2 comments about The Music Of Bill Watrous (Book & CD).

1. This Book/CD set, is absolutely SICK (good). It is amazing someone actually took the time to write all of this stuff out. The music contained in this book has to be some of the most highly developed and intricate jazz I have ever seen. Watrous is a true master, and although this book does a decent job of notating the "un-notatable", I do find it just a bit lacking in the accuracy of some of the more intricate passages. To my trained ear, listening to the original recording, there is definitely more happening than what is on the page. NEVER THE LESS....this book is a must have for any musician who thinks they may ever attempt to play "Jazz". The materclass is not very in depth, but alot of good points are still made. Alot of people have been waiting a long time for something like this book (dealing with Watrous' music) to come out. Buy it, Buy it, Try it too.



2. Excellent trascriptions and CD is very well done.Great motivator.great book for analyzation or practice.
   Bob Riddle

1 comments about Trombonisms.

1. Watrous' book provides an overview of several trombone techniques for the modern player. He touches on playing fast, alternate slide positions, using overtones to develop both diatonic and chordal lines, playing high notes, and multi-phonics. All of these are techniques where Bill Watrous is the undisputed king!

   Even though the forward of the book indicates that the information is geared toward the advanced or professional player, most players posessing reasonable ability will have already encountered and have some facility with these techniques. I would have also preferred to see more musical examples of each of the techniques. Often there may be 3 or 4 examples of the topic, followed by a challenge to the reader to come up with his own examples and practice them in all 12 keys. As such, each topic is covered in only about 2 pages, making the book relatively small. Also, there is a recording included of Bill playing the provided examples, but it is an old-fashioned, flimsy-style record. I haven't had a turn-table in 10 years, so I doubt I'll ever listen to it!

   All in all, though, the book does provide some insight to how Watrous approaches his technical playing, and did provide some tips about the techniques that I had not previously thought of. I also liked how the text is presented in a positive style, implying that if you follow the examples listed and practice often, you will be able to master the technique. Still, though, I have no dilusions of ever sounding like Bill Watrous!

   I would recommend the book to any player wishing to increase technical skills on the slide trombone, but be prepared more for an overview and less of an in-depth tutorial.

No comments about Breeze Easy Trumpet bk2 (Breeze-Easy Series).

No comments about Ballads: Play-Along Solos for Alto Sax.

2 comments about A Mouthpiece Buzzing Routine for Trumpet.

1. Not particularly helpful. Need to buy his special buzzing mouthpiece to use the book.



2. Trumpet playing is something that's consumed all but four years of my life...more than half a century. Professional? No, more like semi-professional. And I faced the same problem every trumpet player will face at some point: it just wasn't working well, easily, pleasurably. Lynn Asper's work came to my attention through the recommendation of another trumpet player, someone I admired and trusted. I also had the great good fortune of living close enough to Lynn so that I could take advantage of some lessons. That's when I came into contact with "A Moutpiece Buzzing Routine for Trumpet" and his earlier work, "A Physical Approach to Playing the Trumpet." My question was then "Where were you when I started playing so that I could have done it right, right from the start?" Well, a silly question, but the teaching embodied herein is not silly. It's so foundational and so fundamental that it is now a part of my everyday warmup and practice. It might also be a value to yours. The result for me has been better playing, more endurance, better sound, and a highly focused approach to the art. Asper offers a no-nonsense approach, demystifying the science of making good sound in a way that will strengthen and not tear down the embouchure of the player.
   
   Certainly Asper makes and sells mouthpiece vizualizers but there's no reason you can't make your own if you have the tools and skills (maybe something like a Rotozip?). I don't. I bought one and it has become the centerpoint of my warmup. It's a tool that works and allows me to see what I'm doing in a way nothing else does.
   
   I recommend Mr. Asper and his body of work to anyone who wants to seriously study the instrument. His goal is to create better players, happier players, men and women who want to make joyful music all their lives.

No comments about Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 1 Horn in F (Belwin 21st Century Band Method).

No comments about Belwin 21st Band, Book 1, Trumpet (Belwin 21st Century Band Method).

2 comments about 50+ Easy Classical Solos For Flute.

1. This is a really good flute book and it has loads of different pieces to play by loads of different composers. It comes with some useful information abuot playing the fulte and also about each piece. All in all I thought it was a really good buy and great value for money and I think the only bad point about it was that it was a bit restricted in the pieces it had in it as it would be ok for beginners but more advanced players might find it a bit hard



2. I don't like this book because the pieces aren't very good. The note on the pieces are also different.

No comments about Trumpet Book 1 (Breeze Easy Method Ser.).

5 comments about Jaco Pastorius: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Styles and Techniques of the World's Greatest Electric Bassist.

1. i guess i was looking for a little more when i had bought this book and cd. it is really nice to have the cd right along with you in order to hear what the music is supposed to sound like, but i was looking for more girth, although this is still a very good book, with some words on the reasoning about the music.



2. Okay, first--you have to have skills needed to not only read music and tab, but the dexterity and articulation needed to tackle material other than the most basic rock lines. Secondly, you will need the CD's or source material needed to pick up on the nuances that Jaco employs through dynamics, touch and feeling. Thirdly -- you will need time. Acquaint yourself with the music then start hitting the book. Not wanting to play anything note for note like some sort of automotron, I choose rather to go for the feel. Afterall, can one really achieve each individual percussive attack or note? I hope not! If you can then buy an old beater Fender Fretless, drop in .9mf Cap, make sure the pickups supply the necessary Low, Mids and Trebs... change your roto-sounds weekly pick up an acoustic 360 amp and go for it. If not... go for the feel. The selections are good and cover a wide range of material and styles. It is enjoyable to get inside the music a bit.



3. Is the notation and tab accurate? Yup, but who cares, there's a million tab sites you can get that from. What I was hopping for was a break down on his right hand positioning and technique as well as his left hand. On tunes like Portrait of Tracy, where there are multiple lines going on at once, technique is very important. All of Towey's Commentary seemed bent on deifying Jaco. That's useless, Jaco's music Deify's itself. Give me adaquate information on how to place my hands in order to play the material!



4. First thing that I find irritating is that the only song fully transcribed is "Portrait of Tracy", but this can be forgived since the aim of the book is to get the techniques Jaco used. But then, on "Portrait of Tracy" there is just transcription (accurate, though) but there is no in-depth approach to techniques which are VERY hard to apply.
   
   If you want to continue studying Jaco stuff, I recommend this book to start with and later get something that's more into transcriptions



5. Detailed transcriptions of Jaco's great bass lines. Very useful, good for improving vocabulary; also great for improving techinque by playing the parts a tempo. The tunes featured are some of the greatest recordings by Jaco, including two he made with Joni Mitchell, "Bright Size Life" and many Weather Report remarkable pieces. Absences to regret: "Havona", and the fact that the transcription of "Birdland" includes only the intro with false harmonics.