Essential Jazz

The most highly-acclaimed jazz theory book ever published! Over 500 pages of comprehensive, but easy to understand text covering every aspect of how jazz is constructed---chord construction, II-V-I progressions, scale theory, chord/scale relationships, the blues, reharmonization, and much more. A required text in universities world-wide, translated into five languages, endorsed by Jamey Aebersold, James Moody, Dave Liebman, etc.

Following the same format as the acclaimed first volume, this selection of the best 250 modern jazz records and CDs places each in its musical context and reviews it in depth. Additionally, full details of personnel, recording dates, and locations are given. Indexes of album titles, track titles, and musicians are included.

A dictionary arrangement of over 1,600 entries on terms and performers.

Presents hundreds of improvised melodic lines played by Joe Pass. Each of the melodic lines are grouped in the harmonic situation in which they were originally played (i.e. all minor lines are presented together and all dominant seventh lines are presented together, etc). the companion play along CD has a live rhythm section playing single chord vamps as well as vamps covering all twelve keys for each harmonic situation. an etude over the changes to Satin Doll shows how to apply the various lines and create improvised solos.Also available in Japanese from ATN, Inc.

First published in 1984 and reissued to coincide withthe publication of the second volume, this selection of the 250 best jazz records traces the earliest roots of the music to the beginnings of the modern jazz era. Volume One's focus is on LP collections of 78 rpm originals and nearly every significant musician--both familiar and obscure--of early 20th-century jazz is listed. For each record listed, full details of personnel, recording dates and locations are provided.

A guide to the all-time must-have jazz recordings by a maven of the genre. Possibly the twentieth century’s greatest musical innovation, jazz is now more popular than it has been for the past fifty years. But with the plethora of new recordings and the phenomenon in jazz of the same standards being recorded seemingly by almost every artist and band or trio, it’s very hard to know where to start or to improve a CD collection. The Essential Jazz Recordings provides a trustworthy, concise guide, heavily skewed to Porter’s personal favourites and showcasing Canadian talent where it’s merited. With background information on the music, the artist, and the recording, Porter explains the unique merits of each recording, from Louis Armstrong to Wynton Marsalis, Billie Holiday to Diana Krall. With this guide, dedicated jazz aficionados can ensure a complete collection and novices can expand their knowledge. Both will hugely enjoy the musical riches in The Essential Jazz Recordings.

This collection of jazz etudes with accompanying CD gives students a fun and effective way to learn to play jazz style blues lines. the CD tracks provide a professional rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) to play along with, plus recordings of professional jazz musicians playing each etude. the recordings help to provide a model for the student's stylistic development, and an opportunity to play with a great band! Each of the 12 etudes provides a new challenge to master.