Tag Archives: book

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Volume 1: A Tribute to Gypsy Jazz

October 5, 2015 IM

Gypsy jazz is a unique style of music originating from Europe with influences from Hungarian Czardas, French musette waltzes, Spanish Flamenco, and the music of the Sinti (Romani), where the genre originated. Gypsy Jazz Guitar Volume 1 presents the best examples of performances past and present and showcases the typical aspects of rhythm and lead guitar in gypsy jazz. It includes techniques, practice transcriptions, and songs by renowned gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who made the style popular throughout the world with his groundbreaking techniques. An included CD contains performances of the music in the book.

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Volume 1: A Tribute to Gypsy Jazz, Introduction Into the Style of Jazz-Manouche,
by Bertino Rodmann, www.alfredmusic.com.

Books-Resources

One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band

October 5, 2015 IM

Until now, the real story of the Allman Brothers Band, written with the band’s participation, has never been told. The book’s author, journalist Alan Paul, has been covering the Allman Brothers for more than 25 years. One Way Out chronicles the journey of the band from its formation in 1969 until today, and provides musical and cultural insights and riveting road stories of personality conflicts, betrayals, murder allegations, exonerations, tragic deaths, and more. Plus, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative insights that went into the band’s classic albums.

One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band,
by Alan Paul, www.stmartins.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Rolling Stones Gear: All the Stones’ Instruments from Stage to Studio

October 5, 2015 IM

Rolling Stones Gear tells the story of the band through the instruments they used. It covers every tour and studio session from The Rolling Stones inception in 1962 through today. This large, 672-page volume, containing hundreds of rare and never before published images is written by a respected expert on vintage guitars and the foremost authority on the equipment used by The Rolling Stones. It took co-author Andy Babiuk nine years to finish the book, which documents every song recorded by the band, including demos and outtakes.

Rolling Stones Gear: All the Stones’ Instruments from Stage to Studio, by Andy Babiuk and Greg Prevost, www.backbeatbooks.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Playing for Singers: The Mike Greensill Method

October 5, 2015 IM

Author Mike Greensill, a member of Local 6 (San Francisco, CA), provides a practical guide to the art of vocal accompaniment for jazz or cabaret pianists. Topics covered include: arranging, chart writing, rehearsal techniques, duo/trio accompaniment, “out of tempo” accompaniment, and the accompanist as music director. This book also contains numerous musical examples.

Playing for Singers: The Mike Greensill Method, Art of Accompaniment for the Jazz or Cabaret Piano Player, by Mike Greensill, www.shermusic.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Oscar Peterson: A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra

August 31, 2015 IM

This book is a note-for-note solo piano transcription for the Oscar Peterson Trio’s album A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra. Peterson’s interpretations of 12 Sinatra standards includes: “All of Me,” “The Birth of the Blues,” “Come Dance with Me,” “How About You?” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It Happened in Monterey,” “Just in Time,” “Learnin’ the Blues,” “Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week),” “(Love Is) The Tender Trap,” “Witchcraft,” and “You Make Me Feel So Young.”

Oscar Peterson: A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra, www.halleonard.com.

International Musician

An Approach to Comping: the Essentials, a Guide to Jazz Accompanying

August 31, 2015 IM

Comping is a term used to describe how a pianist (or other chordal instrumentalist) plays chords in a rhythm that propels and supports a soloist. Author and pianist Jeb Patton of Local 802 (New York City) says that this is the type of book he searched for when he first started playing jazz. It is meant as an aid to aspiring jazz musicians, uncovering some of the mysteries behind comping. It reveals what happens in the background—the groove, the backdrop, the rhythmic conversation, and the colors behind the soloist—and underscores the piano player’s role in comping. Two included CDs provide demonstration and comp-along tracks to help you learn techniques by playing along.

An Approach to Comping: the Essentials, a Guide to Jazz Accompanying, by Jeb Patton, www.shermusic.com.

Books-Resources, Products

The Worship Bass Book: Bass, Espresso, and the Art of Groove

August 31, 2015 IM

The Worship Bass Book is a fun, informal, practical resource for bassists playing in the worship environment. It covers a broad range of considerations to effectively function as a rhythm section for a team-oriented worship group, plus valuable instruction and helpful direction regarding bass techniques, musical concepts, and important relational considerations for any bass player, in or outside of the worship realm. Topics covered include musical phrasing, tools of the trade, fingerboard familiarity, musical styles, slap and tap techniques, bass and drum synergy, solo bass arranging, real-world groove lessons, and more.

The Worship Bass Book: Bass, Espresso, and the Art of Groove, by Norm Stockton, www.halleonard.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Book: Mick Jagger

July 1, 2015 IM

Mick Jagger is an icon in rock and roll culture. Now in his 70s, he continues to perform his inspiring lyrics and celebrated dance moves with the same cheekiness and attitude that first made him an international sex symbol more than 50 years ago. This book introduces readers to the man behind the legend, focusing on his rich musical career and offering some behind-the-scenes glimpses into his personal life. This 207-page volume includes dozens of spectacular photographs taken throughout the years.

Mick Jagger, text by Billy Altman, edited by Valeria Manferto de Fabianis, www.sterlingpublishing.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Inventing the American Guitar: The Pre-Civil War Innovations of C.F. Martin and His Contemporaries

July 1, 2015 IM

This book traces C.F. Martin’s evolution as a craftsman and entrepreneur and explores the influences and experiments that led to his creation of the American guitar that’s played around the world today. Telling the story of how a European instrument was transformed into the American flat-top guitar, Inventing the American Guitar describes the early history of the American guitar design in detail. It includes essays by prominent writers and spectacular color photographs. It also contains fold-out pages of schematic drawings for two early Martin guitars: the Austro-German style Martin Guitar and the Spanish style Martin Guitar, plus 45 two-page color profiles of important guitars.

Inventing the American Guitar: The Pre-Civil War Innovations of C.F. Martin and His Contemporaries, edited by Robert Shaw and Peter Szego, www.halleonard.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations

July 1, 2015 IM

Teacher Jerry Kupchynsky’s sharp-spoken, foot-pounding, never-praising music lessons and orchestra rehearsals reduced many students to tears. Yet, when Mr. K passed away, more than 100 students returned to play a memorial concert for him. Though his lessons were music, he taught three generations of students about resilience, character development, the power of a can-do attitude, and achieving excellence in life by demanding nothing less than excellence from students. Co-written by journalist Joanne Lipman and Chicago Symphony violinist Melanie Kupchynsky, Jerry’s daughter, this book makes you question today’s teaching methods: Is failure ever acceptable? Is self-discipline or support more important? Is praise a tool or a detriment to progress? How and why does music study prepare children for success?

Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations, by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchynsky, www.stringsattachedbook.com.

AFM