For more than a century, violinists have played jazz, swing, blues and similar improvisational styles. With its rich tone, considerable range, and bowed rhythms and phrasing, the violin offers a unique opportunity for a creative and personal statement as a musician. This book presents a broad sampling of the styles of major jazz violinists, from blues to bebop, from jug band to jazzgrass, from big-band swing to Texas swing. Tunes represent the styles of Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith, Eddie South, Mark O'Connor, Benny Thomasson, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Darol Anger. Helpful jazz theory sections with exercises alternate with tunes that show how the theory works in practice. This book has two objectives: first, to present a broad, roughly chronological sampling of major jazz violinists and the styles associated with them, and secondly, to introduce the basics of jazz theory as applied to the violin. Whether consciously or intuitively, through critical listening or by practicing jazz patterns and exercises, the more knowledge of jazz you acquire, the better you will be able to think about the content of your playing without being bound by technical and theoretical aspects. This anthology was written to help provide that foundation. Interspersed with pragmatic jazz theory lessons, you'll find 28 original tunes in the style of various jazz violin luminaries. The book ends with an extensive discography of recommended jazz recordings with a violin focus. Mandolinists as well as other instrumentalists will find a wealth of useful information in this outstanding collection. Delightful broadcast-quality recordings of the repertoire are available online. Includes access to online audio. Written for intermediate to advanced violinists.

Internationally renowned authors musicians and recording artists Frank Villafranca and Andrew D. Gordon of The Super Groovers have composed a collection of grooves and melodies in the Smooth Jazz Genre creating an exciting supplemental jazz study series for beginner intermediate and advanced jazz students and musicians.After releasing their first CD Supergroovin which received world wide airplay they recognized a need in the music publishing business for a series of books on contemporary improvising within the 'Smooth Jazz' genre. Andrew composed and recorded all the rhythm tracks used in thisbook. In their opinion the melodies were so catchy they couldn't resist developing them into completed songs.Mainline Connection Villefranche?sur-Mer and You're The Only One In My Life are a few featured on their second CD Mainline Connection.The smooth jazz grooves in this 50 page book feature a variety of contemporary rhythm section styles including RandB Jazz Funk Top 40 Rock Gospel Hip Hop and Latin. These stylistic influences are frequently associated with smooth jazz. Popular artists in this genre include The Super Groovers David Sanborn Eric Marienthal Kenny G David Benoit Dave Koz Tom Scott Gerald Albright Candy Dulfer Wilton Felder Boney James Chris Botti Chuck Mangione Sade George Benson Peter White Lee Ritenour Earl Klugh Larry Carlton Jeff Lorber Brian Culbertson George Duke Paul Hardcastle Joe Sample Spyro Gyra Pat Metheny Four Play The Yellow Jackets and The Rippingtons. We suggest that you become acquainted with as many of these artists as possible.On each of the 20 tracks the groove is separated into 3 melodic ideas. Each melodic idea (example or riff) is played first by the Violin with the groove followed by just the rhythm section groove without the Violin. The 1st example is usually the easiest the 2nd slightly harder and the 3rd the most difficult.The Super Groovers were very fortunate to have violinist extraordinaire Christian Howes perform and record the Violin examples in the book.Versions for each

10 Original pieces in various styles-Ten original pieces in various styles suitable for the more advanced player. Popular styles such as tango jazz Irish and Hungarian music are represented. You can play along with each piece using the CD.