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Distributors of jazz publications and instructional music videos
THE EVOLUTION OF SOLO JAZZ PIANO Bill
Dobbins DVD $24.95
The Evolution of Solo Jazz Piano is a study of solo piano styles developed by 24
of the most influential solo pianists from 1900 to the present.
In order to clearly illustrate the specific contributions of the various
pianists, Bill Dobbins composed a theme based on the well known standard All Of
Me. By applying the stylistic approaches of the different pianists to the same
theme, one becomes aware of the subtle yet evocative elements of each individual
style.
Common elements between Waller, Ellington, Tatum, Monk and Rowles, Tatum, Hines
and Wilson, Smith and Ellington, Corea and Beirach etc., should make it clear
that musical individuality is largely the result of the subconscious emphasis of
some musical elements over others, rather than the self-conscious cultivation of
originality for its own sake.
We sincerely hope that this DVD may serve as a stimulus toward the further study
of the solo jazz piano tradition in particular and for creative music in
general.
ALONE TOGETHER - JUST ME - CLARE FISCHER
SOLO PIANO IMPROVISATIONS TRANSCRIBED BY BILL DOBBINS
(83 Pages)
$19.95
Clare Fischer has been, up to now the best kept secret in the world of jazz and
creative contemporary music. Although his work as pianist and arranger for the
legendary vocal group, the Hi Los was acknowledged by Herbie Hancock as a major
influence on his harmonic development. Clare's unique body of work has remained
largely unknown to the musical public. He is the musician's musician personified,
and his harmonic skills have influenced many musicians who are seen frequently on
television and on the covers of the most influential music magazines.
The material selected for this collection comes from two solo recordings which
Clare himself considers to contain some of his best solo piano work: "Alone
Together" and "Just Me."
Alone Together CD
$16.95
CLARE FISCHER AND THE BRUNNER-SCHWER STEINWAY
Yesterdays; Du, Du liegst mir im Herzen; Tahlia; The Touch of Your Lips; "Excerpt"
from Canonic Passacaglia; Everything Happens To Me; Brunner-Schwerpunkt' I Can't
Get Started
"If I had to make a list of the ten most important solo jazz piano recordings of
all time, this recording would definitely be on the list." (Bill Dobbins)
JAZZ PIANO AND KEYBOARD HARMONY VOL. 1 (FOR THE NON-PIANIST) -
RON MILLER
(100 pages) $21.95
This book is the result of 30 years of teaching jazz piano and
keyboard harmony to the best and brightest students at the University of Miami.
It is geared towards the non-pianist, vocalist, and composer/arranger that are
in need of a structured regimen of study to fulfill the goal of using the piano
as the ultimate musical tool. Original compositions are utilized as vehicles for
the concepts discussed in the text.
PIANO IMPROVISATIONS VOL. 1 - CHICK COREA
$17.95
Complete piano transcriptions from the ECM recording, Transcribed by Bill Dobbins.
Chick Corea's "Piano Improvisations" recordings for the ECM label have been highly
influential in the evolution of the solo jazz piano tradition since the early
1970's. Along with recordings by Keith Jarrett and Paul Bley, they inspired a
renewed interes
t in the art of solo piano improvising, which had been largely neglected since the
era of Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson and Art Tatum.
PIANO MUSIC VOL. 1 - CHICK COREA
$14.95
"The five pieces collected here were written over a period of several years - one
here, one there, one now, one then. This is music for the piano and for pianists.
It's music to wile away the hours and help time pass pleasantly." (Chick Corea
September
1994)
NOW HE SINGS, NOW HE SOBS - CHICK COREA
$19.95
Complete piano transcriptions from the classic trio recording, transcribed by Bill
Dobbins.
"Now He Sings, Now He Sobs" is one of the greatest trio recordings in jazz
history. Along with Ahmad Jamal's "Chamber Music Of The New Jazz", Bill Evans'
"Explorations" and Paul Bley's "Footloose", the music on this particualr Chick
Corea recording has
had an enormous influence on the developing concepts of rhythm section playing in
general, and on piano trio playing in particular.
CLASSIC JAZZ COMPOSITIONS & PIANO SOLOS -
HERBIE HANCOCK
$19.95
Transcribed by Bill Dobbins.
Herbie Hancock is certainly one of the most influential jazz pianists. His
recordings as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet and as a leader of several
sessions for the Blue Note label have made an impact on practically all
contemporary jazz pianists, es
pecially in terms of harmonic conception and the spontaneous development of melodic
and rhythmic ideas. This book contains compositions and piano solos from both of
these historically influential sources.
Compositions and solos: Oliloqui Valley, Goodbye To Childhood, The Sorcerer.
Solos on the chord changes to: Autumn Leaves, All Of You, My Funny Valentine,
Stella By Starlight, I Thought About You, There Is No Greater Love.
THE ART OF COMPING - JIM MC NEELY
(96 page workbook w/CD or Cassette) $29.95
"The Art Of Comping" is a "hands-on" (first-of-its-kind) workbook which enables you
to practice an often-neglected aspect of jazz piano playing. The text points out
important aspects of the comping and offers a number of specific suggestions and
chord vo
icings for each tune. You hear the author comp and you get a chance to comp with
the same rhythm section, without the piano track.
Blues For Wanda - Jim McNeely
Crossroads (medium tempo swinger) - Bobby Watson
'Round Midnight (Ballad) - Monk Williams
Karita (medium tempo Latin) - Bobby Watson
Give And Take (uses structural elements, similar to Herbie Hancock's Dolphin Dance)
- Jim McNeely
Last Minute (up-tempo modal) - Jim McNeely.
Rhythm section: Jim McNeely - piano, Rufus Reid - Bass, Victor Lewis - drums
Soloists: Art Farmer - flugelhorn, Steve Erquiaga - guitar, Bobby Watson - alto
saxophone
HOW TO COMP - HAL CROOK
A study in jazz accompaniment
(174 page book/CD) $34.95
This book/CD set presents a clear, comprehensive, one-step-at-a-time method for
learning how to accompany an improvised jazz solo. As a sequel to Hal Crook's text
"How to Improvise", "How to Comp"offers precise explanations, practical exercises,
recorded
musical examples, four play-along tracks, and daily practice routines. "How to
Comp" organizes a vast amount of information that helped to make the author's
previous work "a major contribution to jazz pedagogy". "How to Comp" is primarily
for intermedi
ate through advanced level palyers of harmonic instruments, e.g. piano (keyboard),
guitar and vibraphone. However, drummers, bassists and horn players can also
benefit from its study.
Subjects covered include: Voicing construction, preferred stock voicings,
voiceleading, constant structure, non-harmonic voicings, single-note lines,
rhythmic vocabulary, altering the harmonic rhythm, motive development, dividing and
shifting attention,
supportive and interactive comping styles, the soloist's viewpoint, pacing,
strolling, and much more. In "How to Comp", the author - an accomplished jazz
trombonist, pianist, composer, arranger and educator - looks deeply into the nature
and challenge of
artistic jazz accompaniment and puts into focus a direct, sure path toward
mastery.
"Hal has a great gift for time feel, counterpoint, note choices, and spontaneous
reharmonization, all at a very high level of creativity and execution." (Jerry
Coker)
CREATIVE COMPING FOR IMPROVISATION VOL. 1 - HAL CROOK
Vol. 1 (book w/CD or cassette) $19.95
CREATIVE COMPING FOR IMPROVISATION VOL. 2 - HAL CROOK
Vol. 2 (book w/CD or cassette) $19.95
CREATIVE COMPING FOR IMPROVISATION VOL. 3 - HAL CROOK
Vol. 3 (book w/CD or cassette) $19.95
Play-along recordings - intermediate to advanced levels
32 Chord progressions of standard jazz songs.
Chord voicings and bass lines played on an acoustic midi grand piano.
Improvised reharmonization and rhythmic displacement of the original chords.
Lead sheets in C, Bb , and Eb .
CD version includes standard midi files for use by those with CD-ROM equipped
computer sequenced midi work stations.
Volume 1 includes seven chord progressions plus 30 minutes of Pitch Axis
Accompaniment for modal and "free" soloing.
"Creative Comping" is a marvelous addition to the play-along industry! Hal is not
only very gifted for the obvious challenge of playing high-quality bass lines and
chord voicings simultaneously, but he also has a great gift for time feel,
counterpoint, n
ote choices, and spontaneous reharmonization, all at a very high level of
creativity and execution. These play-alongs have done much to loosen up my own
creativity as well as prepare me for concerts and gigs." (Jerry Coker)
A CREATIVE APPROACH TO JAZZ PIANO HARMONY - BILL DOBBINS
(140 page book) $25.00
This is definitely not a harmonic system for those who are looking for rules by
which to write music. Rather it is an approach to unlocking the limitless harmonic
possiblilities which are unique to the piano. This approach can be developed in a
personal m
anner through a lifetime without ever exhausting the creative possibilities. Of
course, it is also applicable to jazz composing and arranging. The book includes
hundreds of musical examples and five original compositions by Bill Dobbins.
Recipient of the
German Music Publishers Award 1995.
HARMONIC EXERCISES FOR PIANO - CLARE FISCHER
$13.95
The exercises in this book are constructed toward two ends: finger strength and
facility, and harmonic thinking at the keyboard.
A workbook for both non-pianists and pianists, for private studio and
classroom use. Originally designed to work over a two-semester college course,
it is also ideal for private instruction and for self-study.
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