 | Harmonic Foundation for Jazz and Popular Music by Jimmy Amadie
Buy new: $39.95 I'm a bit biased towards my own book, however, I love this book too. Master it and you'll have no problems playing tunes, constructing chords and building solos after you work through it ! ! ! !
|
 | Jazz Improv: How to Play It and Teach It by Jimmy Amadie
Buy new: $39.95 / Used from: $32.00 Great book for further down the line !
|
 | The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine
Buy new: $28.90 / Used from: $28.14 One of the most substantive and readable books on the subject everywhere. Will give you the smarts you need to play tunes, accompany, improv and hang with the big boys.
|
 | The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine
Buy new: $22.28 / Used from: $19.98 on the other hand, if you're a pianist, check out the piano version of the book by the same author.
|
 | How To Play Jazz and Improvise / Book and CD by Jamey Aebersold
Buy used from: $49.74 Once you master this basic form (passing chords and all), you should be able to hang a few tunes at almost any Jazz session. 12 Bar Blues and "Rhythm" Changes will dominate most real jam sessions !
|
 | Thinking in Jazz : The Infinite Art of Improvisation (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology Series) by Paul F. Berliner
Buy new: $21.12 / Used from: $16.25 Not really a "how to" book on Jazz improv, but will really get you into "thinking" the way you need to learn and play straight Jazz ! ! !
|
 | Modern Jazz Piano: A Study In Harmony And Improvisation by Brian Waite
Buy used from: $14.39 Another concisely written book for pianists !
|
 | The New Real Book, Volume 2 (Key of C) by Chuck Sher
Buy new: $28.90 / Used from: $11.95 There's really no way around it... if you want to learn to play, you have to learn tunes, practise tunes and apply what you know to tunes. Here's one popular gigmeister's bible !
|
 | Tons of Runs: For the Contemporary Pianist by Andy LaVerne
Buy new: $13.57 / Used from: $10.40 If you can read and could use a few ideas for your solos, this is actually a cute book !
|
 | The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz
Buy used from: $6.91 Listening is part of learning. Sadly a lot of Jazz radio stations have gone off the air or aren't spinning the heavy stuff they used to. Understand the masters and the evolution of the music !
|
 | Come Along with Me by Eddie Jefferson
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.99 The music of Eddie Jefferson really helped me gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the music when I just got into it !
|
 | Vol. 70, Killer Joe (Book & CD Set) by Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long Series
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $12.33 Nice play-a-long CD and book with some easier yet hip tunes !
|
 | Vol. 76, How To Learn Tunes: A Jazz Musician's Survival Guide (Book & CD Set) by Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long Series
Buy new: $22.99 / Used from: $15.95 Very useful once you've mastered the basics. Will teach you about different song forms and other rules of thumb to help you handle all those changes in your head !
|
 | Vol. 57, Minor Blues IN All Keys For All Instruments (Book & CD Set) by Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long Series
Buy new: $18.99 / Used from: $12.48 After the Blues, and "Rhythm" changes, minor blues changes are another essential form you'll need to master, especially if you're into hard bop ! This play-a-long book/CD will make it easy !
|
 | Charlie Parker Omnibook: Transposed for B Flat Instruments
Buy new: $13.45 / Used from: $12.97 Study the masters !
|
 | Remembering Eddie Jefferson
Buy new: $19.99 / Used from: $15.99 <-- hey, I have to plug my own CD... features James Spaulding, Ben Dixon, Randy Johnston and others... feed a starving musician !
|
Listmania!
