worth the price - a fraction of the cost of a piano lesson
for a huge springboard!

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Product Description:
Learn the intros, endings and turnarounds that all of the pros know and use! This new keyboard instruction book by John Valerio covers swing styles, ballads, Latin tunes, jazz waltzes, blues, major and minor keys, vamps and pedal tones, and more.

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Voicings For Jazz Keyboard [Spiral-bound] Review

This book explains away all the mysteries involved in quartal jazz harmony, as well as provides great insight into using triads over dominant sevenths and voice leading.Frank gets right to the heart of the matterand presents it in a straight-forward, easy to understand manner, which isthe way it should be.Great for ANY instrumentalist and a great resourcefor jazz arrangers.

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Product Description:
A respected soloist, clinician and writer, Mantooth has written this book for any keyboard player interested in developing better jazz chord voicing. Written more as a Õhow-toÕ book than a textbook, Voicings will make a valuable addition to the library of any performer, arranger, teacher or jazz theorist.

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Jazz Piano: The Left Hand (The Steinway Library of Piano Music) [Paperback] Review

This is not a step by step, "Left Hand Technique for Dummies" kind of book. The author seems to know a lot about the history of jazz and has compiled examples of the left hand technique of many piano masters. The first half the book is more historic and talks about stride piano and the early players. The rest is more from bebop era and forward. His charts are hard to read and definitely require piano experience. I found the latin chapters too short, but is it understandable in a broad subject like this. I also wish there was more meterial about Bill Evans.

Good book. It will take me a lot of time to go through this.

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Product Description:
Arranged for piano by Riccardo Scivales. Here is the first volume in a new Jazz Piano series from The Steinway Library of Piano Music! This masterful book answers the age-old question asked by nearly every jazz pianist: what more can I do with my left hand? Using hundreds upon hundreds of musical examples, jazz scholar and pianist Riccardo Scivales Piano takes you on a tour of the left hand styles and techniques of all the great pianists, from Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller to Chick Corea and Michel Camilo. And he shows you how to use their methods yourself!
An Encyclopedia of Left Hand Style You'll no longer ponder how to get that swinging bass going, or how to fill in and add spark to the music with authentic left hand grooves. That great mystery of how to become a truly two fisted player will remain a mystery no longer, after you've gone through this treasure trove of left hand techniques used by the best jazz players who ever lived! This book is well over 250 pages long-a triumph of historical scholarship and practical, down-to-earth know-how!
Put Your Little Finger Here You'll see exactly what these legendary jazz pianists did, and learn how they made their left hand moves sound so thrilling. You'll become adept at every left hand style as Riccardo let's you in on all the secrets... stride bass as adopted and improved by Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Eubie Blake, Luckey Roberts, Donald Lambert, Cliff Jackson, Willie The Lion Smith, George Gershwin and Fats Waller... Spanish Tinged left hand stylings... blues and boogie devices... swing style figures made famous by Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum and Bob Zurke... techniques of Prebop, Bebop, and the new left hand... Erroll Garner's strumming left hand figures... walking bass style... playing salsa stride patterns, montunos and bossa-novas... the basics of jazz ostinatos... rootless chord voicings... AND MORE!

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Playing Jazz Piano [Paperback] Review

Very helpful piano method for instrumentalists. Teaching them how to coordinate the two hands and be ale to play a simple form of Jazz piano. Mintzer's books are all of some value and this particular one is certainly of help to all those saxophonists out there trying to play chords and a bass line on all those standards and jazz tunes.

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Product Description:
For an aspiring jazz instrumentalist, playing piano is one of the most important skills for developing a jazz vocabulary. Bob Mintzer is a renowned jazz composer, arranger, saxophonist, pianist, bandleader, educator and member of the group, the Yellowjackets. His new book is designed for the instrumentalist who is not an accomplished piano player but wants to acquire basic jazz piano skills and jazz vocabulary. The book includes etudes that make players aware of the sound, texture, cause, effect and function of jazz chords and harmony. The 22 piano etudes feature a variety of styles, tempos, chord progressions and a the book also includes a chord voicing glossary. Mintzer offers a practical guide with a realistic approach.

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Jazz Piano Voicings: An Essential Resource for Aspiring Jazz Musicians (keyboard instruction) [Paperback] Review

This book is great if you have a young one that hasn't played jazz or if you haven't had much jazz training.This book will give you chord changes in a lot of keys with some very basic bass lines.

THIS CAN BE VERY HELPFUL!!If you don't know what to do if you see a chord like this: Db7#5#9, then this is the book for you!This will walk you through many of the common (and some uncommon) chords and you will generally play these chords in all keys and usually with a walking bass of some sort.

If you are looking for a book that will have you playing repertoire to teach you these chords, you will not like this book.There is not one "song" in here - there are a few progressions that are written out with some right hand patterns as well as bass patterns - but you're not going to finish this book being able to play any repertoire.

But, that is the point - if you finish this book and learn what it has to teach, you'll have the TOOLS to play your favorite standards.

This is a good reference book - even if you have played some jazz...

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Product Description:
The jazz idiom can often appear mysterious and difficult for those musicians who were trained to play other types of music. Long time performer and educator Rob Mullins helps players enter the jazz world by providing voicings that will help the player develop skills in the jazz medium and start sounding professional right away without years and years of study.

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Exploring Jazz Piano - Volume 1 (The Schott Pop Styles Series) [Paperback] Review

I've bought several books on improvising jazz piano and this is by far the best. It's a heavy, well bound book (my binding has not come apart), which could explain it's $40 list price tag. The book itself is worth $40, even if it was looseleaf!

I agree with the previous reviewer that Richards quickly covers basic chord theory, but that's what convinced me to try this book. Since I've been studying jazz theory (trying to learn to improvise) and have a fair level of knowledge, I didn't want another book that introduced chords and basic ii V7 I progressions. There's some excellent books on jazz theory out there - try Bert Ligon's books for the most thorough, and challenging, course on theory. I wanted a book that would teach me how to sound like my favorite jazz pianists.

To improvise jazz, you need a thorough command of chord voicings and progressions, and then an ability to improvise scale patterns against a strong left hand rhythm. Many books give examples of those components, but only give a few basic exercises and vague verbal instructions on how to apply them to a song. I have the knowledge needed and I can play great sounding chords and progressions, but I have not been able to play a respectable improvisation and haven't been able to find any real guidance up until now.

What makes this book different--and excellent--are the numerous exercises that show you how to apply the techniques presented in the lessons. Richards' book gives several etudes and exercises in each chapter to help you develop those skills. He offers excellent improvising suggestions and examples for each etude, and shows how to apply them. In addition, he provides 4 or 5 authentic jazz tunes in each chapter - from standards to bebop and all styles - and, again, offers detailed examples and suggestions to apply the techniques presented. In addition, the tunes and drills present various left-hand styles with an emphasis on latin styles.

If you can play piano at a late beginner or early intermediate level, and have a basic knowledge of chords, then you'll get a lot out of this book. If you're an experienced player and know chords thoroughly, this book - and the Volume 2 book - will help you improve and give you excellent training in improvising.

I first bought volume 2 thinking that volume 1 would be too basic for me. But after working with vol. 2 for a week, I decided to buy vol. 1 after all. I know all the theory in volume 1, but the exercises and drills provide so much excellent instruction in playing left hand rhythms or basic chord voicings against a right hand improvisation, that I don't feel that I'm wasting my time with elementary concepts.

The cd that comes with it provides an opportunity to play along with his band. However, the tempos are fast. If you have a keyboard or piano with built in rhythms, you'll be in better shape. You'd definitely want a metronome if you don't have built in backgrounds, so that you can practice slowly and work up to the finished speed. Band in a Box is a great software program that provides some excellent backgrounds to practice with.

Tim Richards is the best teacher - and on top of that a great jazz pianist. He and I are going to be tight for a long time.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Exploring Jazz Piano - Volume 1 (The Schott Pop Styles Series) [Paperback]

Product Description:
Volume 1 introduces the intermediate pianist to the basic chord-types used in jazz, from major and minor triads to seventh and ninth chords. Other topics include: Chord/scale relationships, modes, broken chord and scale patterns, pentatonic and blues scales, walking bass lines, Latin rhythms and bass lines, the diatonic cycle, secondary dominants, IIVI sequences, horizontal and vertical improvisation, tritone substitution, two-handed voicings, rootless voicings, technical exercises and fingering, accompaniment styles, ear-training, discography (suggested listening).28 pieces by the author appear alongside special arrangements of well-known jazz standards, including: Autumn Leaves * Fly Me to the Moon * In a Sentimental Mood * Mannenberg * On Green Dolphin St (Part 1) * Ornithology * Song for My Father * Straight No Chaser * Take the A Train. Also included are transcribed solos by Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver, an invaluable source of authentic jazz techniques.

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Modern Jazz Piano: A Study In Harmony And Improvisation (Music Sales America) [Paperback] Review

This book completely changed my understanding and level of jazz piano playing.It is short and to the point, yet carefully written and complete.I like the fact that the author is a trained engineer.As a computerprogrammer I can identify with the way the book is layed out very logicallywith the assumption that the reader is intelligent, interested,andmotivated.I read the entire book while on trains going to and from work. I think it would have been a distraction to have read it while at a piano. The chord pattern excercises at the end of the book are excellent; I ammethododically going through all of them using a PC based sequencerconnected via midi to an electronic keyboard.If you only buy one bookon jazz piano, I think it should be this one. The next book to readafter this one, in my opinion is "All about Chords".I am almostfinished reading it;I could never have handled it if I hadn't read"Modern Jazz Piano" first. The two books together aremagnificently complete. I have a quite a library of jazz piano and jazzbooks; most of them are padded and not of much use."Modern JazzPiano" is by contrast a classic that every jazz pianist should have.I lost many years because I was brain-washed into believing the JohnMehegan jazz system as taught at Julliard was the only way to learn jazz. Inow believe the Julliard system is hopelessly complicated and noteffective.The traditional harmony systems used in "Modern JazzPiano" are the best and also the most popular.It is not somethingesoteric that only propeller heads know about. Buy it and hold onto it. Even if it sits on your bookshelf for years, there will come a day when itwill speak eloquently to you and change your level of playing andunderstanding.

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Product Description:
Based on the authorÂ's experience in teaching in jazz workshop, explains the principles of this art form. Useful for teachers wishing to include jazz in the music curriculum.

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Complete Jazz Keyboard Method: Beginning Jazz Keyboard [Paperback] Review

This book is a great investment if you are new to piano and love jazz or are stuck in major/minor boredom and want to look into more exotic chords and scales. I am a drummer/guitarist who wanted to learn more about theory, finally go beyond the "hunt-and-peck" stage on my keyboard, and understand the world beyond the pentatonic scale on my guitar. I feel very enlightened, and especially love the tables that summarize all the key info, and a CD is always a bonus. Enjoy!

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Product Description:
Anyone with basic keyboard skills (equivalent to Alfred's Basic Piano, Lesson Book 2) can dig right in and begin learning jazz right away.Spanning from the major scale and basic triad theory all the way through 7th chords, pentatonic scales and modulating chord progressions, this book features a full etude or tune demonstrating every new concept introduced.Beginning Jazz keyboard breaks the age-old tradition of dry, intimidating and confusing jazz books, and provides an actual step-by-step and enjoyable method for learning to play in this style.The CD demonstrates examples and offers opportunity to play along.

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Jazz Piano Masterclass with Mark Levine(With CD) [Spiral-bound] Review

This book is a welcome follow-up to Mark Levine's Jazz Piano Book.The only frustration I had with the Jazz Piano Book is that it could not tell me EVERYTHING.The Jazz Piano book only introduced Drop 2 techniques, leaving the voracious student wondering where to find more information.The Drop 2 Book fills that void with the same clarity and pace that made the Jazz Piano Book so useful and popular.The book explains major, minor and dominant progressions, tweaks to make chords sound "modern", applications, problems and work-arounds, soloing, comping, the Altered Bebop Minor Scale, and suggested practice routines.As an added bonus, this book includes a CD with recorded examples.Most students at this level could hammer out the examples, but the relative volumes of the left and right hands are important to this technique.Such nuances cannot be expressed clearly with standard music notation, so the CD is more than just a nice afterthought.If you have worked through the Jazz Piano Book and feel ready to explore Drop 2 voicings in greater depth, this book will take you there.Buy it and recommend it to all your friends so that we can see more Masterclass books by Mark Levine.

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Product Description:
"Jazz Piano Masterclass With Mark Levine: The Drop 2 Book".Mark is the author of the widely-acclaimed text, "The Jazz Piano Book" and pianists will be thrilled to see that he has come up with a second piano book. This one deals exclusively with how to play "Drop 2" piano voicings---the block-chord technique used by Bill Evans, Barry Harris, Cedar Walton, McCoy Tyner, and many other jazz piano greats. Mark gives the reader a step-by-step, beginning-to-advanced approach to learning this technique, just as he would in a live masterclass. The accompanying CD has Mark demonstrating each exercise.

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Smooth Jazz Piano: Keyboard Style Series (Hal Leonard Keyboard Style) [Paperback] Review

The heart and soul of this book are the great short exercises and extended compositions that are excellently rendered on the included CD. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of this book drip smooth jazz just the way you hear it on the radio. It is very helpful to see this beautiful music written out and to hear it on the CD. Harrison illustrates each new playing technique with a very musical example that is fun to practice. He ties it all together with seven beautiful but practical compositions in the last chapter. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 are a bit thin. Harrison moves very quickly through the theory. Playing through the exercises in Mark Harrison's The Pop Piano Book will be really helpful in mastering Smooth Jazz Piano, particularly to master Harrison's upper structure over root chord voicings. For an advanced player, this is a stand alone book. The intermediate player will benefit by playing through the exercises in The Pop Piano Book, before moving on the Smooth Jazz Piano.

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Product Description:
This comprehensive book and CD package will teach you the basic skills you need to play smooth jazz piano. From comping to soloing, you'll learn the theory, the tools, and the tricks used by the pros. The accompanying CD features many of the examples in the book performed either solo or with a full band. Specifically, you'll learn: scales and chords, harmony and voicings, progressions and comping, rhythmic concepts, melodies and soloing, characteristic stylings, the history of jazz, and more. THE HAL LEONARD KEYBOARD STYLE SERIES provides focused lessons that contain valuable how-to insight, essential playing tips, and beneficial information for all players. Comprehensive treatment is given to each subject, complete with a companion CD.

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Berklee Jazz Piano BK/CD (Berklee Guide) [Paperback] Review

This book is a short, no-nonsense, accurate presentation of what everyone should know about playing jazz piano.The harmonic, melodic and rhythmic essentials are explained.When he covers modal playing, it is NOT the usual dorian/mixolydian/ionian on ii-V7-I progressions that you find in other method books.He explains them correctly; they are their own unique harmonic framework that is distinct from traditional major/minor key chord progressions.I also think that his information on jazz counterpoint is worth it's weight in gold and it's information that I've not encountered elsewhere.

One could spend many thousands of dollars on private lessons and not get the info presented here.It would probably be doubly beneficial if used as a study guide along with a good teacher.

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Product Description:
Play jazz piano with new facility and expression as Ray Santisi, one of the most revered educators at the Berklee College of Music - and mentor to Keith Jarrett, Diana Krall, Joe Zawinul, and thousands of others - reveals the pedagogy at the core of Berklee's jazz piano curriculum. From beginning through advanced levels, Berklee Jazz Piano maps the school's curriculum: a unique blend of theory and application that gives you a deep, practical understanding of how to play jazz. Concepts are illustrated by the accompanying practice CD, where you'll hear how one of the great jazz pianists and educators of our time applies these concepts to both jazz standards and original compositions, and how you can do the same. You will learn: * Jazz chords and their characteristic tension substitutions, in many voicings and configurations * Modes and scales common in jazz * Techniques for comping, developing bass lines, harmonizing melodies, melodizing harmonies, and improvisation * Practice techniques for committing these concepts to your muscle memory * Variations for solo and ensemble playing * Advanced concepts, such as rhythmic displacement, approach-chord harmonization, and jazz counterpoint

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Jazz-Blues Piano: The Complete Guide with CD! Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series [Paperback] Review

I've been playing jazz piano for about two years now, and have had great success with The Jazz Piano Book (as one might imagine). The next book that has served me well is Post-Bop Jazz Piano - The Complete Guide with CD!: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series, which is from the same series as the Jazz Blues Piano book under review. So, when I began looking for a book to help me sound bluesy, something noticeably lacking from my skill set, I gravitated toward this book for that reason and because my piano instructor didn't have this book (although he had many others in the same series). I have to say, that overnight, this became my favorite book to work from. There are a lot of reasons for that. First is that this book contains a good dose of easy-to-digest jazz music theory and explanation. The student can choose to skip over this and concentrate on playing the exercises, but I chose to read everything carefully and to try and understand and apply it, and I found it very useful. I was also quite pleasantly surprised when I found myself playing a ii-V-I progression (the backbone of jazz music) in a fashion I had never been shown before (with a moving bass note changing the mode of the chord). I was fascinated, and it made it easy for me to work on doing it in all twelve keys (which is normally drudgery), and to quickly press on in the book. As I played through the exercises, read through the material, then reached the exercises that are on the CD, I kept working on the suggested chords. Because I'm not a raw beginner, the first twenty pages went very quickly, and all of a sudden I found myself at about twenty pages in on exercise 9practicing a straight up blues lick. That's right: two hours and I was playing blues. Very, very exciting. Like all piano books, including a number I have reviewed, this still requires practice and stick-to-itive-ness, but this book provides some small rewards on every page, which I find quite motivational and desirable. I can easily picture myself working through this entire book in a relatively short period of time. Beginning piano students will still need to work on some of this material with an instructor, but anybody with a good technical foundation in piano and at least a small amount of jazz knowledge should be able to work through most of this by themselves, thanks to the useful and well executed CD. Although there are many options and levels available, if you want to sound jazzy or bluesy, without a lot of fuss and without spending a lot of money or time, I really think this book is the best and simplest place to start.

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Product Description:
This comprehensive book/CD pack will teach you the basic skills needed to play jazz-blues piano. From comping to soloing, you'll learn the theory, the tools, and the tricks used by the pros. The accompanying CD features many of the examples in the book performed either solo, or with a full band, including a full chapter of complete songs. Topics covered include: scales and chords * harmony and voicings * progressions and comping * melodies and soloing * characteristic stylings.

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Solo Jazz Piano: The Linear Approach (Berklee Guide) [Paperback] Review

I'm a serious amateur jazz pianist who has long noticed that most other jazz piano books--including Mark's Levine's excellent "Jazz Piano Book"--assume you're always playing in a trio or larger ensemble.Consequently, they say very little about the unique problems of solo playing, bass lines, etc.This very well written and organized book contains the best instructional foundation for playing solo jazz piano I've seen anywhere.I had been looking for a book like this for about a decade without success because it was published relatively recently.

After several years of study from Levine's book and others in conjunction with occasional lessons from a couple of good teachers, I decided to study almost exclusively from this book on my own for awhile about a year ago.My solo playing has definitely improved a lot, and studying bass lines in depth seems to have improved my musical ear somehow, making it easier to improvise strong lines in the right hand.

Each chapter of "Solo Jazz Piano" begins with a clear, succinct presentation of the theory that will be drilled throughout the remainder of that chapter.This is generally followed by an etude written out in full (both clefs) that allows the student to feel what it's like to apply the theory immediately.I've learned a lot by analyzing the author's etudes.The etude is then followed by a leadsheet (usually with chord changes the same as or similar to those of the etude).The student is then directed to create an arrangement using the newly learned theory (and techniques learned in prior chapters) to create an original arrangement of the leadsheet.This system is very effective and helps the concepts "stick" in the student's mind, in my opinion.The first part of the book also includes an excellent review of basic chord theory.Once the study of bass lines begins, the author does not abandon the study and use of chords.On the contrary, he reminds the student to play 'comping arrangements in which the left hand plays a bass line and the right hand plays well-voice-led 'comping chords in addition to the usual excercises in which the student plays the melody (with or without added voices in the right hand) and a left-hand bass line.This ensures a well-rounded approach.My only criticism of this book is that it should have been spiral bound like Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory Book" for easier use at the piano.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone desiring to learn how to play SOLO jazz piano.For those just beginning to learn jazz improvisation, I also recommend "The Joy of Improv" (two volumes) by Dave Frank and "How to Improvise" by Hal Crook.Both Dave and Hal have also been faculty at Berklee College of Music.

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Product Description:
A step-by-step approach to solo jazz improvisation for piano. Learn to improvise using the techniques pioneered by piano greats Lenny Tristano and Dave McKenna. This methodical approach to learning the art of solo jazz piano improvisation will free your creative sense of music. It begins with a review of chord symbol interpretation, walks through bass line development, and ends with how to play several melodic lines simultaneously in stimulating musical conversation. You'll learn how to develop solos that embellish and support the melody, and use lead sheets to help you generate your own musical ideas. Twenty-one lessons present techniques, practice exercises, and tunes based on jazz standards. Notated transcriptions of sample improvisations illustrate each lesson's technique, and the accompanying CD lets you hear a master improviser put these ideas to work.

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The Jazz Piano Book [Spiral-bound] Review

Before Mark Levine's Jazz Piano book came out, choosing a book on how to play piano was a lot like selecting a presidential candidate - - you may not have been crazy about the choices but... (blah blah blah) What makes this book different is that it walks a fine and brilliant line between theory, application and stylistics and it is never dry, and further it is contemporary. By chapter 10 and beyond he's getting into fourth chords, upper structures and "so what" chords. Most books sort of finish up just when Bud Powell is hitting the scene. This book however will take you up to McCoy Tyner and Kenny Barron. - - Unlike other books, his book also sites practical song examples and specific listening examples.
If you're entirely on your own, I think this book, along with a few Aebersold play-a-longs and Amadea's Harmonic Foundations for Jazz and Pop Music would really take you a long way. Your ultimate goal should be able to sit in at Jam sessions and with real players... that's where the real learning begins. Do what you have to do to get to the point that you can hang with a blues or Real Book standards.
(Regarding suitability for beginers vs. advanced players : This book is pretty good for players of all levels, though if you're starting from scratch another book to consider is Brain Waite's "Modern Jazz Piano : A Study in Harmony" or Amadea's book, then this.)

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Product Description:
Endorsed by Kenny Barron, Jamey Aebersold, Richie Beirach, and more, this book presents all the information a student of jazz piano needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced pianists, written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz piano playing.

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