Latin Solo Workout: Calypso, Mambo, Salsa, Songo

Latin Solo Workout:
Over 200 riffs and improvisational ideas for C, Bb and Eb instruments
With accompaniment CD
By Andrew D Gordon

List of Grooves:
Calypso
Mambo #1-8
Salsa #1-6
Songo #1-5

Introduction:
       The object of this book is to give most instrumentalists the opportunity to practice improvisational techniques while playing along to rhythm tracks of keyboards, guitar, bass, drums in various different Latin styles including Calypso, Mambo, Salsa and Songo.
       “I had an opportunity of learning to improvise by playing and jamming with musicians during practice sessions 3 or 4 evenings a week. I would spend hours practicing with the band, improving both my improvisational skills as well as my rhythmic skills.”
       It is important to play and learn from other musicians but if one is unable to do so then incorporating this product into your practicing routine is the next best thing. By playing along with the rhythm tracks of the CD, your improvisational skills will definitely improve. 
      There are 20 different “grooves” consisting of 1 Calypso groove, 8 Mambo grooves, 6 Salsa grooves, and 5 Songo grooves. Each track is approximately 2 and a half minutes long, giving the musician enough time to practice improvising over each groove. 
       The 20 grooves consist of a variety of tempos and keys. The book is divided into three sections: the first section for “C” instruments such as: piano, guitar, vibes, violin, flute etc: Bb” instruments such as: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, trumpet etc and “Eb” instruments such as: alto and baritone saxophones.
       The first part of each section consists of the chord progression for each groove that repeats for the length of the song. Following this section are improvisational phrases for each groove giving the aspiring musicians a guide to learning and playing musical phrases that can be used for each of the grooves. 
      The book contains over 200 riffs or improvisational ideas, also recorded on the CD after each rhythm track, so that the musician can experiment using many different permutations and should be used as a starting off point for one's own improvisations. 
      Also, these musical phrases may be interchanged throughout the different grooves and should be learnt in as many keys as possible.