The Artistry of Bill Evans Vol.2 [Paperback] Review

This is actually Volume 2 (1995), and contains EIGHT (not eighty) transcriptions of Bill Evans piano parts off the recordings. This collection is better than Vol. 1.First, vol. 1 did not transcribe thecomping behind the bass solos.Second, vol. 1 focused on the late Fantasy& early Warner Bros. recordings (1970s), while this collection rangesfrom the first trio on Riverside, some Verve solo and trio sides, and solosides from Fantasy. Gripe: when transcribing trio recordings, is it toomuch to ask that the bass part also be transcribed? Songs: "AutumnLeaves" (mono version), "Spring is Here," and "What isThis Thing Called Love" from PORTRAIT IN JAZZ; "Here's That RainyDay" from ALONE; "I Should Care" and "Make SomeoneHappy" from TOWN HALL; "The Touch of Your Lips" and"What Kind of Fool am I" from ALONE (AGAIN). No extras (vol. 1had a short essay and photos).

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Eighty transcriptions from the late, great jazz master Bill Evans. Titles are: Autumn LeavesHere's That Rainy DayI Should CareMake Someone HappySpring is HereThe Touch of Your LipsWhat Is This Thing Called Love?What Kind of Fool Am I?

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Beginning Jazz Keyboard (Book & CD) [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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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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The Definitive Jazz Collection (Definitive Collections) [Paperback] Review

No "fake book", or "real book" this.You get full, well-thought-out harmonizations.This isn't how Jazz pianists acquire their numbers, but hey, this graduate of the weekly visit to the traditional read-the-music-and-play-it-exactly-as-written piano teacher likes it just fine this way.Having played through about 25% of the songs, I'll say there are no really bad arrangements, and quite a few very good ones.The technical difficulty is toward the higher end of the non-classical stuff you find in the music stores -- the average song is about as hard (if you want to play all the notes) as a Chopin Waltz or a Clementi Sonatina.

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A once-in-a-lifetime collection of 90 of the greatest jazz songs ever compiled into one volume. Includes: Ain't Misbehavin' * All the Things You Are * Birdland * Body and Soul * A Foggy Day * Girl From Ipanema * Here's That Rainy Day * The Lady Is a Tramp * Love for Sale * Mercy, Mercy, Mercy * Midnight Sun * Moonlight in Vermont * Night and Day * Skylark * Stormy Weather * Sweet Georgia Brown.

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Tons of Runs: For the Contemporary Pianist [Paperback] Review

I'm not a big fan of lick and pattern books, but this one has my seal of approval... and more than that, I HIGHLY reccomend it.There are lot's of ideas in here, some powerful stuff. Really hands on Jazz language material, some that if you're a more experienced improviser you might be using instinctively already, and some you wonder why you haven't touched on all along. The idea is to take them and build upon them...Within hours of getting the book, I immediately tuned out the outside world and was having fun experimenting with it... Some other things I like about it :The licks are in more than one key, suggested fingerings for more difficult ones, they're over a nice variety of patterns, typography is nice, and they're stuff that real people actually play, not just text book prototypes.
I venture to say, that of the books I'm familiar with, this is the best one out !!! Great stuff for professionals as well as folks just getting into improv... and not just for pianists !

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TONS OF RUNS is a wide-ranging compendium of runs, licks, and lines found in the jazz vernacular, each written in three different keys, and presented in a straightforward style without ponderous analysis.This book contains useful phrases derived from chord tones, passing tones, resultant scales, and scale-tone chords that piano players can use right away as vocabulary enhancers. These are the raw material and tools that piano players everywhere can use to polish their performance and improvisation skills, and even create new and more interesting ways to play the music they already know!

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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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Total Keyboard Wizardry: A Technique and Improvisation Workbook (Educational Piano) [Paperback] Review

I think it was a really cool idea to split the instruction up into beginner/intermediate/advanced levels as well as technique/improv/etc. The overall approach is very refreshing compared to more traditional piano methods. I like the pep talks Jordan gives in between the exercises. My piano teacher thought that the easy technique section's exercises were too easy, but I've found a way to apply them to all kinds of trouble spots in songs. The harmony section has some cool ideas, and I like the etudes that Jordan inculdes focusing on a point.

Overall, well worth the money, though I can't help voicing some complaints. The grading is a little wierd. It seems like some things in the easy sections are very easy, but then they'll be a run or something that is kind of frusterating and in my opinion not meant for an "easy section." In fact the easy and intermediate sections are really fairly similar in difficulty, and then the advanced just shoots off into a realm that I couldn't dream of playing. The improv and leads sections are a little weak. The improv section just tells you to start improvising on a restricted basis (one, two , three notes) and build complexity. The musical examples you're supposed to learn in this section - written in standard musical notation, seem a little inappropriate. The pep talks in the lead section were pretty weak. The advice is basically to pick a scale and solo using it. Then there's more examples to learn. There's a few licks I got from these examples, but I can't say that they're mind-blowing solos in general (unless you're good enouph for the advanced section). Also, there are only a few keys used for examples, so be perpared to do some transposing.

Honestly, I'd buy this book 100 times over, just in using it so much I've noticed all the little things (and it's more fun to complain).

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Product Description:
Take your playing to the next level with Jordan Rudess, the Juilliard-trained, award-winning keyboardist of Dream Theater! Work at your own pace to improve your skills in physical technique, improvisation, soloing and comping with clear, easy-to-follow directions and exercises that create real results. With beginner, intermediate and advanced exercises that cover everything from classical technique to blazing prog-rock solos and beyond, this book has something for keyboardists of all styles. A CD of the exercises is included - played by the master himself! - as are 12 solo-worthy etudes and a valuable appendix with major and minor arpeggio and scale fingerings.

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Joy of Improv, Book 1 (Piano) [Paperback] Review

As a beginner/intermediate student of jazz, I've found this course to be excellent. If you want to learn how to improvise, this is a great start.If you're already at an advanced level, it can further improve your skills.

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This book/CD course on improvisation for all instruments and all styles will help players develop monster musical skills! Book One presents Lessons 1 through 26 of this unique instructional course that imparts a solid basis in technique, rhythm, chord theory, ear training and improv concepts. Covers: common chord voicings, basic chord progressions, the swing feel, and much more. The CD can be used as a listening and play-along tool.Also available: Book Two00220006 Book/CD Pack $24.95

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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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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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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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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.

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

I have a few of the other books in this series and find them all great! John Valerio is a wonderful composer and teacher and has a very similar style to Mark Harrison (another composer in this series). This book includes important information about chords, voicings, harmony, chord progressions, scales, tonality, melodic figures and patters, comping, characteristic tunes, styles of Bud Powell and Theolonious Monk...anything that is used in any type of bebop jazz. It goes through the history and evolution of Bebop. The book moves quickly but provides the information that is important. It comes with a very handy CD which allows to hear what it's supposed to sound like. I highly recommend this book and have found that using it with some of the other books in the series is beyond helpful!

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In this book in the Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series, author John Valerio provides essential, detailed information for bebop and jazz pianists on the following topics: chords and voicings, harmony and chord progressions, scales and tonality, common melodic figures and patterns, comping, characteristic tunes, the styles of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and much more. The accompanying CD features many of the examples in the book performed either solo or with a full band. Also included are combo performances of five of the tunes featured at the end of the book.

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