Adrian Cho leads a jazz orchestra in Canada when he isn't developing IBM software. Now he wants to tell you how Miles Davis can change your business life. Cho touts jazz units such as Davis' immortal, innovative bands as models for high-performance teamwork. He derives 14 best practices from observing that standout performers in good jazz groups work together in an environment of alert listening and mutual respect to make great music off the cuff. He doesn't limit his examples to jazz, finding combo cognates in basketball, auto racing and the military. The upshot is a concept of leadership and teamwork that's well suited for the Google-age workplace. Alas, the text is dense and the graphics aren't very helpful. Trying to parse the earnest but process-heavy prose may make you play the blues. Still, getAbstract recommends this innovative book to human resources professionals, executives and managers needing new harmonies, and employees who know they could make a better contribution if only someone would let them play a solo.

"An insider’s guide to translating the creative techniques of jazz to the business world.” Scott Berkun, author of The Myths of Innovation What Can Your Team Learn From Jazz Musicians? Experienced jazz musicians apply specific principles to collaborate, execute, and manage change in real time--delivering extraordinary innovation in the face of non-stop pressure and risk. Now, jazz musician and collaboration expert Adrian Cho shows how you can use the same principles to dramatically improve any team’s performance. Cho systematically introduces the Jazz Process and demonstrates how it can help cross-functional teams improve teamwork, innovation, and execution. You’ll learn new ways to encourage and integrate strong individual contributions from passionate and committed practitioners, and give them maximum autonomy while making sure your project’s “music” never degenerates into chaotic “noise.” Through multiple case studies, Cho shows you how high-performance teams achieve their success. • Master five core principles of working in teams: use just enough rules, employ top talent, put the team first, build trust and respect, and commit with passion • Establish a realistic framework for effective, continuous execution • Collaborate more effectively with team members, consumers, customers, partners, and suppliers • Master the essentials of team execution: listening for change, leading on demand, acting transparently, and making every contribution count • Reduce the “friction” associated with collaboration--and increase the synergy • Use form, tempo, pulse, and groove to maintain constructive momentum • Learn about the importance of healthy projects and teams • Innovate by exchanging ideas and taking the right measured risks • For every practitioner, leader, and manager interested in getting better results

Jazz Improvisation Using Simple Melodic Embellishment teaches fundamental concepts of jazz improvisation, highlighting the development of performance skills through embellishment techniques. Written with the college-level course in mind, this introductory textbook is both practical and comprehensive, ideal for the aspiring improviser, focused not on scales and chords but melodic embellishment. It assumes some basic theoretical knowledge and level of musicianship while introducing multiple techniques, mindful that improvisation is a learned skill as dependent on hard work and organized practice as it is on innate talent. This jargon-free textbook can be used in both self-guided study and as a course book, fortified by an array of interactive exercises and activities: musical examples performance exercises written assignments practice grids resources for advanced study and more! Nearly all musical exercises--presented throughout the text in concert pitch and transposed in the appendices for E-flat, B-flat, and bass clef instruments--are accompanied by backing audio tracks, available for download via the Routledge catalog page along with supplemental instructor resources such as a sample syllabus, PDFs of common transpositions, and tutorials for gear set-ups. With music-making at its core, Jazz Improvisation Using Simple Melodic Embellishment implores readers to grab their instruments and play, providing musicians with the simple melodic tools they need to "jazz it up."

From bebop pioneers Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to the groundbreaking modal experiments of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Giant Steps traces the backbone of modern jazz, providing an entertaining and informative read for new fans and seasoned listeners alike.

(Willis). Book 1 of a two-volume series that presents the fundamentals of jazz in a logical and accessible manner, primarily through short, progressive exercises. Ideal for anyone wishing to expand their "jazzabilities" and especially practical for those interested in participating in a school jazz program. Includes online audio tracks. Concepts covered include: * Improvisation * Swing rhythms * Common jazz chords and scales * Accompaniment techniques * 12-bar blues, and much more! NOTE: Jazz Piano Basics is a revised and vastly expanded version of the Jazzabilities series.

The most highly acclaimed jazz piano method ever published! Over 300 pages with complete chapters on Intervals and triads, The major modes and II-V-I, 3-note voicings, Sus. and phrygian Chords, Adding notes to 3-note voicings, Tritone substitution, Left-hand voicings, Altering notes in left-hand Stride and Bud Powell voicings, Block chords, Comping ...and much more! Endorsed by Kenny Barron, Down Beat, Jamey Aebersold, etc.

In Workplace Jazz, the author raises a battle cry for individual and corporate responsibility in building cultures that are healthier and more productive for those working in them. What should leaders do to address this workforce engagement and productivity gap? Should companies keep implementing culture improvement processes and procedures that do not address the emotional connection that teams need? Workplace Jazz offers a step-by-step process, enhanced with stories, neuroscience research, case studies, metaphors, and a strategic blueprint for developing connected and high-performing project teams based on the author’s experiences as a professional musician, certified conversational intelligence coach, and certified business consultant.