Exploring Jazz Piano

Description

Exploring Jazz Piano fills a vacuum in jazz piano instruction, its comprehensive syllabus taking the reader from first principles in Vol. 1 to professional level in Vol. 2. Any student of jazz piano, piano teacher, or performing musician dipping into either volume will be rewarded with a wealth of ideas and practical information to keep them occupied for many months, or to use as an ongoing resource in the years to come.

Vol. 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, II – V – I sequences, horizontal and vertical improvisation, tritone substitution, two-handed voicings, rootless voicings, technical exercises and fingering, accompaniment styles, ear-training.

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 and Take the A Train. Also included are transcribed solos by Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver, an invaluable source of authentic jazz techniques.