| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Dkjcliff
Regular Member
Joined: 12 Apr 2020
Posts: 97
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 9:38 am Post subject: Best jazz workbooks |
 |
|
Hi:
Looking for recommendations on the best texts or workbooks for learning and practicing jazz scales, licks and patterns. Thanks!
_________________
Selmer Radial II
Yamaha YHF-635T Flugelhorn
Martin Indiana Cornet |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
HERMOKIWI
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2008
Posts: 2581
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
As a reference book it would be hard to beat Jerry Coker's Patterns For Jazz. Here's a link:
https://www.alfred.com/patterns-for-jazz-a-theory-text-for-jazz-composition-and-improvisation/p/00-SB1/
That being said, in order to be fluent in jazz improvisation you have to be able to spontaneously play the things you need to play in order to produce fluent improvisation. To get to the point at which you can do that requires you to assimilate those things as a part of your natural jazz vocabulary.
Memorizing licks/patterns in and of itself doesn't get you there because fluency in jazz improvisation is not a formula of sequential licks/patterns. So, while memorizing licks/patterns can be an important step in your journey to achieve improvisational fluency the more important study is to listen to a lot of fluent players so that the language of jazz improvisation is firmly positioned in your mind.
It's like speaking. Handing someone a dictionary may provide them with all the words but studying a dictionary won't turn you into a modern Shakespeare. If you want to write like Shakespeare the most direct route is to study Shakespeare's writings and then, as Clark Terry used to say, "Imitate. Assimilate. Innovate."
The Aebersold play along materials are considered standard developmental aids to help you work what you study into your playing so that it becomes a natural expression of your response to the underlying music. You can work the Coker patterns into your play along sessions but ultimately, in order to be fluent, you have to play spontaneously, you can't just insert licks/patterns as part of a rigid plan.
_________________
HERMOKIWI |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GizB
Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 200
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Best jazz workbooks |
|
|
| Dkjcliff wrote: | Hi:
Looking for recommendations on the best texts or workbooks for learning and practicing jazz scales, licks and patterns. Thanks! |
Gekker Articulation Studies. Most exercises are written out in major, minor, whole tone and diminished.
Instead of playing them as written, play them in different modes. For added fun, I play an exercise 7 times, same starting note, but as different degrees of the melodic minor scale. For jazz purposes, the melodic minor scale is the same up & down - just flat the 3rd of a major scale, or the ascending melodic minor scale (or think Dorian with a raised 7). Do the permutations in your head, don't write 'em out!
Exercise or pattern, always starting on F:
1 - F melodic minor
2 - Eb mel-min
3 - Db mel-min
4 - C mel-min
5 - Bb mel-min
6 - Ab mel-min (7b5 chords)
7 - Gb mel-min (alt 7 chords, or 7#9b9)
Rich Willey has great books, among them Variations on Clarke's Second Study, and you might want to check out Bobby Stern's Melodic Minor Handbook. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
falado
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 942
Location: Eastern NC
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Look up Rich Willy. He has lots of the stuff you are looking for.
Dave
_________________
FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
Getzen 4 valve Pic.
Yamaha D/Eb
Besson Cornet |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timothyquinlan
Veteran Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 267
Location: Victoria, BC
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 1:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The books of Adolph Sandole are incredibly in depth, and pretty amazing in general. You can see them all here.
_________________
Check out qPress for the largest selection of trumpet books on the internet. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AndyDavids
Veteran Member
Joined: 08 Jun 2020
Posts: 176
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kehaulani
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Posts: 9030
Location: Hawai`i - Texas
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
Additionally, I would enhance my jazz theory understanding with Mark Levines's Jazz Theory Book.
ps, Did I see anybody mention the Charlie Parker Omnibook?
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BobD
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2004
Posts: 1251
Location: Boston MA
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think Coker's book is more than memorizing patterns. It develops your ear.
Here's a great short video of Jeff Stout on improvisation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDYdvWHUgXo&t=2s
_________________
Adams/ACB collaborative
Yamaha Shew Jazz and Bach 7C |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gwood66
Veteran Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2016
Posts: 301
Location: South of Chicago
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 8:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Women buy shoes, some folks collect trumpets, I hoard trumpet methods. Here are a few other than those previously mentioned:
Chris Kase - 21st Century Technique, Modern Technical Studies for Trumpet
Eric Bolvin - The Clarke Variations
Eric Bolvin - Modern Jazz Trumpet Method
Pat Harbison - Technical Studies for the Modern Trumpet
Lowell Little - Know Your Trumpet
Rich Willey - Scale Force
Rich Willey - Upside Down Scales for Improvisation
Rich Willey - The Arban's Jazz Scale Connection
Rich Willey - Jazz Improv Materials Handbook Complete
Oliver Nelson - Patterns for Improvisation
Kotwica - Chord Studies for Trumpet
Craig Fraedrich - Scale Studies for Improvisations:
http://craigfraedrichmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Treble-Scales-1.pdf
Craig Fraedrich has a Jazz Theory book on his website that has helped me a lot as well.
_________________
Gary Wood (comeback player with no street cred)
GR 66M/66MS/66**
Bach Strad 37
Getzen 3052
Yamaha 6345 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Goby
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2017
Posts: 652
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Richie Vitale has a few great books on learning how to improvise. I would highly recommend his books as they provide an excellent understanding of the foundations of jazz music and leave plenty of room for the player to branch out and develop their own vocabulary after going through the book. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EBjazz
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2368
Location: SF Bay Area
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TrumpetMD
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 Oct 2008
Posts: 2416
Location: Maryland
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: Best jazz workbooks |
|
|
| Dkjcliff wrote: | Hi:
Looking for recommendations on the best texts or workbooks for learning and practicing jazz scales, licks and patterns. Thanks! |
This is what I personally used to learn how to improvise.
I started with Jamey Aebersold volumes 1, 2, and 3. Don't just put on the albums, make sure you go through the material in the books.
I followed this with Jerry Coker's Patterns for Jazz. Coker's book is the "Arban's" of jazz patterns. It's not just a book of licks. Instead, it will help train you to hear, recognize, and incorporate a wide array of melodic structures into your soloing. There's nothing better out there. I continue to use this book to this day.
Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.
Last edited by TrumpetMD on Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:58 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dkjcliff
Regular Member
Joined: 12 Apr 2020
Posts: 97
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks everyone! All very useful recommendations.
_________________
Selmer Radial II
Yamaha YHF-635T Flugelhorn
Martin Indiana Cornet |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
