A deeply researched and beautifully illustrated study of saxophone legend John Coltrane's signature album. Among the images published here for the first time are Coltrane's hand-written poem 'A Love Supreme' that was printed in the original album and in-studio photographs of Coltrane and his sidemen recording A Love Supreme in 1964. Written with the full co-operation of the Coltrane family and featuring the voices of musicians, producers and writers of the 1960s, Kahn has also unearthed rare, un...
These are the intriguing stories behind more than 500 top jazz trumpeters of all time - many of whom still play today. This collection of profiles covers such legends as Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Wynton Marsalis, plus lesser-known but also noteworthy trumpeters from all jazz eras. Each profile traces the "plot" of the player's life, emphasizing the personal or musical traits (if not eccentricities) that set each trumpeter apart from other musicians. Overall co...
Discover Pam Wedgwood's exciting world of jazz piano! How to Play Jazz Piano is a fun and simple introduction for young players with a basic knowledge of how to play the piano (about Grade 2 standard). It includes an introduction to improvisation, suggested listening ideas and covers swing, syncopated rhythms, basic chords and chord symbols, scales and modes used in jazz. There are also plenty of great pieces in different styles, online audio and Pam's helpful advice and teaching tips every step...
Graded tests as preparation for the jazz sax exams. Contains compositions that introduce the melodic and harmonic vocabulary of jazz using an impressive range of styles, in swing or straight 8s, using rock, Latin or swing grooves. Includes question-and-answer tests with written piano accompaniments, to practise improvising in time with a helpful description of each test, its objectives and what the examiner is looking for. The quick studies accommodate students working by ear or at sight. Exempl...
Martin Williams is recognized as one of the most significant jazz critics of recent times. This third collection of record notes, interviews, portraits, and reviews recalls the Charlie Parker-Dizzy Gillespie Dial Record sessions, Langston Hughes reading poetry to the sound of jazz, and Thelonius Monk recording for the Library of Congress. In addition, there are profiles of such legendary performers as Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington, and Fats Waller, and lively essays on the imp...