Jazz Book / Video Reviews
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Complete Jerry Hahn Method For Jazz Guitar by Jerry Hahn
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Jerry Hahn's gift for teaching comes across well in his new book of instruction. This is for jazz guitarists, and those wanting to become jazz guitarists! Nearly every page offers a different approach. Every page offers something new to learn. Among the many topics covered are blues scales and patterns, alternating picking, improvisation,...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Arranging the Score: Portraits of the Great Arrangers by Gene Lees
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Gene Lees deserves a solid round of applause for the excellent work he completed in the writing of ARRANGING THE SCORE: PORTRAITS OF THE GREAT ARRANGERS. There are comments, dialog, analysis of works, and how it came to be with each arranger's background. Following the interesting foreword by Jeffrey Sultanof, there comes the introduction followed by chapters....
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Just for a Thrill: Lil Hardin Armstrong, First Lady of Jazz by James L. Dickerson
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James L. Dickerson has written an intimate biography of Lil Hardin Armstrong. For those new to her role in the early years of American jazz, she is one of the first major black women to appear in jazz, and her contributions are as important as those of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Lillian Hardin (1898 - 1971)...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Trust Me by Bruce Forman
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Jazz guitarist Bruce Forman has created an intriguing character in the form of jazz performer Sam Mann. This is a revealing look at jazz from the inside out as seen through the eyes of character Sam Mann. The novel abounds with good characters who involve the reading audience in their intimate adventures! Sam Mann acts,...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Josephine: The Hungry Heart by Jean-Claude Baker & Chris Chase
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JOSEPHINE: THE HUNGRY HEART is a fine biography of Josephine Baker (1906-1975), a famous personality of the Jazz Age and beyond, whose life and times as a famous Folies-Bergere dancer in France make for fascinating reading. This is her story, the courage of a young black American woman who became an international celebrity. The book contains many photographs,...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Swing Under The Nazis: Jazz As A Metaphor For Freedom by Mike Zwerin
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In the United States, Americans have always cherished their choice of music, and that music is a part of the American way. In the brilliant nonfiction documentary, SWING UNDER THE NAZIS: SWING AS A METAPHOR FOR FREEDOM, written by Mike Zwerin, the reading audience is given a look at Nazi Germany and how jazz was designated as degenerate. ...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Legends of Bottleneck Blues Guitar (DVD video) by Various Guitarists
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LEGENDS OF BOTTLENECK BLUES GUITAR is a 58 minute adventure on DVD video which will fascinate, entertain, and educate jazz fans who love blues guitar. It has some fine, lively performances in color, and black & white. Some of the performers seen include Son House performing "Death Letter Blues" and "Levee Camp Moan," Johnny Shines performing...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Wedding Music for Recorder by Marie and Robert Constas
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This book, WEDDING MUSIC FOR RECORDER, will have a high appeal to those jazz artists who have already incorporated the use of the recorder instrument into their performances. The pieces are intricate and enjoyable. This book is for the more advanced performer. There are over 20 songs in this fine instruction book. Among them are...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Salsa & Pepper: Ten Latin Jazz Solos for Piano by Paul T. Smith
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Paul T. Smith is one of the most gifted jazz pianists in the United States and his performances are international favorites. In his remarkable SALSA & PEPPER: TEN LATIN JAZZ SOLOS FOR PIANO, Smith gives the jazz audience an adventure in composition and style! These 10 jazz solos include "Salsa and Pepper," "Bossa Swings," "Avenida Elegante,"...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Louis' Children by Leslie Gourse
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In Leslie Gourse's updated LOUIS' CHILDREN, readers are given an indepth, highly readable look at American jazz singers. There are tales and stories that will surprise the reader. Part 1: Prelude, has 5 chapters which cover Cousin Joe of New Orleans, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Bobby McFerrin, and Cab Calloway. Part 2: Big Band...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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In The Break: The Aesthetics of the Black Radical Tradition by Fred Moten
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Fred Moten has crafted a fine reading experience with his IN THE BREAK. In addition to the Acknowledgments and "Resistance of the Object: Aunt Hester's Scream," there is a nice notes and index section for quick reference. The closing, "Resistance of the Object: Adrian Piper's Theatricality," makes for fascinating reading. The book is divided into three...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Walking Bass Lines For Guitar by Jean-Marc Pillard
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WALKING BASS LINES FOR GUITAR comes with a play-along CD which makes the learning experience a double-treat. There is much to learn in this instruction book and jazz guitarists will find it entertaining. There are many topics in this fine book. Among them are the process of harmonization of the walking bass, how to harmonize the...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Mel Bay's Guitar Primer by Mel Bay
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MEL BAY'S GUITAR PRIMER is the perfect gift for any jazz fan wanting to get started with learning to play guitar. It is concise, streamlined for easy use, and has what is needed to get going in the right learning manner for guitar. This is the basic text and highly suitable for children who wish to learn guitar....
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Mel Bay's Easy Way To Guitar A by Mel Bay
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MEL BAY'S EASY WAY TO GUITAR A is a nice learning manual for those wanting to become guitarists. Well-illustrated, the guides to correctly holding the guitar and placement of fingers is excellent. An introduction to music and notes, and related material is covered for the beginner. Good reference work to have in the early stages of learning...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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You Can Teach Yourself Guitar By Ear by Mark Christiansen
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YOU CAN TEACH YOURSELF GUITAR BY EAR is a great way to learn and be entertained at the same time. The play-along CD serves as a guide and is enjoyable listening. Chords, keys, Barre chords, and a clearly written section on how to transpose songs are among the many interesting topics. This is a reference...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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You Can Teach Yourself Guitar Chords by Mel Bay
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YOU CAN TEACH YOURSELF GUITAR CHORDS is an excellent reference work, and as an instruction book, it does precisely want it says. Step by step explanations add to the ease of learning. For the beginning guitar student to advanced, there is plenty of information contained in this book that is valuable. What is outstanding about...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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YOU CAN TEACH YOURSELF GUITAR by William Bay
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William Bay has created a hands-on approach to learning to play guitar which will appeal to a wide audience. It will have great appeal to those wishing to learn how to play the guitar. The approach is straight-ahead, detailed, and filled with insights on actual playing instruction. In addition to instruction on tuning the guitar, there...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Complete Joe Pass by Joe Pass
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Corey Christian, Senior Music Editor at Mel Bay Publications, has come up with a fine book in COMPLETE JOE PASS. It is part of the Mel Bay Guitar Master Series. If you have ever wanted to play like Joe Pass, this is definitely the book to own! There are 5 parts to this fine book, and...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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All Intros & Endings for Jazz Guitar: Bebop, Swing, Latin, Ballads by Jim Ferguson
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Jim Ferguson has put together a remarkable learning tool that is both enjoyable and entertaining for guitarists. In his ALL INTROS & ENDINGS FOR JAZZ GUITAR: BEBOP, SWING, LATIN, BALLADS, Ferguson pulls out all the stops in making sure that the reader has what she or he needs in this learning situation. There is a play-along CD...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Getting Into Latin Jazz Guitar by John Zaradin
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John Zaradin has a winner in his book, GETTING INTO LATIN JAZZ GUITAR, for it is clearly written and presents sound performing information that will enhance the playing of any guitarist interested in the Latin jazz sound for guitar. The CD accompanying the book is an enjoyable listening treat. There are 6 sections to this fine book, and...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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A Life In The Music by Ben Sidran
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Ben Sidran is a jazzman for all jazz seasons, and his well-crafted memoir, A LIFE IN THE MUSIC, is a poignant look at the times he lived through and the influences on his life in jazz music as a composer, pianist, and vocalist. Sidran has worn many hats in jazz, including the award-winning music for "Hoop Dreams," keyboardist...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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A Love Supreme/The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album by Ashley Kahn
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Ashley Kahn, author of KIND OF BLUE , has written yet another book in
tribute to a recording. That recording is A LOVE SUPREME, naturally the title
to the book.
The reader need only to look at image on the cover of the book which is
also the cover of the album to view Coltrane in a now everlastingly famous...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lyn Horton |
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Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams by Linda Dahl
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Linda Dahl is one of the gifted biographers who can analyze her subject and put it into fascinating detail that will appeal to a large reading audience. Linda Dahl succeeds brilliantly in her biography of jazz great Mary Lou Williams in MORNING GLORY. This is a book that is a joy to read, and there is a...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Stan Getz: Nobody Else But Me by Dave Gelly
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What I liked most about David Gelly's approach to the subject of Stan Getz was his straight-ahead analysis and blunt honesty about one of the great icons of American jazz. Well-written, this is a classic biography of one the world giants of jazz music and jazz saxophone. There has never been a finer saxophonist with such a...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Essential Jazz Lines in the Style of Grant Green by Corey Christiansen
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Grant Green is considered by most jazz historians to be one of the most imaginative and innovative guitarists of the decades of the 1960s and 1970s. This book does focus on the style and techniques of Green, and it is an interesting approach that will appeal to guitarists. There is much covered in the instruction book which...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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