A complete book of jazz technique studies and exercises for all instrumentalists. This text deals with many technique issues jazz musicians encounter in the real world, including chord scale exercises, motif exercises, finger busters, extended motif exercises, and ideas for improvisation.

A complete book of jazz technique studies and exercises for all instrumentalists. This text deals with many technique issues jazz musicians encounter in the real world, including chord scale exercises, motif exercises, finger busters, extended motif exercises, and ideas for improvisation.

Eric Marienthal is a world-class saxophone artist, composer, arranger, and educator. As the leader of his own group on ten successful CDs, as a member of the contemporary jazz group Chick Corea and the Elektric Band, and on countless other recordings, Eric is all over the map. He has also published numerous improvisation books and videos. Eric has chosen 16 compositions in various styles of jazz, funk, and blues to demonstrate and share his improvising and composing skills. This book offers a great way to learn improvisation patterns and scales along with melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic jazz vocabulary. The Performing Artist Master Class CD includes an in-depth discussion by Eric of the following topics: jazz phrasing and articulation, ear training, creating a melodic solo, developing an idea, Latin feel, funky style ideas, playing over fast chord changes, and using motifs to build a solo. Features include: 16 condensed score leadsheets in concert key, 16 transcribed solos, transcription opportunity to transcribe Eric Marienthal's blues solo, Performing Artist Master Class CD, and discography/biography.

(Instructional). Living sax legend Jackie McLean is one of the greatest alto players of the post-Parker era. For this book, he has assembled essential warm-up exercises to help students become familiar with playing through different keys ascending and descending chromatically. Includes a biography, an interview, many exercises, and transcriptions of his solos in "Bluesnik" and "Dig."

One of the most difficult challenges in wind instrument pedagogy is teaching what can't be seen. The external embouchure, hand positions, fingerings, posture, etc., are easy enough, but much of what happens to create saxophone tone is in the vocal tract (from the vocal folds to the embouchure). Through fluoroscopy (x-ray), endoscopy (probe camera), and other means, Dr. Watkins has revealed secrets invaluable to the serious teacher and student. His research into the saxophonist's vocal tract and resultant tried and true application has spanned over twenty years. This book is marvelously laid out with the explanations, exercises, illustrations, and over 100 video clips allowing the saxophonist a deeper understanding and greater flexibility. --

This excellent series includes 12 play-along charts, with Eric's solos transcribed and transposed in every book. The recording contains short and long versions of Eric's solos, for studying and stretching out." The tunes employ many different chord changes and musical styles, including straight-ahead jazz, funk, swing, R&B, Latin, blues and more."