Oscar Peterson Plays Broadway (Artist Transcriptions) [Paperback] Review

I really loved this book and recommend it to everyone as a good, accurate, and packed set of piano transcriptions of oscar's piano-playing.Compared to others in this series, like the one of ellington, I think these versions are from earlier in his career, hence the playing is slightly simpler, less characteristic of oscar's later virtuosity.Nonetheless, when you consider how few of these jazz piano books there are available on the market, this is definitely another worth getting.

I'm particularly impressed with how many songs they pack into one book without apparently editing the solos excessively.

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Product Description:
17 songs transcribed from Peterson recordings, including: All the Things You Are * Baubles, Bangles and Beads * Body and Soul * Come Rain or Come Shine * Easter Parade * If I Were a Bell * Just in Time * The Lady Is a Tramp * On a Clear Day * People * Strike up the Band * Summertime * The Surrey with the Fringe on Top * There's a Small Hotel * 'Til Tomorrow * Who Can I Turn To * Wouldn't It Be Loverly.

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The Very Best of Oscar Peterson: Piano Artist Transcriptions [Paperback] Review

Any transcription of OP is worth serious attention especially when we should be doing our own... However, this book is a gem and kudos to the guy(s) who did the transcriptions.The Hal Leonard series of Artist Transcriptions are all uniformly excellent (I have many) and are absolutely indispensible for learning from the greats.What's more all the books are beautifully produced.For what it contains this book is essential.So, do not hesitate.Buy it now!

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18 transcriptions from one of the greatest and most revered jazz pianists, including: A Child Is Born • The Continental • The Girl from Ipanema • Gravy Waltz • I'm Old Fashioned • It Ain't Necessarily So • Little Girl Blue &b



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Oscar Peterson Note for Note (Piano Solo) [Spiral-bound] Review

I bought this book since Peterson is my favorite jazz pianist, and I'm playing the piano as a small hobby. And - I'm pleased with the book!
The transcriptions, as you might expect, are from a particular recording - 2 performances of the same jazz piece by the same artist will usually sound different... And indeed I have a few CDs in which some of the pieces from the book are performed with different improvisations and in different rhythm. But I did get some of the recordings the book refers to, and indeed the transcriptions are accurate. Note-for-note, as declared in the book. At least for the right hand...
In any case, most of the pieces as they are in the book sound great and cool (if you manage to play them!). Great moves, passages and improvisation techniques that give you a good taste of the musical world of one of the best jazz pianist ever.
I found myself using the passages and the ideas from the book in other jazz pieces, such as those from the Real Books. So performing the pieces as they are isn't the only reward you'll get - it will also improve your improvisation capability and technique in general.
I recommend studying at least a basic jazz theory before trying play from this book, so that you can understand the scales used for improvisations, the progressions and the left hand work done in the book. Besides, some of the pieces don't contain a left hand transcription. But since the technique for the left hand used by Peterson and in the book (tensions and voice spreading, for example) is covered by most theory books, you can easily figure it out by yourself.
There are no transcriptions for the bass line. But chords are written all the way (not all are 100% accurate actually), which makes it easy to play with a bass/guitar player.
As to the required level of playing - all the pieces in the book are hard to very hard to perform. Oscar Peterson was a great virtuous. You'd better work on your technique if you'd like to master them! Those who come from a classical music background will probably find it easier to read and play such scores.
There are no fingering specified, so it might be better for you to write down the fingering for the hard passages and such.
The accompanying CD is pretty helpful. It contains the piano parts performed exactly as they are written in the book, in the left channel (not performed by Peterson, of course. And played in MIDI I believe. Still, pretty nice), and bass and drum lines for some of the pieces in the right channel - useful if you'd like to play along with the bass/drums.
To conclude, I highly recommend this book for any jazz pianist (with a good enough technique!) or a classical pianist who wishes to try a good jazz

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Product Description:
This fabulous book/CD pack features transcriptions of 18 piano solos by the legendary Oscar Peterson, taken directly from the original recordings. The solos are divided into two groups: eight Oscar Peterson Classic Originals (Chicago Blues ¥ Hymn to Freedom ¥ Nightingale ¥ Night Time ¥ and more) and ten selections in Oscar Peterson Plays the Blues (Blues Etude ¥ Greasy Blues ¥ OscarÕs Boogie ¥ R.B. Blues ¥ RonÕs Blues ¥ and more). Includes an intro by the editor complete with performance notes, a welcome letter from Oscar Peterson, and great photos, with OscarÕs captions, throughout. The CD contains performances of each transcription played by gifted jazz pianist Miles Black.

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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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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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