1 comments about Mel Bay 60 Hot Licks for Western Swing Guitar.

1. This book is an excellent way to learn some authentic licks for Western Swing guitar. The licks are written in tab and notated. This is an intermediate to advanced book and assumes that yuou can play the guitar reasonably well. Like all of theses lick books you should learn these licks in serveral keys and practice them over the changes to your favorite tunes to internalize thier use. If you are willing to take the time to do this the results will be well worthwhile. I would alos suggest getting Brent Mason's video, he has some great Western swing lines as well as great country licks. Also Stacy Phillips book "Western Swing Fiddle" has a lot of transcriptions off the reodrd that will give you the feel of improvising in a Western Swing style.

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2 comments about Mel Bay Swing to Bop: The Music of Charlie Christian.

1. I have always admired Charlie Christian's accomplishments as a musician especially considering his death at a very early stage in his career. I marveled that someone so young could play at such a high level so soon in his career.... With this book I discovered that genius IS simplicity. Charlie Christian's playing was the perfect combination of economy and grace. I never 'got it' until this book deconstructed his style and laid it out for me in the most basic terms.... within days I was able to actually USE what I learned from this book and now I am rethinking my entire approach to the guitar! I highly recommend this book for the serious guitarist and the rabid Charlie Christian fan as well... In fact, I thought so much of it that this is the first and ONLY review I have ever written on Amazon... But I just had to tell somebody how valuable this book is... it's the kind that can change everything.



2. This book contains a thorough analysis of Charlie's playing. The author demonstrates a system for analyzing the chord shapes from which Charlie based his soloing and includes many many examples for you to try. The text is clear, with enlightening insight into Charlie's style and choice of notes. It also contains several transcriptions, although because of copyright issues, they tend to be from lesser known recordings (although transcriptions of the Minton's playhouse solos are included). I bought this book along with "Charlie Christian - The Definitive Collection", and found that to be a good combo. If you want to learn how to play like Charlie Christian, this book will not let you down.

4 comments about Swing and Big Band Guitar: Four-To-The Bar Comping in the Style of Freddie Green.

1. Here's a book I really wish I had back in high school jazz band. I used to go nuts with the charts back then, trying to figure out voicings and get all the notes in where the arranger wrote "Gb#11b13+" or some such, when that's really the last think you should be trying to do in a big band. But a good rhythm guitarist- as I leanred later- should concentrate on *rhythm*, using minimal voicings to develop a line that really acts like a counterpoint to the bass line. Forget all the altered tones; stick with 3rds and 7ths and develop good movement- think Freddie Greene in Count Basie's band. Simple voicings and solid rhythm.

   This book is all about learning those voicings, learning where to subsctitute, and where to simplify to build interesting, musical lines. At that it succeeds marvelously. It doesn't assume any prior skill or knowledge, other than being generally familair with the guitar, knowing some basic chords and having some familiarity with the swing style. All chords are diagrammed as well as written out, so it's easy and convenient for both reader and non-reader alilke.

   It's is a great tool for the beginning swing guitarist, the high school or college jazz band player looking for an organized way to approach rhythm guitar, or an experienced guitarist looking to expand his or her style. I've given it four stars instead of five as I think it could be organized a little bit better, and with a little more explanation in parts, but overall it's an excellent book.




2. If you are interested in learning how to play swing rhythm guitar-buy this book. Freddie Green was the master of swing rhythm guitar and the author took his chair in the Count Basie band when Freddie retired. The author breaks down his style in an accesible way, step-by-step. The audio examples are very helpful and of high quality-no cheesy synth rhythm section. The chord voicings,inversions, and substitutions are explained in detail as well as a chapter on how to expand or reduce the harmony of a tune. I've bought two other swing guitar instrucitonal books before I found this one and it is far better than the others.



3. This book focuses purely on the topic of its title, i.e. big band swing guitar. The beauty of this book is that the author doesn't just tell you what a swing guitarist does, he gives you the thought process behind it. It is a concise but thorough review of big-band swing style and very effective at teaching what it proposes. The excercises are well-conceived and progressively challenging. I've been working with the book for about a month now and have vastly improved my understanding of swing rhythm style. No tab, but even a little music reading/theory is plenty to get you started here. I was a folky guitarist coming in from another style, and it's been just what I needed.



4. I wish I had found this book 35 years ago.
   No ifs, ands or buts - This is exactly what every guitar player should study and learn - no matter what style of music he/she leans toward.
   Its written by a top player who knows what you need and knows how to teach you in a simple straight forward manner. Get it.

2 comments about Gypsy Swing & Hot Club Rhythm for Mandolin.

1. As a guitar player I wanted a mandolin book that would show me things that are not bluegrass, nothing wrong with bluegrass I just wanted something different and this book delivers. I learned 7th and minor chords that are different from the standard bluegrass fare and a few pretty neat tunes as well. I am glad I bought this.



2. As you notice this book is quite thin. Songs like Chicago, St. Louis Blues are featured in this book along with a CD with full backing tracks as well which allows you to practically jam and experience the tunes. Not a lot of people has access to these tunes in mandolin transcripts.
   
   The comment section by Dix showed us the chord, rhythm change, turnaround in each songs. Plenty of tips. You really have to digest it yourself though since there's no exercise of whatsoever.
   
   What I like about this book is that it encourages you to play not just the solo, but also the rhythm part (chord). This is a song book not a guide book.

3 comments about Stride and Swing Piano: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series (Hal Leonard Keyboard Style).

1. Normally books like these present you with the "dumbed down" and easy version of piano music--music you can play with one hand while drinking a sweet iced-tea with the other. Not so with this book. The methods and techniques Valerio teaches are the real thing, and the pieces within the book are those transcribed straight from the big boys--Waller, Johnson, Wilson, Tatum, Joplin, and Morton. This is an excellent introduction/continuation for those interested in stride piano.



2. I have a few of the other books in this series and find them all great, which is why I purchased this book! Scott Joplin has always been a favorite composer of mine and to be able to learn his style, yet ad my own style is something that I have struggled with up until now. John Valerio is a wonderful composer and teacher and has a very similar style to Mark Harrison (another composer in this series). This book includes everything from the history of ragtime and swing to how to voice lead. Techniques, rhythmic layering, variations, harmony, form, call and response, and so much more is included in this book. It goes through classic ragtime, blues & boogie woogie, New Orleans jazz, stride piano, and swing piano. It is such a wonderful teaching tool for those interested in the big-band era. The CD it comes with has standard tracks to listen to, but also wonderfulk original tunes that encourage you to come up with your own style! I can't wait to try more books in the series!



3. This is an awesome book but definitely not for beginners. It's got excellent explanations and exercises, and authentic music to learn. You'll definitely learn stride, but unless you're an accomplished pianist, expect to spend a lot of time leaning the pieces.

No comments about Gypsy Jazz: In Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing.

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4 comments about Duck Ellington Swings Through the Zoo: Baby Loves Jazz.

1. My tenth-month old absolutely loves this CD. She crawls over to the radio, stands up and starts bopping to the music whenever we play it. She loves the animal sounds as well. We can't play it during dinnertime, however, since she gets distracted and wants to get down from the high chair to dance.



2. When my son hears this CD he calms down immediately. It is like magic. We had the CD in the car for a long trip and whenever he started getting fussy, we put it on. Within seconds he was bopping his head along to the music. I do not know what it is about it that he loves so much - but we are buying more in the series.



3. This series is wonderful! Our two-year-old absolutely loves the Baby Loves Jazz series. We bought a few to start out, then ended up buying the whole set. Two months after acquiring them, she is still enamored and requests to listen to them and read them every day. Her favorites? Well, these are the words we hear most often: "Mommy, read Duck and Miles?" or "Daddy, listen to Duck and Miles?" Philly Joe is also high on the list. I recommend them all. The books stand out on their own, but the music is what makes this series really shine. For example, on Duck Ellington's CD, he does a great Monk style on one track, then switches to great impression of Coltrane's classic quartet on the next track, with a very nice McCoy Tyner impression. Lots of variety and high quality make this series worthwhile (though I could have done without Louis Lion's potty tune). Don't forget the Go Baby Go CD as well (a stand-alone CD without a book), which is perhaps a notch above the music on the book CDs. The ABC tune is her favorite on that one.



4. My 2 1/2 year old already knew - and liked - all the characters because we have "On the Road," another book in the series. The zoo theme is a popular one for toddlers and the pictures are great. The accompanying CD is good, too.

5 comments about Intros, Endings and Turnarounds for Keyboard: Essential Phrases for Swing, Latin, Jazz Waltz, and Blues Styles.

1. Wirtten in a very easy to read but scholarly fashion, this book is a great resource for musicians who want to hone their craft a bit more and get those smooth-sounding progressions for intros and turn-arounds.



2. This book teaches many things at once.
   
   Learn intros and endings suitable for use in gigs.
   Learn different chord changes besides the typical II-V-I.
   Learn some phrases and voicings that help you jump right in,
   rather than just seeing the chord changes written out.
   (The last chapter is the exception)
   Learn how to improvise - If you haven't been able to cross that
   bridge, just let yourself wander while playing these samples.
   You can't help but hear different melodies in them.
   
   Each sample is presented in a random key, but it is still up the
   student to practice them in all keys.
   Well worth the price - a fraction of the cost of a piano lesson
   for a huge springboard!



3. If you sometimes have problems knowing how to start and/or finish songs or phrases, this book is a must have! It guides you through the process and helps to expand your imagination.



4. I try to spend a half hour with it every night. This book will appeal to a wide range of interests. Whether you are a composer interested in theory, or a keyboardist enhancing your chops, there is something here for you. Most examples are four-measures long, but rich in musicality (kind of like what the Bach chorales are for those studying classical music.) The examples progress from simple chord progressions to more complex, and each is one is clearly explained. Nice melodies too! It is apparent that the author has spent a lot of time with each of the sub-genres (swing, ballads, blues, Latin, etc.) and has distilled his knowledge into a neat recipe book that will serve as a launching point for those wishing to further their expertise.



5. The book has well written, very musical phrases. The author suggests usage with several standards that should be in everyone's play book and it's fun to work them in with tunes you already know - in the proper keys. Take them apart, and there is something to learn in most of them. Great for browsing.
   
   The printing is good and the binding isn't troublesome on the rack. Nice experience. I would have rated it a five, but some of the pages have a tendency to work loose.