A Whole Approach to Jazz Improvisation

A Whole Approach to Jazz Improvisation
by Marc Sabatella
Published by ADG Productions

For all musicians & students that need an “easy to understand’ method for learning jazz.

A Whole Approach To Jazz Improvisation by Marc Sabatella is intended primarily for all musicians who wish to learn jazz improvisation as well as listeners who wish to increase their understanding of the music. The main goals of the book are: to teach the language of jazz, to increase your understanding of jazz as performed by others and for performers who need information on how to improve their improvisational techniques.

This book is organized as a series of steps toward becoming a jazz musician, either as a performer or as a more informed listener. Most of the steps are geared for the performer, but the non-performing listener is encouraged to try out as many of the playing examples as possible. This should help broaden your ear and help you appreciate aspects of the music you might not have recognized otherwise.

The steps outlined in this book are: Listen to many different styles of jazz. Understanding jazz fundamentals. Learning chord/scale relationships. Learning how to apply the theory to jazz improvisation. Learning how to accompany other soloists. Playing with others. Listening analytically. Breaking the rules. Find out the techniques used by the great jazz musicians including : Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Tony Williams, and Wayne Shorter. After reading this book you will have the necessary background to get the most out of anything else you may wish to read and learn about jazz.

Customer Comments

My name is Mark Massey, a jazz pianist here is Southern California. I bought your book the other day A Whole Approach to Jazz Improvisation. It’s a really great book! I like it in the fact that it covers everything about jazz in a general and concise way, yet there is enough information there to give you specifics about what to do. I also appreciate the balance you give to different styles and jazz aesthetics… The chapter on the the history of jazz is worth the price of the book alone…I consider myself to be a teacher too (I teach jazz piano at Cal State Fullerton and a jazz piano class at the Orange County High School of the Arts) and I learned all sorts of stuff from that chapter! In this age of specialization, it’s hard to find good concise information about jazz and jazz education in one place. You gave us that place by writing your book. 

Contents:
Chapter 1. Goals
Chapter 2. A Brief History of Jazz
Chapter 3. Jazz Fundamentals
Chapter 4: Chord/Scale Relationships
Chapter 5. Applying the Theory to Improvisation
Chapter 6. Accompanying
Chapter 7. Playing With Others
Chapter 8. Listening Analytically
Chapter 9: Breaking the Rules