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Mel Bay's Improvising Blues Harmonica by David Barrett & John Garcia	From the Mel Bay School of the Blues Lesson Series, comes this new and enjoyable Improvising Blues Harmonica. The instruction is available in a nice, solid paperback format with accompanying instruction CD. The authors, David Barrett and John Garcia, are both well-known in the jazz world and their writings are highly respected. Those who have not come into contact with the... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Music Minus Me by Paquito D'Rivera	Every student of jazz is familiar with play-along instruction books, mainly through the Jamie Aebersold series which has grown into a virtual cottage industry, running to 120 volumes. Aebersold has virtually captured the entire jazz cannon in play-along form and has become an essential part of jazz education. Recently some new offerings have appeared, particularly in the area of... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Peter Westbrook

Haunted Heart: A Biography of Susannah McCorkle by Linda Dahl	This is the first major, detailed biography of the late jazz singer, Susannah McCorkle. A memorable reading experience, this fine book will linger in the reader's mind for a very long time. It is full of insights into this remarkable jazz singer. The details of her death are revealed. In addition to singing, McCorkle was an accomplished writer and linguist. Following... (Biography)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Monk's Music: Thelonious Monk and Jazz History in the Making by Gabriel Solis	This 2008 book publication is a dandy! It is filled with insights and commentary on the legendary jazz pianist, Thelonious Monk (1917 - 1982). Written by Gabriel Solis, it is well-researched and makes for enjoyable reading. Thelonious Monk is considered one of jazz's greatest figures. He performed many roles, including that of composer, pianist, and bandleader. At the center of... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Voices In Jazz Guitar by Joe Barth	Joe Barth is a well-known and respected jazz writer. He is also a contributor to Just Jazz Magazine. Many know him as a guitar playing pastor. This book is a topnotch, successful reference work from a writer who knows and loves jazz. Jazz writer Bill Milkowski gives an insightful foreword to the book. What is remarkable about this entertaining and well-written... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Come Together: The Official John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Guide by Mark Garvey	In Mark Garvey�s book Come Together: The Official John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Guide Music And Video, the award winning author goes behind the scenes of the Lennon Bus (www.Lennonbus.org) putting into perspective how the bus works to educate students from elementary school to college level about writing songs, the equipment they can use to record their songs, the... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Susan Frances

Spanish Harlem's Musical Legacy 1930 - 1980 by Silvio Alava	Following the old photographers' axiom "shoot what you know", Latin Beat co-founder Silvio Alava merged two of his passions, photography and Latin music, to document five decades of Spanish Harlem's vibrant musical history. Spanish Harlem's Musical Legacy 1930 - 1980 is a collection of two hundred photographs of singers and musicians such as Celia Cruz, Beny More', Tito Puente,... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Kevin Cox

Making the Scene: Contemporary New York City Big Band Jazz by Alex Stewart	Alex Stewart is a former freelance jazz musician who is currently Associate Professor of Music at the University of Vermont. Writing with a smooth style and in a concise, entertaining manner, Alex Stewart successfully gives the reader an in-depth look at big band jazz as it is in contemporary New York City. Whether you are a jazz fan, or just love... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop by Frankie Manning and Cynthia R. Millman	A Swing Dancer enthusiast Cynthia R. Millman, who was inspired by the Lindy Hop�s unrecorded history, has provoked an apparently ageless Frankie Manning into revealing his first hand knowledge of an African American dance phenomenon that was first popularized in 1920's Harlem dance halls. Ms. Millman sums up Frankie Manning�s accomplishments as: �His audience pleasing inventions helped catapult the... (Autobiography)
Book Review by Dan Kassell

Apprentice Magician: Contemporary Painting, 2000 - 2006 by Luiz Gerald Dolino Nascimento	This reviewer was recently introduced to the remarkable surreal abstract art of Dolino by jazz guitarist-singer, Paulinho Garcia. Dolino is a great admirer of jazz and some of his fantastic, creative paintings reflect jazz themes. This book features such jazz-oriented acrylic on canvas themes as "Swing" (2002), "Alice in Wonderland" (2005), "Bebop" (2005), among others. Dolino signs his colorful art... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Let's Get To The Nitty Gritty: The Autobiography of Horace Silver by Horace Silver	Readers who have listened to the jazz sounds of Horace Silver will find his autobiography both insightful and entertaining. There is a foreword by Joe Zawinul. The book is edited with afterword by Phil Pastras. Both men have provided much information that is essential to understanding the remarkable jazz genius that is Horace Silver. Silver was born in Norwalk, Connecticut... (Autobiography)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll by Rick Coleman	He is not Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly, but is indeed a rock 'n' roll legend. Fats Domino has sold over 100 million copies, yet his reclusiveness has kept writers at bay-- until now. Interviewed by Rick Coleman in this first ever biography of the New Orleans singer, Fats Domino's impact on the world around him is finally... (Biography)
Book Review by Jessica Rae Cortez

Practising without Problems: Mental Training For Jazz Musicians by Michael Gustorff	This is the new, second edition of Practising without Problems: Mental Training For Jazz Musicians by Michael Gustorff. The chapters are short, concise, and reflect a thoughtful writer at work, whose goal is to share information on mental training for perfected practice as it applies to jazz listeners and jazz musicians. On a wider scale, the techniques given by... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Josephine Baker: Image & Icon by Edited by Olivia Lahs-Gonzales	What would jazz be without the legendary Josephine Baker? She was a classic, unique unto herself, and this fine book is a non-fiction, biographical look at what, who, and where she was. Carefully edited by Olivia Lahs-Gonzales, the book also includes essays by Bennetta Jules-Rosette, Tyler Stovall, and Olivia Lahs-Gonzales. This book is rich with photographs, many of which will be... (Biography)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895 - 1973 by Dennis Owsley	City of Gabriels reveals the wonders that make up the jazz history of St. Louis, Missouri from the years 1895 to 1973. The book contains a fine foreword by Clark Terry. The book is published in collaboration between Reddy Press, and the Sheldon Concert Hall and the Sheldon Art Galleries at St. Louis, Missouri. Dennis C. Owsley is an engaging... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Steve Lacy: Conversations by Jason Weiss	"Another Reason I've read a lot about painters and what not is because a lot of the writing about jazz is not good enough," Steve Lacy says in Conversations, edited by Jason Weiss. This quote is one of several idealized opinions seen in this collection of thirty plus interviews that the soprano saxophonist gave. Lacy is known for his playlist... (Other)
Book Review by Jessica Rae Cortez

Work Songs by Ted Gioia	Another Deeply Perceptive Music History from Ted Gioia Ted Gioia is well-known to jazz readers and music scholars, thanks to his best-selling book The History of Jazz and his recent Healing Songs. He is noted for finely-tuned prose and an uncanny ability to get to the heart of the matter. A gifted pianist and composer, Gioia is a co-founder of Stanford... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Mel Bay's Complete Jazz Trumpet Book by William Bay	William Bay is one of Mel Bay Publication's most prolific authors. His Complete Jazz Trumpet Book is quite possibly one of his finest works yet. This one-stop-shop contains all the exercises needed to learn jazz trumpet. The purpose of this book is to help the trumpet player to read and interpret jazz music. As such, Bay succeeds brilliantly. The chord... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Trumpet Handbook (Book and CD) by William Bay	As an expert teacher, William Bay has a gift for clarity. He explores his subject matter carefully then presents the information in a clear and concise manner. Trumpet Handbook is another example of his skills as a teacher. Trumpet Handbook comes with a handy play-along CD. The unified instructional method includes tuning and warm-ups, exercises in triplets and intervals,... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Healing Songs by Ted Gioia	Scholarly and Spiritual New Book From Noted Jazz Writer Ted Gioia is an independent scholar widely known as the author of best-seller The History of Jazz. A gifted pianist and composer, Gioia is a co-founder of Stanford University's program in Jazz Studies. His recorded discography includes End of the Open Road and Tango Cool. Healing Songs provides a penetrating look at therapeutic... (Non-Fiction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Shades of Blue by Sarah Watts	Another Fine Artist Songbook from Mel Bay This sixteen-page collection of orginial songs by Sarah Watts will delight her jazz fans and piano students alike. It is a nice publication from Mel Bay Publications, demonstrating an intimate approach to "shades of blue" as only Watts can paint them! The Shades of Blue songbook includes quality transcriptions of "Angels," "Catz," "Chandelier Secrets,"... (Other)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Anyone Can Play Piano (DVD and Book) by Beth Adams	All-new No-Hassle Piano Lessons from Mel Bay This unusual 48-page book with DVD is one of the most effective ways of learning piano to come along in a long time. Nearly everything a beginning piano student needs can be found on this DVD and paperback. Seeing (and hearing) is believing, when it comes to this high-quality method by Beth Adams. Tempo, scales, finger positioning,... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Keyboard Latin Grooves for the Creative Musician (Book and CD) by Rogelio Maya	Keyboard Latin Grooves for the Creative Musician is a creative work indeed. Rogelio Maya has designed his method in an engaging, educational, and enjoyable manner. The complimentary audio CD further rounds out the student's experience. There are over ninety-nine Latin style rhythms in this well-organized book. After learning these fundamental rhythmic approches to Latin music, the pianist can easily adapt them... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Wes Montgomery: Best of Boss Guitar by Transcribed by Peter Gaarn Jylor & Edited by Henry Johnson	Mel Bay has done a great service to the memory of jazz guitar legend Wes Montgomery with the publication of this fine paperback. Carefully transcribed by Peter Gaarn Jylor and edited by Henry Johnson, this item will appeal to a large jazz guitar audience. For those who recall the magic and joy of Wes Montgomery's performances, this is a... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

Basics of Drumming Wall Chart by Mel Bay Publications	Finally, a basics of drumming wall chart that works and is an easy, at-a-glance approach for drummers! This nice, big poster is reasonably priced and a great reference. Everything the drummer needs for quick review is printed on this easy to read chart. Among the numerous examples are drag rudiments, a visual guide to the numerous forms involved, time signatures,... (Musical Instruction)
Book Review by Lee Prosser

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