The Serious Jazz Practice Book (for All Instruments)

Learn how to solo like the masters! The ultimate practice book for serious jazz guitarists! The Cellular Approach is a practical method for developing the ability to create convincing jazz solos in a wide variety of playing situations. It takes actual jazz lines recorded by master players and then slices them up into small “cells” that can be re-combined into longer lines to fit almost any harmonic situation.This enables the player to improvise his or her own lines that sound just as interesting and melodic as the masters without resorting to simply copying others. Fingerings and string choices are often given too making it particularly valuable toguitarists who want to actually master their instrument.There is a complete discussion of how to break out of diatonic-derived lines by using the Cellular Approach to create “side-slipping” and other intervallic lines — creating ultra-hip solo phrases in the style of modern masters such as Pat Metheny Michael Brecker and Herbie Hancock.Finally the cell concept gets transcended as twelve tone rows in the style of Mike Stern and others are explored as well as lines derived from “23rd chords” — for the adventurous that are interested in paving a way into the future.

Noted jazz pianist, composer, recording artist and educator Andy LaVerne has drawn from his decades of experience playing with master musicians from Getz to Lovano to create this comprehensive compendium of contemporary moving voicings. Quartal, quintal, drop 2, dominant 7b9/diminished, triadic, whole tone and chromatic performance proven voicings pioneered by McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Andy himself are presented and fleshed out in all twelve keys. This book picks up where others leave off, enabling you to replace static chords with voicings that move melodically, dramatically, and gracefully over the entire range of the keyboard. Firmly rooted in contemporary jazz theory, the emphasis is on practical performance applications. Andy ties it all together with illustrations of comping choruses for five standard jazz tunes. Chords in Motion satisfies a long awaited need in actual comping situations, and shows you how to move chords through varying harmonic rhythms. FINALLY ? a book that gives you moving voicings, and sets them in motion in all twelve keys. Chords in Motion is a valuable resource for all keyboardists, arrangers, and instrumentalists. Activate, animate, and energize your comping with this encyclopedic volume. 156 pages, spiral bound for easy opening. Andy carries the flame of jazz piano tradition and just great music. He always inspires me. Chick Corea This is a great book! I am going to sit down and play through this!! I am always telling my non-piano playing students how important it is to work with (and internalize) the sounds that we live with all our lives as Jazz musicians. Coltrane spent years sitting at the piano and so should all of us!!! John Patitucci Berklee College of Music One thing about Andy?he is complete as can be and has been consistently so for years in both his teaching materials and playing. He is completely knowledgeable in such a way that when I play with him, I know he KNOWS!! Plus he is one of the smoothest and polished of players around. Great book?encyclopedic in content. Dave Liebman Founder, Artistic Director, International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) I've played and recorded with Andy LaVerne many times over the years and in many different settings and he's always come up with the hippest, most interesting chords in the most musical way! His way of playing and looking at chords inspires me as a drummer and his rhythm section partner to play things that are in turn inspiring to the rest of the band. This book, helps musicians, understand, in a clear thoughtful presentation, how to go about getting this together. Billy Drummond Jazz Drummer, Educator, Juilliard, NYU Chords in Motion is an outstanding and comprehensive guide by Andy LaVerne, whose encyclopedic knowledge, decades of experience and brilliance as a performer and educator make this an invaluable handbook of modern jazz piano harmony. Its user-friendly, intelligent design enables musicians to expand their harmonic palette and potentially transform their playing, writing and arranging. Chords in Motion is an invaluable contribution to jazz musicians! Lynne Arriale Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, Associate Professor of Jazz Piano, Director of Small Ensembles, University of North Florida Chords in Motion is exactly the book I'd expect from Andy LaVerne. It's clear, openhearted and inspiring, as has been every conversation I've had with Andy over the years. Long a fan of his playing, I have enjoyed this look behind the curtain at how Andy LaVerne formulated his signature style. One other thing -- any pianist, no matter his/her approach, will gain insight into what will surely be new and exciting musical directions. Pete Malinverni Jazz Pianist, Educator, Director of Jazz Studies, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music What a great resource for expanding the harmonic palette! Chords in Motion is a must have for the aspiring young jazz pianist as well as the seasoned veteran. Another winner from Andy! Paul Schmeling Jazz Pianist, Educator, Chair Emeritus, Piano Department, Berklee College of Music In Chords in Motion, I recognize chords and sounds that have inspired me to compose and play: harmony from the music of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. This book is well organized, and from the beginning gets you playing. Each chord structure is explained and developed. There is plenty to practice. I especially like the exercises using contrary motion, arpeggiation

This book is great for keyboardists who have learned the basics of jazz harmony and improvisation. It introduces the modes of the major scale, chord extensions, making the changes, using chromatic and guide tones, chord substitution, 'rhythm changes,' the blues, altered dominant chords, and more. Continuing the format of Beginning Jazz Keyboard, new concepts are accompanied by etudes and songs for practice. Packed with harmony and improvisation ideas, Intermediate Jazz Keyboard is essential for any serious student of jazz keyboard. Companion MP3 audio demonstration tracks are included and can be streamed online or downloaded. / Clavier

This book is great for guitarists who have learned the basics of jazz harmony and improvisation. Topics include the ii-V-I progression, creating solo lines, altered chord formulas, and comping in different jazz feels such as Latin, swing, ballad, and even funk. Continuing in the format of Beginning Jazz Guitar , every new concept is accompanied by etudes and songs for practice, and every chapter is clearly divided into lessons on harmony and improvisation. Packed with literally hundreds of chord voicings and improv ideas, this book is a must for any serious student of jazz guitar. All music is shown in standard notation and TAB, and the CD demonstrates the examples in the book. 96 pages.

This book is great for guitarists who have learned the basics of jazz harmony and improvisation. Topics include the ii-V-I progression, creating solo lines, altered chord formulas, and comping in different jazz feels such as Latin, swing, ballad, and even funk. Continuing in the format of Beginning Jazz Guitar , every new concept is accompanied by etudes and songs for practice, and every chapter is clearly divided into lessons on harmony and improvisation. Packed with literally hundreds of chord voicings and improv ideas, this book is a must for any serious student of jazz guitar. All music is shown in standard notation and TAB, and the CD demonstrates the examples in the book. 96 pages.

Arpeggios-A modern arpeggio handbook and comprehensive training manual for developing fast flowing arpeggio runs that connect the entire fretboard. Emphasis is on developing fluid non-shifting arpeggio patterns (across the neck) usinghammer-ons and pull-offs for speed and fluidity; and also on developing smooth position-shifting arpeggios (along the length of the neck) using slides. These two types of motion are then connected and combined in an extensivecollection of soloing etudes for full assimilation. The result is a complete system of arpeggio pathways that connects every part of the fretboard and facilitates maximum speed fluidity and range. Complete whole-neck connectionsare presented for major 7th dominant 7th minor 7th minor 6th half-diminished diminished 7th major triadic and minor triadic arpeggios.This book is for all guitarists who are serious about improving their ability tosolo over chord progressions using arpeggios in any style of music; including rock jazz fusion blues country or pop. Having the ability to instantly outline any chord in a song with a fluid arpeggio run (no matter where yourhand is on the neck) is immensely valuable for every guitarist. This book methodically teaches you the skills that make this possible. Loaded with melodic arpeggio passages that can be applied to your music immediately this isperhaps the most practical and powerful arpeggio book ever written. Standard notation and tablature. Includes access to online audio.

Scott A. Smith teaches you all the essential blues phrasing techniques and tricks. Learn simple concepts like solo construction, phrasing over a 12-bar blues, the blues scale, pentatonic box patterns, and playing multiple scales over a single chord. Also, learn practical, effective techniques like trills, slides, and rakes. In-depth lessons on bending teach you how to use target notes, initial and destination notes, pre-bends, and how to combine bends with box patterns. The included DVD is hosted by Smith and features live demonstrations of the examples in the book. About the Author For the past three decades, Scott A. Smith has remained a dedicated guitarist, musician, and educator. This native Texan started playing guitar in the late '70s and has worked in a variety of genres, including blues, rock, country, and jazz. Scott is a GIT graduate and was featured in the Mike Varney Spotlight column in Guitar Player magazine. No stranger to the road and stage, this veteran guitarist has traveled near and abroad, performing live, teaching, giving clinics, and spreading his love for the instrument. / Guitare